I am getting an offer with a short decision deadline. What should I do?
Every offer situation is different – some MFins get only a couple of days to decide, while others are managing multiple interviews. Don’t handle it alone – book a chat with your career advisor right away. If the earliest available time doesn’t work for you, email your career advisor to request a meeting and explain the time-sensitive nature of your offer.
Here are the steps to take when you receive an offer:
1. Show gratitude (But Don’t Rush to Accept)
Getting an offer is an exciting moment. Don’t get overwhelmed and forget to say thank you. Resist accepting on the spot if the offer is verbal, even if it is your dream employer. If you receive an email, acknowledge you received the offer and ask for clarification on the deadline to respond.
2. Negotiate for more time to respond
Negotiating with employers to extend the deadline for your response will not negatively affect your candidacy; in fact, it demonstrates your respect for their time and shows that you are giving serious consideration to your decision. MIT Sloan’s Recruiting Guidelines state that any employer extending an offer to an MFin gives the student a minimum of 4 weeks from the date of the written offer to evaluate that offer. Book a meeting with your career advisor if you have any questions or need support with the negotiation.
