Professionalism & Responses to Employment Offers

September 26, 2025 By Colby Lakas

Navigating Multiple Offers? Here’s How to Handle It Gracefully

If you’re fortunate enough to receive multiple offers—congratulations! While having options is exciting, it can also make it challenging to decline opportunities. Below is some general guidance on how to thoughtfully manage offer acceptances/rejections and deadline extensions.

Still Waiting to Hear Back?
No worries! Offer communications can come through at any point in the coming months, especially if you have employer interactions already scheduled. Keep in mind:

Another Meet the Firms (Virtual) event is coming in January
Resume Round-Up will take place in April
And of course, if your dream internship offer arrives before summer—amazing!

BEFORE making any decisions:

Make a pro/con list for each employer you’ve engaged with.
Reflect on all your interactions and not just one moment or event. Consider how each employer made you feel throughout the process. Talk to parents, mentors, or trusted advisors for outside perspective - they can help you see things more clearly.
Don’t rush to accept an offer.
Unless you’re absolutely sure it’s the right fit, take time to consider your options. If you expect multiple offers, it’s perfectly appropriate to say:
“Thank you so much for the offer! I’m excited and grateful. I’d like to take some time to consider my options and will get back to you.”
Employers will give you a deadline for your decision.
Deadlines may vary—and extensions are okay.
The AU Recruiting Honor Code and current recruiting environment mean deadlines can differ. If needed, you can respectfully ask for more time (SEE HERE FOR MORE GUIDANCE).
Salary is usually fixed in public accounting.
Firms typically offer standard compensation for campus hires. Corporate roles may have more flexibility. If you’re unsure whether your offer is competitive, feel free to ask Mrs. Lakas, as she tracks salary data across markets.
Honor your commitments.
If you’ve agreed to attend an office visit or leadership conference and are genuinely interested in that employer, follow through before making a final decision. You shouldn’t feel pressured to decide early, and backing out of a commitment reflects poorly. If you’re unsure how to navigate this or are inclined to withdraw from an interview process to accept a preferred offer, reach out to Mrs. Lakas for guidance.

If you are DECLINING an offer:

Choose a phone call over email.
A personal conversation helps preserve relationships and shows professionalism. While these calls can feel awkward, they’re usually brief—and recruiters understand that declines are part of the process.
Decline offers as soon as you’ve made your decision.
If you know an employer isn’t the right fit and you prefer another in-hand offer, let them know promptly. They may be holding a spot for you that could go to another student who’s excited about the opportunity.
Be prepared to explain your decision.
Before calling, think about your main reason for declining. You may be asked for feedback such as whether you connected more with another team or didn’t meet enough people from their office.
Make your decline calls before your acceptance call.
This helps avoid awkward situations where an employer hears through the grapevine that you’ve accepted elsewhere. Plus, getting the tough calls out of the way lets you fully enjoy your acceptance moment.
Call the person who extended the offer—or the recruiter you connected with most.
Thank them for their time and support during the recruiting process. Share a compliment if you have one, then let them know you’ve accepted another offer and are declining theirs. It’s okay to share where you’re going, and they may ask for feedback.
Keep it short, but end on a positive note.
Wish them well with the rest of their recruiting season, and let them know you appreciated meeting them and would love to stay in touch for future opportunities.

If you are ACCEPTING an offer:

Do you have a written offer?
While we trust our employer partners, it’s always best to have your offer in writing before officially accepting. A written offer provides clarity and peace of mind.
Call the person who extended the offer.
Let them know you plan to accept, share what influenced your decision, and express your excitement! Ask if there are any next steps you should take to prepare for your start date.
Follow through immediately.
After the call, promptly complete and return the offer letter, whether it requires an electronic or handwritten signature.
Share your good news!
Reach out to others who were part of your interview process even if they didn’t extend the offer. They’ll appreciate hearing from you and knowing how things turned out.
Celebrate!
You’ve worked hard to get here...take a moment to enjoy this milestone!

If you are REQUESTING AN EXTENSION:

Employer decision timelines may not align with your remaining interviews. If you're asked to respond to an offer before you've completed other interviews, it's appropriate to request a deadline extension.
Use Copilot to help draft your email, but make it your own. Copilot can suggest wording, but you are responsible for the final message. Be sure it reflects your voice and professionalism. If it doesn't sound like you wrote it, more editing is required.
Send your request via email (not a phone call). Clearly explain your situation, including the date you’re requesting and what interviews or decisions are still pending. Written communication helps ensure clarity and documentation.
Show appreciation and enthusiasm for the offer. Let the recruiter know you’re excited about the opportunity, but also want to honor your other commitments, because Mrs. Lakas says that’s important!
You might not get the full extension you ask for. If you’ve already received an extension and are still facing a tough decision, reach out to Mrs. Lakas for guidance. It is also helpful to let other employers in your process know that you have an expiring offer (as an FYI and not an ultimatum), as they may be able to escalate the timing of their decisions.