Carefully Consider Offers Before Accepting
Students are expected to accept an offer only after careful consideration and to honor professional commitments.
Full-time Offers to Your Summer 2023 Interns
- Students who request it should be given (when feasible for the organization) a minimum four (4) weeks from the written offer or until October 15, whichever is later, to accept/decline offers if they have valid reasons for requesting that additional time. This will allow students time to review their upcoming on-campus recruiting (OCR) employment opportunities or consider competing post-graduate opportunities.
Full-time and Internship Offers from Fall 2023 On-Campus Recruiting
- Students who request it should be given (when feasible for the organization) a minimum four (4) weeks from the written offer or until October 15, whichever is later, to accept/decline offers extended as part of the OCR Program. This will allow students time to review their upcoming OCR employment opportunities or consider competing post-graduate opportunities.
Full-time and Internship Offers from Spring 2024 On-Campus Recruiting
- Students who request it should be given (when feasible for the organization) a minimum four (4) weeks from the written offer to accept/decline offers extended as part of the OCR Program. This will allow students time to review their upcoming OCR employment opportunities or consider competing post-graduate opportunities.
If you experience an employer not adhering to any of these University Career Services (UCS) recruiting guidelines throughout the OCR process, we encourage you to contact UCS (ucs@unc.edu) so we can help you navigate the situation. Please note that employers recruiting outside of the OCR program are not held to these policies. OCR employers are ones who have Handshake account and utilize UCS recruitment platforms, events, and facilities (virtual and in-person).
Do Not Renege After Accepting
Accepting a job offer, either verbally or in writing, is an agreement to work for an employer. Reneging (withdrawing an acceptance of an offer) after having previously accepted, for any reason, is the most serious unprofessional recruiting behavior and is subject to significant repercussions such as losing access to Handshake and thus, access to all recruitment resources facilitated by UCS. Reneging has a profound impact on an employer’s recruiting resources and timeline, as well as the student’s long-term professional reputation and that of UCS and UNC Chapel Hill.
After accepting a job offer, you are expected to cease interviewing for all positions that conflict with the opportunity you have accepted.
Students who renege an acceptance of employment will have their recruiting privileges suspended until they meet with the External Relations Director, who will determine an appropriate course of action based upon the details of the case. This can include up to maximum penalties:
- If you renege on a full time offer, you will not be allowed to apply for jobs on Handshake and use alumni services provided by UCS for up to 12 months post-graduation.
- If you renege on a Summer internship offer, you will not have access to Handshake for the academic year in which the infraction occurred, plus the first 2-months post-internship (October 15th).
UCS staff are here to support you in your career search efforts. If you find yourself in a situation where you are managing multiple offer deadlines, please contact our office immediately (ucs@unc.edu) or contact your Department-based Career Coordinator if one exists.