Answered by Steve, Hiring Expert at Caterpillar Inc., on Friday, November 4, 2016
When discussing this with the company that offered you the position, I would emphasize to them the importance of your education to you. This will show them that you are someone who values your own personal and professional development and wants to invest in yourself to make you the best employee you can be. Let them know that you would love to accept their offer, but completing your education is your first priority right now. An alternative would be to either ask them if you can push off your start date until after your graduation, or see if there is a possibility to work with them on a part time basis while you are in school with that company providing some kind of tuition reimbursement for you. Offering them alternatives like these will put the ball back in their court and will demonstrate to you how much interest they truly have in you. In other words, do they just want you to fill a job now or do they want you to have a career with them.