N
NO MATTER WHAT
the reason may
be, at some point you may have to
decline a job offer or remove yourself as
a candidate for a position. After going
through the application and interview
process, you have devoted a lot of time
towards the recruiting process for each
position and so has the company.
Through the job search process, you
have likely explored a number of
opportunities or perhaps determined
through the recruiting process that this
particular role is not the right fit for you
and now you have to explain that to the
company. Undoubtedly, it is an awkward
situation, but with these tips you can
gracefully decline the offer.
LET THEM KNOW AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE
Once you have decided that you want to
decline, let them know. Don’t ignore the
offer or keep putting it off. Be aware of
the deadline on the offer and be sure to
let them know before then.
SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION
Thank the employer for their time and
consideration. The company invested a
lot of time and resources into filling this
position, and they picked you out of all
the other candidates, so show them your
gratitude.
GET ON THE PHONE!
Younger generations often turn to an
impersonal e-mail or text message,
which may be easier in uncomfortable
situations. By picking up the phone, it
not only shows professionalism but also
that you are not afraid to speak to them
about the situation.
TELL THEMWHAT YOU LIKED
ABOUT THE COMPANY
You would not have gone through the
hiring process if you did not like
something about the company. Take
time to mention what you liked about
the company and the positives about
the interview or hiring process. This will
show the company that you were not
leading them on and that their time was
not wasted.
BE HONEST
You need to tell them why you are
declining the job offer and it’s
important to be honest. If you are
declining the offer due to a negative
impression gained during the interview/
hiring process, provide them with a
simple explanation and be careful not
to bad mouth the company or anyone
in the process. Remember you want to
be honest, but you do not want to be
brutally honest or overly critical.
KEEP THE DOOR OPEN
Maybe you will want to work for this
company in the future or maybe the
hiring manager will end up working for
a different company you would like to
work for one day. Let him/her know that
you would like to stay in touch, that you
hope to work together in the future, or
that you would be interested if a
position came open that might be a
better fit for you.
RECOMMEND SOMEONE
Do you know someone who might
be a good fit for the position? Let the
company know and provide them with
that person’s contact information. Be
sure that the person you are
recommending is open to the
recommendation and you sharing their
contact information before doing so.
It is said that declining a job offer or
bowing out of the recruitment process
can be a vexing situation. To be fair
to the employer it is important to be
upfront and timely. With these steps and
proper planning you can ease some of
the tension and remove yourself
gracefully and professionally.
how to
decline
a job offer
by Kristen Faucon, Former AgCareers.comMarketing Intern
for declining a job offer
situations
SALARY IS TOO LOW
Salary can be negotiated; however, do
not enter negotiations unless there’s a
good chance you’ll accept. If you would
like to negotiate, let them know how
excited you are about the position but
that the salary isn’t sufficient. If you
feel a higher salary is justified and they
are open to negotiation, have concrete
examples that justify your demands.
ACCEPTED A DIFFERENT JOB
It’s okay to let them know that you
accepted a position with someone
else. You don’t need to provide
additional reasons unless the company
asks and you feel comfortable
answering. However, it is recommended
that you have the other company’s offer
in writing.
POSITION ISN’T THE RIGHT FIT
Say that you like the company but that
the position was not right for you. Let
them know what you were looking for
such as certain responsibilities or the
opportunity for growth. Ask them to
keep you in mind for roles that might be
more in line with the attributes you’ve
shared.
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