Ethical issues related to accepting a job offer

Your acceptance of a job offer is binding.

Don't accept a job offer, even verbally, until you are certain you are committed. You can certainly say, "thank you very much for the offer," without accepting the offer (and you should do that).

Don't back out after accepting. That's called reneging, and is unethical.

An employer should never pressure you to renege on another employer.

Once you have accepted a job offer, notify any other employers with whom you are in discussion about employment that you are no longer a candidate. Cancel any upcoming interviews by courteously explaining that you have accepted another job offer. For details and sample letters, see accepting an offer and withdrawing from the job search.

If you are in a difficult or confusing situation that you are not sure how to handle, we encourage you to talk with advisor at Career and Professional Development. We are here to help you.