Accepting a Job Offer

Any sensible job search is a matter of placing dozens of resumes with prospective employers over the course of either weeks or sometimes even years. Unfortunately many employers, having either already filled positions or having a different idea of what they are looking for, will not even reply to many queries. Nonetheless, an interested company will often make a job offer. Most people are unaware of the ethics that involved in the acceptance of a job offer. A job offer, in and of itself, is not obligating. Thus, you may receive more than one job offer at a given time and ethically consider the merits of each. At this point you should not in any way accept an offer-even verbally-if you are not completely committed to accepting that position.

There are, of course, many considerations in the acceptance of a job. The ideal position is one that is enjoyable, conveniently located and well-paying. Unfortunately, such jobs can often be very hard to come by, making the decision among prospective jobs more difficult. If you have a family, this is certainly a discussion that you would want to have with them. Employment advisors can often be a useful resource in accepting the right position. You should also do as much research as possible regarding your prospective jobs. Talk to other people who are employed with the same firm and listen to what they have to say. Above all, when committing your time, skills and resume to a position you should also trust your instincts. Once you settle on a job that is offering the right combination of circumstances and you are willing to commit to that job, you should accept the position quickly before it is offered to someone else.

Once you accept a job offer the situation becomes ethically binding. Once you have taken a position with a company, you have a responsibility to decline all other offers and to notify other prospective employers of your decision and to withdraw your name from consideration for their open positions. You must not withdraw from a job to that you have committed, which constitutes an ethical breach that is often referred to as reneging. It is important at this phase of accepting a job that you not schedule any more interviews or negotiations with other prospective employers. If you are seeking employment through an employment agency, you should notify that agency that you are accepting a position and they should no longer seek employment for you.

You should send a letter to your new employer formally accepting the position, stating the salary that you have agreed upon and the starting the date when you will begin employment. Unlike a verbal commitment, such a letter is a formal acceptance of a position. It is also proper business etiquette to send a letter or email, explaining that you have accepted employment with another firm, to employers who have offered you a job. Templates for such acceptance or withdrawal of consideration letters can be found online or in many word processing programs. You should be polite, but firm in such letters. You must accept the position that is right for you and should not be apologetic of such decisions. Furthermore you should not allow a firm to pressure you into reneging on your acceptance, as this is an unethical business practice.