Interviewing Finicky Grads? Use a Tactical Offer.

Recognize first that attaching a decision deadline to a job offer is entirely reasonable. It might even be a breach of fiduciary duty to your practice if you didn’t. What can you do to make that deadline tactical and not merely an “exploding offer”?

Eliminate the surprise. Tell candidates during the first interview that you’ll expect to get an answer within X days if they receive an offer. More of the interview process remains, but any offer will have that deadline. Ask, “What obstacles do you see to that?” Listen closely. You might hear something that rules the candidate out immediately.

Invite candidates’ due diligence. You want their questions answered so they can meet the deadline. Say so. Set an expectation that “I have a few more questions” is not an acceptable response to the deadline. Provide a Benefits Summary to your top-ranked candidates. Offer to arrange a call with someone who can answer detailed questions about benefits.

Separate deadline from start date. Ask each candidate about a preferred start date and why during the interview process. You may hear “immediately after graduation” or “maybe a little later because of this trip I have planned.” It could be that an earlier start date is essential. Maybe you’re prepared to wait for your number one. If so, mention it during the call when you make a verbal offer. (Don’t reference it in your actual offer letter.)

There can be a downside to this in campus hiring. Some campuses may want to bar you from interviewing students if you include what they consider are exploding deadlines in offer letters. It’s in the best interest of their students, after all. Make an argument for reasonableness. Yes, there’s a deadline, but it’s not “exploding.”

If you can, manage your process so that offer deadlines fall just before finals. “It gets the decision out of the way” and yet is close enough to the end of the year that students will be as far along as possible with all their options and in a better position to meet your deadline.

Hiring top talent is hard. You need to use every advantage you can find.