We do not have a job offer "policy" as such. We do recommend that companies remain flexible about acceptance dates with students who are in the process of exploring other offers and grad schools. When a student feels pressure from a company to accept an offer quickly, and push comes to shove, they will tend to accept the offer since it is a job in hand vs. two in the proverbial bush - especially in a tight economy. Then after the student completes interviews with the other company or grad school they are interested in, students just might take the second offer, leaving the first company in the lurch. That upsets the company and leaves the student feeling guilty. There are legitimate ethical concerns on both sides of the coin and we have had those discussions with colleagues from both education and industry.

So, we ask both company and student to be flexible and honorable (not exerting undue pressure, or threat, or delay). Once a company makes a written offer and the student needs more time, the student can negotiate the acceptance date and conditions with the employer. When that time expires and the student still needs more time, they should contact the employer about a second extension. However, at some point the company can't be left hanging, so the two parties need to find a reasonable balance that does the least harm for both. The goal is to have everyone happy with the decision that is made in a timely fashion in case one party needs to make alternate plans, offers, or acceptances.

This honest communication and sensitivity to each other's needs tends to generally work out well here at Caltech.