I was told TRAIL salaries are "non-negotiable" to keep them fair for everyone. After talking to other people offered a spot in the program, I found that their offers varied in amount. This caused Rivian to lose a lot of credibility in my eyes.

I also received a full-time (non-rotational) offer. The recruiter informed me that I must make a decision within "3 days" as they "only wanted candidates gung-ho about Rivian." They added that the org's director would "wonder if I'm using the company just for negotiation." This was for a position I wouldn't start for over six months. The fact that Rivian offered less than the industry standard two weeks, let alone just three days, caused me to lose respect for Rivian as a company. I cannot imagine any person making such an important life decision in so little time. It felt as if I was being pressured to sign before I finished interviewing with other companies.

I requested informational phone calls with the manager and director. It was clear neither of them cared about me making a decision within three days. Suddenly, the pressure from the recruiter disappeared, and I was allowed more time to make a decision.

I understand Rivian needs to fill spots, but the unprofessional attitude from the recruiter very much jaded Rivian in my eyes and certainly had an impact on my final decision.

Stiffness vs. Hardness

Basic Beam Free Body Diagram (FBD)