Can IBM Withdraw My Job Offer Without Notice? Seeking Clarity on Sudden Withdrawal

Hi All, I applied through Manpower Services Consultants and recently received an offer letter from IBM. However, since they offered me a very low band and remuneration, I informed them that I would not join unless they provided the band I had requested. An HR representative told me that he had forwarded my query to the business, and they would respond shortly.

Today, I learned from Manpower that the status is showing as "Withdrawing the offer they have made to me." What does this actually mean? No one from IBM has communicated with me, and now suddenly they are withdrawing my offer as informed by my consultant.

Can IBM withdraw my offer without my consent? Any clarity on this matter would be much appreciated.

Thank you,
Nikhil

Dear Nikhil,

Decision-Making During the Hiring Process

During the hiring process, there are several points for decision-making. When an offer is made, yet the candidate negotiates, it goes for another round of processes. Here, the existing offer is reviewed vis-a-vis the offerings made by the candidate and his request. If there is a misfit in any of these, such as the job offer made by them equates your service offering, yet you have requested a revision, they would stand to negate the offer. Unless there is any clarification to be made or they are hiring for a niche role, they don't generally revert to the candidate.

In your case, the offer stands withdrawn. Please look for opportunities with other firms. I request you to understand how your peers are negotiating if at all you wish to repeat the process. Once an offer is made, most firms avoid revising it. So please weigh your options and then negotiate. Wishing you all the best!

Regards

You seem to have missed the SECOND point (Cite Contribution) made—"...understand how your peers are negotiating if at all you wish to repeat the process..."

In the long run, it would do you a lot of good if you analyze 'why' IBM withdrew the offer. Maybe you were pegging your expectations 'too high'? Just give such factors a thought before looking for other opportunities.

All the best.

Regards,
TS

Thank you for your wishes, mate. I didn't miss out on the second point. I was totally frustrated by the way IBM kept me waiting. Despite an HR representative speaking with me, addressing my issue, and telling me that he would get back to me, they just cannot withdraw my offer like that. So, I do not want to apply to IBM for a long, long time now.

I'm a Master's graduate (from Australia) with a cartload of certifications, six years of experience, and my current band is that of a manager. IBM did not do justice by offering me a lesser designation, namely an Analyst. They offered me a 30% hike with 10% as variable. My company offered me a 20% retention hike without a variable. So, why would any sane person take a lesser designation and leave their company for the same remuneration? Hence, I expressed my unhappiness.

IBM may be a big company, but I wouldn't work in a company where an employee doesn't get respected right from day one.

Lastly, I thought and expected a bit of courtesy from the recruiters, but alas. Anyway, I will wait and see for a short time if they address this issue with me directly rather than with the consultant.

Thanks for your responses, guys. I appreciate it.

I applaud Nikhil. I think everyone should not settle for less than what they feel they are worth. If too many people accept lower standards, then employers will know that they will eventually find someone who is willing to take the lower offer. This is how salaries get degraded over time. Employers will only pay the lowest that the general population is willing to accept. This is why many positions in North America, especially, are not even keeping up with inflation, because employers know that there are plenty of desperate people or new immigrants who are willing to take the lower pay.

But we should all stand firm, but alas, this is not possible in real life, as someone will always break the chain by caving in and accepting a lower offer. Everyone needs to eat and support their families. Some areas in the world have terrible inflation and soaring costs of living.