So you want to decline your recent job offer?
If you have good news to share or are just requesting more information or time, responding to a job offer will be much less of a hassle. The true test is in saying ‘no’ to an offer like that because people, in general, are not comfortable saying no and, on top of that, how to reject a job offer.
You may receive a job offer that, on paper, appears to be a perfect fit for you, but in practice, it simply does not sit well with you. It is advised that you notify the potential employer that you need some time to think about whether or not to accept the job offer before making a final choice. If they don’t want anything else in exchange, it’s best to ignore them. This is especially true if they follow up with you too fast, contact you in an improper manner, or try to set an unrealistic timetable for you.
Whether you had no intention of taking the offer or were considering accepting it but another, the better offer came along, and you will have to turn down that job offer. It’s a good offer. But something just does not feel right. You might have better offers at hand. All are perfectly valid reasons to decline a job. But, the question arises, how to politely decline a job offer?
It might sound tricky to you now, but we promise you won’t feel the same after you finish this blog.
6 steps to reject your job offer
The purpose of the interview is to earn a job offer. When the offer is approved, you go on to the next phase. You are not required to accept the post; you have the option to decline. Accepting a job that you do not want or cannot commit to is unprofessional. It is sometimes appropriate to refuse a job offer.
Pick up your phone and make that call
There may be situations when you are offered a job but do not think it is a suitable match. It may be challenging to say no without feeling awful in times like these. There is, however, a way to decline a job offer without seeing the employer in person: by phone. When declining a job offer over the phone, keep the following considerations in mind:
- Explain why you are turning down the opportunity. This might be due to inexperience, a poor work/life balance, or anything else.
- If possible, volunteer to help locate someone else to fill the post.
Compose that email and hit the send button
Rejecting a job offer in person might be challenging, especially if you have already accepted the position but now have second thoughts. It is especially true if you took that position but now have second thoughts. It could be simpler to turn down the job offer via email, given the circumstances of the case. The following is an explanation of how to go about achieving this – Start by thanking the employer for offering you the job and expressing your excitement about starting work there. However, explain that you have decided to decline the position for personal reasons. Politely thank them again for considering you and wish them all the best in their search for a new employee.
Declining a job offer won’t burn a bridge.
When you are faced with the chance to take on a new job, you must consider all of your options before deciding on the one that you will accept. If you finally decide that the job is not the right match for you, it is imperative to decline the offer of employment in a manner that is both kind and professional if you decide that you should not accept the position. Your connection with the company will not be harmed if you turn down a job offer; it may even help open the way for other opportunities in the future. As a result, you need to make it very clear to the employer that, even if you do not want this job right now, you would be interested in working with them in the future if a position became available that was a suitable fit.
Show gratitude though
A sincere expression of appreciation to the hiring manager for the opportunity and their time is mandatory. The interview process is essential, but remember that the person conducting it has likely spent some time thinking about you and your qualifications. Another option was for them to compliment you to others in the company, which may have been seen as a risk. Sincere and specific thanks for their efforts would mean a lot. Consider the following as an illustration:
I’m grateful to speak with you about the marketing manager position. I appreciate your thoughtful consideration and the time you took to address my numerous inquiries about the company and the open job // The interview last week was quite helpful, and I want to thank you again. Meeting all of the helpful employees and touring the facilities was a real highlight of my trip. I am excited about becoming an operations director and appreciate the beautiful opportunity you have presented me.
Valid reasons are what Recruiters expect
There are many valid reasons why someone would decline a job offer. Examples of some common triggers include
- If a person is not making enough money at their current job, they may be reluctant to take on a new job that pays less. Short Work History: Having enough work history might hinder applying for certain positions.
- Dismal working conditions: If employees aren’t feeling safe or comfortable at their current workplace, they may be more inclined to turn down a new position.
- If workers at one company think they won’t have room to advance in their current position, they may go elsewhere for employment.
Request to stay in touch
Even though it may be difficult, one has to refuse a job offer with grace and professionalism, as it is essential. If you ask the individual if you can stay in touch, you can take the rejection better. By employing this strategy, you may keep them apprised of your job search progress and let them know if your plans have changed. They could also be in a position to provide you with advice or help you make connections with others. Politeness dictates that one should emphasize the value of continuing to talk to the other side in the face of difficulty.
Here are some email templates to professionally decline your offer
There are many reasons one can refuse a job offer, and here are some examples of how to do that via email. It is not compulsory to accept a job offer after receiving one; you should always assess all the offers at hand and select the one that is best for you.
Scenario 1 – You have accepted another offer
Hello, XYZ.
I am profoundly grateful for the chance to join your team. I have had nothing but admiration for the company and its wares throughout the years, and it gives me great pleasure to endorse them. After further consideration, I’ve decided to accept a job offer from a rival company.
I’m going to be following you on Twitter and would love to stay in touch with you via LinkedIn. Continually, I am grateful for your consideration and interest.
Best wishes,<Your Name>.
Scenario 2 – Recruiters requesting your consent to accept the offer over email
Hello, XYZ,
Your willingness to meet with me over the previous two weeks is appreciated. It was fascinating to learn about your recent endeavours and Company Inc.
The excellent offer from your organization is much appreciated, but I am interested in a career that focuses more on writing than editing. Sorry, but I have to reject at this time politely. It has been a pleasure getting to know you and the rest of the crew.
Regards, <Your Name>.
Scenario 3 – If you have decided to stay in your current role at your company.
Hello, Vishesh.
It means a lot to me that you’re thinking about me for the software engineer role on your team. Thanks again for the interview and your time. I appreciate the opportunity to work with your company. The time is not right for me to leave my current position, and I have given it a lot of thought before coming to this conclusion. It would be great to stay in touch and perhaps collaborate again.
