The UC Riverside Career Center endeavors to support employers in their recruitment goals as well as our students in making educated career decisions. As such, we encourage all employers to follow the Employer Job Offer Guidelines and recruit in alignment with the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Principles of Professional Practice. The following guidelines were developed with the goal of providing both students and employers a fair and transparent framework for managing the offer phase of the recruitment process.
Timing for Offers and Decisions
Students need time to make informed decisions when comparing and responding to offers. To accommodate that need, the UC Riverside Career Center asks that employers provide a minimum of two weeks to consider an offer, although a longer period is preferred. Please note that UC Riverside operates on a quarter system, meaning that the academic year does not begin until late September/early October. For Fall 2023, In order to allow students to make an informed decision, employers who are offering summer interns or a full-time position should give the student until October 27, 2023, to make a decision. If a student requests more time to consider an offer, we strongly encourage you to accommodate whenever possible.
Full Disclosure
All offer letters should include the following: start date, salary, benefits, bonuses, and a deadline for accepting or rejecting the offer. If the compensation structure is partly or fully based on commission, employers are encouraged to provide an accurate estimate of first year earnings expectations. All bonuses or incentives should remain in effect throughout the entire offer period. Candidates should not be expected to accept an offer before receiving a written letter.
Exploding Offers/Excessive Pressure
The UC Riverside Career Center supports NACE’s offer guidelines, which state that employers should ensure that offer deadlines are not placing undue pressure on the applicant or making an exploding offer. The UC Riverside Career Center defines an exploding offer as any offer that does not conform with the offer guidelines listed above. Employers are advised to not make offers or pressure students to accept “early” offers or to accept an offer on the spot, which is deemed inappropriate. Early offers may include those with incentives involving diminishing bonuses, reduced location preferences, etc.
Rescinding/Reneging Offers
In alignment with NACE recommendations, the UC Riverside Career Center strongly encourages employers to consider every alternative before rescinding an employment offer. If the employer cannot avoid rescinding an employment offer, they should carefully review the NACE Recommendations for Employers issued within their position statement. As a courtesy, please notify the UC Riverside Career Center to explore alternatives and share the circumstances.
The UC Riverside Career Center makes every effort to educate our students about the consequences of reneging an offer of employment. We understand the serious impact that this has on your recruiting goals.