Evaluate Job Offers and Understand Ethics

Evaluating Offers

Is it a good match with your skills and interests? Is it challenging and satisfying?
As you evaluate the offer, know what your responsibilities will be.

Life-long learning is essential for long-term career success.
Will continuing education/training such as company courses, professional seminars, and tuition reimbursement be offered to keep you current in your field?

Research average salaries for comparable positions, factoring in the geographic location, cost of living differences, and your experience/skill sets.

Know what the benefits package includes for health insurance, retirement plan, paid vacation and sick leave, income supplements (bonuses/profit sharing), and relocation assistance.

Values that underlie the work environment should match your own work values so that you do not feel a conflict of interest.
Use Myplan assessment to explore your work values (ask the ACPC office for the activation code).

Will this position serve as a springboard?
Will it offer greater challenges over time, additional responsibilities, and a variety of activities?

Our brand matters to you, and to employers who recruit our students.
You may receive several offers during your job search.
You don’t have to accept the first job offer. Until you have accepted one job, you can continue to interview and consider all of your job offers.
But once you have accepted a job offer, verbally or in writing, you are bound by ethical standards and values.
Your brand (professional reputation) matters to you, too. Build a solid reputation within your field. (Remember that recruiters change companies too and people within an industry often talk to each other.)

You make a commitment when you accept an offer. The employer stops interviewing and holds the position for you.
Accepting an offer as a precautionary measure, hoping to find something better, is misleading to the employer and limits opportunities for students who are genuinely interested.
You do not want to leave a negative impression in the minds of the people at that company.
Cancel all pending interviews and let all employers who are actively considering you know that you are no longer available.
If you face extreme circumstances that force you to renege on an acceptance (e.g., critically ill parent, marriage), notify your employer immediately and withdraw the acceptance. If you have accepted a signing bonus, you should return it.

They should provide accurate information about their organization, positions, career advancement opportunities, benefits, and information on your status in the hiring process and any hiring decisions.
Employers are expected to provide candidates with a reasonable amount of time to make a decision about an offer, as well as a reasonable decision-making process.