Job Offer Guidelines
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln recognizes the recruiting process involves important decisions for students and employers. We encourage both to use fair and reasonable practices when in the job and internship search and appreciate employers who extend opportunities to students. To support those employers’ needs and to provide students adequate time to evaluate and respond to job and internship offers, we request employers consider these guidelines.
Best Practices
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) notes: “Experience shows the best employment decisions for both students and employers are those that are made without pressure and with the greatest amount of information. Students given sufficient time to attend career fairs, participate in on-campus interviews or complete the interviewing in which they are currently engaged are more likely to make good long-term employment decisions and may be less likely to renege on job acceptances” (NACE position on Setting Reasonable Deadlines for Job Offers).
Best Practices
We Expect Students to:
- Request any reasonable accommodations promptly.
- Immediately release offers they do not plan to accept to allow the employer the opportunity to consider another student for the position.
- Not accept an offer for employment while continuing to pursue other opportunities.
- Not renege on a previously accepted job offer.
We Expect Employers to:
- Demonstrate flexibility in working with students to consider reasonable requests.
- Communicate hiring timelines clearly.
- Not place undue pressure on students to make offer decisions.
- Uphold job offers.
Student Ethical Guidelines
- Provide accurate and honest information on:
- Academic work and records
- Courses taken/transcripts
- Grades
- Positions held and duties performed
- Work history
- It is okay not to provide specific information about other organizations you may be interviewing with, salary, etc. But you still need to be honest, even if it is with a broad or generalized answer.
- Interview genuinely and with intention. Taking an interview just for practice can be misleading to the employer and takes an opportunity away from someone who may be genuinely interested.
- Use open communication, don’t ghost the employer.
- Adhere to schedules including:
- Timelines for future rounds of interviews
- Offer period/deadlines
- Confirmation/acceptance deadlines
- Accept an offer in good faith
- After you accept an offer, you should not continue interviewing with other organizations.
- Obtain the career information needed to make an informed decision
- Claim fair compensation
Make sure the amount you propose in any negotiation conversation is reasonable and in line with industry standards. Do your research!
Employer Ethical Guidelines
These guidelines have been created by the Business Career Center and shared with our Employer Partners. While we encourage the employers who work with our office to follow these ethical guidelines, we cannot guarantee that every employer will adhere to them strictly.
- Confidentiality: Employers should not disclose your information to other organizations
- Accurate Information: Employers should not misrepresent themselves or opportunities, nor should the job seeker
- Freedom from Undue Pressure: You should have a reasonable time to accept a job offer
- Timely Communication: Employers should tell candidates the expected communication time-frame and inform them of changes
- Fair Treatment: All candidates should be treated fairly
- Testing Information: Employers should inform candidates prior to any required tests or assessments
- Non-Discrimination: Employers should follow equal opportunity employment principles
Offer Timelines For Hiring Students At Nebraska
Summer Internships to Full-Time
A full-time offer after a summer internship should remain open a minimum of three weeks from the written offer date, or until November 1, whichever comes later.
Accounting Summer Leadership Program to Internship*
An offer for a spring or summer internship for the following year after a summer leadership program should remain open a minimum of three weeks from the date of the written offer, or until November 1, whichever comes later.
*Guideline specific to Nebraska College of Business
Fall Recruiting
An offer for internships or full-time positions during the fall recruiting season should remain open a minimum of three weeks from the date of the written offer, or until November 1, whichever comes later.
Spring Recruiting
Offers during spring recruiting season should remain open a minimum of two weeks from the written offer date.
Spring Accounting Internship to Full-Time*
A full-time offer for May of the following year after a spring internship (15 months in advance) should remain open a minimum of three weeks from date of the written offer, or until August 15, whichever comes later.
*Guideline specific to Nebraska College of Business