I am hoping someone on this board will be able to advise me on an appropriate course of action regarding the following:I am currently writing applications for graduate strategy positions with multiple companies. From what I have researched, it appears that the timeframe from recieving a first application to making a candidate an offer can be as short as 7 weeks. I have also noted that some companies specifically state that assessment centres and/interviews will not be held until mid January 2009.If I were successful with a particular company and recieved a job offer by late November / December, yet were still waiting the outcome of my applications to other companies - what would be recommended?If I accept a position with one company, and then manage to secure an offer with a more prestigious company that I would prefer to work for, what would my position be with regards to withdrawing my acceptance of the initial offer?I understand that this may be somewhat unprofessional, yet I don't see a viable alternative. Clearly turning down a concrete offer in the hope of recieving one from a more preferable company that is harder to get in to would be very risky.I am sure I cannot be the first candidate aspiring to a graduate role within consultancy to have to consider this situation?

Simply say that you cannot accept their offer, as they would have no issue turning you down one day before you started should the economy worsen.

So you are saying accept the offer, sign the contract, and then if neccessary inform them at a later date and say that I no longer wish to accept the offer to work for them. I have read that graduates have in the past accepted offers, and then had them withdrawn months down the line before they started, so I would guess this can occur from both sides.