[Anonymous]

So I received my first offer letter from a local medium sized firm and I’m feeling very grateful and excited…however, a huge firm (not Big 4, but well known international firm) has asked me on a lunch interview next week. I was thinking of expressing my gratitude for the local firm’s offer but say I’d like some time to think about it to discuss with my family etc. and ask them if I can respond by June 1st. What are your thoughts? Is that being selfish? Is 2 weeks too long to ask for giving an answer? I just want to weigh all my options and the start date in the offer letter isn’t until September, so it’s not like I’m going to put them in a huge bind by not accepting/declining right away…right?

[Anonymous]

I think asking for 2 weeks to respond is an appropriate amount of time. When I graduated college, the school actually required that firms making offers to students through the recruiting process allow at least 30 days for a student to accept/decline an offer. These firms know that you are applying to different firms, and that you may receive multiple offers. Giving them a date that you will respond by is good too. If the other firm makes an offer, you could even take it back to the local firm and negotiate.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Cal. I decided to accept the offer without first interviewing with other firms. I think I made the right decision and am stoked to begin with the firm in September 🙂

[Author]

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