Best wishes, Priyanka.
In case you are interested in the company
Knowing how to politely decline an offer from a firm you’re interested in working for might be challenging if the position isn’t a good fit for you. Remember that this is still a fantastic opportunity, and do everything you can to demonstrate your gratitude for it. If you want to politely decline an offer without damaging your connection with the organization, consider the following strategies.
Begin by expressing your gratitude for the chance they’ve given you. Saying “thank you” is one of the best ways to convey gratitude. Show your enthusiasm for the business and explain why you think you might do better in another position. It demonstrates that you appreciate their assistance and respect their time.
As a result, speak your mind while maintaining decorum. Don’t attempt to justify your decision or make up a story; just tell them that, while the offer is flattering, it’s not a good fit for where you are in your career right now. They will have a better time accepting your choice if you offer them some background on why you don’t feel qualified for the position. One more thing: don’t close the door on alternative possibilities within the firm. Make it clear that you would be interested in learning more about other opportunities inside the company if they arose that would be a better fit with your interests and objectives. It demonstrates to them that while you may not be a good fit for the position at the moment, you may be in a position to have a positive impact in the future.
No, you’ve accepted a better offer
Express your gratitude to the organization for including you in their offer. As you are aware, there are times when we are put in situations that we cannot escape, which causes the plans we had for our lives to be altered.
There are times when we are faced with challenging decisions that are ultimately in our best interests. For instance, if we are given a choice between two distinct possibilities, we have no choice but to take the one that will benefit us more and decline the one that will not.
However, we must exercise extreme caution before dismissing the option previously available; because the offer was extended to us when we most needed it, we must show consideration, gratitude, and thankfulness. You may say that you are very thankful that you were offered this position but that a better opportunity came along which had everything that you wanted—a good profile, a better income, the convenience of being located in a different area, and so forth. Keeping relations with the company whose offer you’re going to reject is very important as you never know who will come in handy in the future. Always keep good relations with everyone because opportunity knocks on your door in any form.
Suppose, the timing is bad
Some individuals are in such a rush to find new work that they are willing to take a less desirable position, even though it is not what they would choose for themselves. If you have your sights set on a particular position, and the company in question has asked you to interview for the position or even made you an offer to accept the position, but it later comes to light that there will be a better opportunity available in a few months, you should turn down the job offer.
The vast majority of businesses do not want to hire potential workers who are frantic to find job. They are looking for employees who are enthusiastic about the firm and its goals, and who are willing to put in a lot of effort to contribute to the company’s overall success.
If you are given the opportunity to work for a business and choose not to accept the employment due of scheduling conflicts, then you run the risk of missing out on other possibilities as well. You will also be known as someone who is not willing to do what is best for oneself, which might have an effect in the future on how other people view you in relation to them.
What else will help you turn down your job offer
As you are composing your email, here are a few more points to bear in mind, particularly if this is a circumstance in which it is quite important for you to have open communication channels.As soon as you’ve made up your mind, go back to the employer as soon as possible to let them know so that they may continue their search. It’s human nature to put off dealing with challenging conversations for as long as possible, but now is not the time to cave in.
If you have contacts who may recommend the firm, you should do so, especially if you praise the organization. You may say, “That being said, I have a few connections that I believe would be ideal for the position, and I would be pleased to provide you with their information.”
Make sure that your emails are concise and to the point. There is no need to provide a lengthy justification for your decision or to lavish excessive praise on the organization. Just take the Band-Aid off as quickly as possible and push send. Think about giving them a call if you believe it would be acceptable, given the circumstances. Instead of informing the hiring manager of the news over email, you should utilize that email to set up a brief call at the hiring manager’s convenience and have a live chat. This is especially effective if you previously connected with the hiring manager or have formed one over time.
It is never a pleasant experience to decline an offer of employment, regardless of how certain you are that you do not want the position. On the other hand, there are instances when it is better to hold out for the job that is the best fit for you rather than accepting the first one that comes along. Take a few slow, deep breaths and remind yourself that you’re going through this because you’re so awesome, and so many people want to work with you.
Key Takeaways (If you haven’t read the entire blog)
After you have provided your counterpart with a reasoned explanation as to why you will not be accepting the position, you should thank them once again and either offer to keep in contact or wish them luck with the recruiting process.
You have the option of acknowledging that you would like to be kept informed of future possibilities or revisiting the issue if any of the external variables affecting you were to alter. It is not irrational to imagine that an employer who you turn down now may become desirable to you in the future; hence, you should maintain a positive connection with them and keep the door open. In the end, figuring out how to politely deny an offer of employment could feel challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. Make use of the aforementioned advice to compose a message that is uncomplicated, transparent, and succinct. You may ensure that others fully comprehend you in this manner.
In addition, you’ll have the confidence to continue forward with the next steps of your job hunt. You won’t have to worry about a job offer looming over your head that you don’t want to take, and that might provide a significant amount of peace. Regardless of the reasons you have for declining the job offer, the most important thing is to conduct yourself in a courteous and professional manner. If this is the case, then you might be able to keep the door slightly ajar, which would provide you with the opportunity to apply for jobs at the same company in the future if it is something you are interested in doing. Remember
- Be thankful
- Try to be straightforward yet diplomatic
- Try not to stretch it to the last moment
- Demonstrate that you’re making an extra effort
- Create a connection with this person for the future, and maintain communication with them.
References
–> https://zety.com/blog/how-to-decline-a-job-offer
–> https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-gracefully-turn-down-a-job-offer
–> https://www.betterup.com/blog/how-to-decline-a-job-offer
–> https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-decline-a-job-offer-email-examples
Job offers range from making you want to contact your parents right away to make you want to vent about your difficulties to your friends. Even so, you must reply.
