Acceptance Etiquette Forum

[Anonymous User]

If you receive an offer, are you generally given a few days to consider it? Or do you ask for time to think it over? Do you look dumb if you accept right away (assuming you've heard all of the terms)? Does it look worse if you ask for time to think on it?

[grand inquisitor]

if you know you would like to accept, accept. if you would like to appear coy or would like some time to consider the offer, ask for a few days to mull a decision.

[kaiser]

It is always professional and acceptable to take a few days to consider your offer and whether you would like to accept. Best etiquette is to clarify the date by which the employer would like to have your decision. That way you can take some time to consider the offer, without leaving the employer in the dark.

As for accepting on the spot, I don't think thats a great idea. It makes you come off as desperate or hasty, even if the place is genuinely your top choice. It is better to play it a bit more coy, take your offer home and think it over a bit, and then call to say you accept.

[Anonymous User]

I accepted my post-SA offer on the spot, while another person held out for a month and was thus able to negotiate certain perks out of the firm.

Just like with law school admissions and scholarships, getting rewards is not about how good you are; it's about whether you are willing to negotiate.

[eastcoast_iub]

Wait. When choosing between two lateral offers, one of the firms offered me a signing bonus after a week as I was mulling my offers.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Thanks for the advice.

[Anonymous User]

You can just graciously thank them for the offer, and say you'll let them know as soon as possible. Personally, I still did this even when I knew 100% I'd accept, because I'm neurotic and prefer to have some kind of written mention of the offer and acceptance so that in 6 months I wouldn't worry the whole thing was a dream and never actually happened.

[20160810]

OP, I'm glad that you asked. This is a subject that I know a thing or two about, so hopefully I can be helpful here. If you know for certain that you want to work for a particular law firm and you are fortunate enough to receive an offer from that firm, do not under any circumstances just accept the offer right away. The hiring partner who called might begin to feel that you're a little bit too grateful. If this is a summer associate offer, you're likely going to be slotted in the presumptive no-offer column for this conduct.

What you need to do first is wait a minimum of 72 hours. No less. Then visit your local tavern and enjoy between twelve (12) and fourteen (14) Ice House beers. If they do not serve Ice House beer, you should probably find a better bar, but Milwaukee's Best will do in a pinch. Following this, put on a floor-length duster jacket, grab a large boom-box (with a Peter Gabriel tape already inside), and go stand outside the firm's main office (do not - and I cannot stress this enough - do not do this at a satellite office). Hoist the boombox over your head, hit play, and scream "DLA PIPER! YOU BITCH! I LOOOVE YOU!!!"

[Rahviveh]

I accepted my post-SA offer on the spot, while another person held out for a month and was thus able to negotiate certain perks out of the firm.

Just like with law school admissions and scholarships, getting rewards is not about how good you are; it's about whether you are willing to negotiate.

Flame?

[Glasseyes]

I accepted my post-SA offer on the spot, while another person held out for a month and was thus able to negotiate certain perks out of the firm.

Just like with law school admissions and scholarships, getting rewards is not about how good you are; it's about whether you are willing to negotiate.

Perks like: waiving the first month's water club fee; upgraded toilet paper for your floor's bathroom (cottonelle > scott); and a "hang in there" cat poster with light-reflective coating to brighten your windowless office.

[twenty 8]

If you’re being offered by a NAPA firm, they are obligated to give you “X” number of days (I forgot the exact # but guessing from memory, 28 days). Non-NAPA firms can put a deadline at their choosing ―it is usually shorter than the NAPA firms. Generally speaking, commit before the deadline but don’t commit immediately (something better might come along).