How to Turn Down a Job Offer with Professionalism

How to Turn Down a Job Offer with ProfessionalismWhen youre on the job hunt, your focus is so fully on getting to that job offer all of your energy goes into making yourself into the ideal candidate, and making aya that the hiring manager knows how very ideal you are. But what happens if you get to that point and the job just isnt right for you? googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) 1. Reasons to Turn Down a Job Offer2. When to Turn Down a Job Offer3. How to Turn Down a Job Offer4. What Not to Do When You Turn Down a Job OfferReasons to Turn Down a Job Offer1. You couldnt come to an agreement on compensation.Sometimes, negotiation just doesnt go the way you want it to go, and you just cant compromise any further.2. The job wasnt what you thought it would be when you applied.Maybe that 40-hour work week looks suspiciously like 60 hours positiv 10 p.m. emails. Or the senior manager position appears to be much mora junior than it looked on paper .3. You learned something about the company or job during the process that turned you off.If you find out that the companys mission includes clubbing baby seals, or has a political bent that makes you uncomfortable, ask yourself would I really be happy and fulfilled working here? If the answer is no, its time to walk away and start over somewhere else.4. You leveraged your job offer into a raise or promotion at your current place, and want to stay put.Or, you have a competing offer that youd rather accept. Look at you, with your wealth of offers If you find yourself in this envious position, its time to jettison the other opportunities.5. The job would require life changes (moving, etc.) that youre leid ready to adopt.This job would be perfect, except for the relocation to Siberia6. Insert any good reason hereWhile all of these are good reasons, your reason doesnt necessarily have to fall into one of those categories. Sometimes a job just isnt the right choice for you at this partic ular time, and youre not obligated to accept any offer you get. Yes, having a job offer to reject is a very privileged spot to have, but regardless of the economy or optics, you need to make the decision thats best for you.The trick is in managing the bowing-out process so that you dont look like a jerk, in case you end up re-applying for another job at the same company someday. And even if you never go back to that company for a job opportunity, people move around, so you may encounter the same hiring manager at an entirely different place. Networks are tricky, unpredictable creatures. All of this is to say its in your best interest to handle this like a pro, whatever your reasons are for saying no. When to Turn Down a Job OfferThe timing is pretty self-explanatoryyou cant reject a job offer until you have a job offer. Doing it before you get an official offer reads as presumptuous. If you need to remove yourself from the running while the interview process is still playing out, us e that kind of verbiage. (Before we move any further, Ill need to remove myself from the application process. Thanks so much for the opportunity to talk with you about the position)When rejecting a job offer, you want to be eingabeaufforderunglet them know as soon as you come to your decision. Theyll appreciate that you were up front, and it will let them either make another offer or start the process again with other candidates.How to Turn Down a Job OfferAbove all, put it in writing. Letting the company know in an email or letter (even if its as a follow-up to a phone call or a face-to-face convo) is always the best way to go. The reasons for thisIt leaves a paper trail. Think of it as a mini version of a resignation letter. Once your intent is in writing and filed in your folder, theres no dispute or confusion over whether you accepted or rejected an offer. Clarity wins, every time.It removes any potential for mixed signals or confusion about whether youre unternehmensverbund out for mora (salary, benefits, title, etc.). The final email tells the company, Im not playing games, Im just moving on. Thanks for your timeYou should also consider a quick phone call to the recruiter or hiring manager to let them know as well, especially if you know them partieally or want to maintain a professional relationship. Its an open, friendly gesture and conveys that you know how much time and effort went into the hiring process. However, if you decide to drop the news in person or a phone, definitely follow up with an email. It doesnt have to be too complicated. It just needs to hit these elementsFriendly toneNever go negative, even if you found the process or the people involved distasteful. Always be the bigger person, because you never know how information will travel or with whom youll cross paths again someday.Personal greetingDear sirs and madams or just a Hi are not going to cut it. Be sure to address the person whos been handling your hiring process, whether its a recruiter or a hiring manager.Thank you.Its not an Oscar speech, so you dont need to get too detailed. Just a quick thank you for the opportunity to meet your team and learn more about the company is totally fine.A reasonThese dont have to be all that specific, but you want to give them a sense of why youre turning them down, when you seemed like such a gung-ho candidate before. ExamplesI dont think this job is the best fit for me right now.Ive decided to accept another offer. If you do this, you dont need to say where, but it would be helpful for the company to know if their top candidates are bailing because other places are offering more comprehensive benefits, better hours, etc. No matter what, be diplomatic.Reiteration of appreciationRemember, you want the company to feel like youre the one that got away, not the close call they had with a monster.Nice closingThe same kind of closing you use for any standard business communication applies here. Regards, best wishes, thanks agai n, sincerely, and similar ones all work. No melodrama, just easy and respectful closure.Heres a sample offer rejection letter you can use for reference if you find yourself in this position.Dear Scooter,Thank you very much for offering me the position of Senior Swamp Correspondent. After careful deliberation, Ive decided to accept another position thats more in line with my experience and my goals. I really appreciate your time and consideration, though, as well as the chance to meet your excellent colleagues Fozzie and Gonzo. I know your team will continue to achieve great things in TV production, and I look forward to hearing about your continued success.Best wishes, KermitThere are also other examples and templates online that you can use, like here and here. The most important thing is to write what feels right for youit should be in your voice, but if you find yourself at a loss for what to say, you can stick to these guidelines and dash off a perfectly nice rejection note.The level of formality may vary, depending on a) how formal the company is (which youll have a sense of from your interview and interactions with the company), and b) how well you know the person receiving the note. Err on the side of formality, but if a textbook form letter just doesnt feel right, just make sure to hit the six points above, and keep the tone light and professional.What NOT to Do When You Turn Down a Job OfferWhile youre crafting your its not you, its me note, there are some pitfalls to keep in mind as well. Dont even consider the followingUsing powerfully negative words like reject.It just sounds harsh, sofind a nicer way to phrase things, like, opting to pursue other opportunities or will not be able to accept your offer at this time.Taking a hostile tone.If you didnt get along with anyone along the way, or discovered that you really dont like the company, this is not the place to vent that. No sarcasm, snide remarks, or profanity.Posting about it on social media.Its just poor formand if you put a company on blast after they offer you a job, you could do some heavy damage to your own reputation.Talking smack about the company or anyone you spoke to throughout the process.If you met with someone really obnoxious during your interview process, now is not the time to talk about it. If you have any grievances, same deal. Just be thankful you got away unscathed, and be nice as youre walking out the door.Youre breaking off a potential relationship here, but instead of disappearing into the comfortable anonymity of a dating app, youre talking to people in an industry where you (presumably) want to keep working. You have to acknowledge the offer and also that you will not be accepting it. Its not that hard, I promise The awkwardness and unpleasantness that would result from just ignoring an open offer (and potentially wasting the time of someone following up on it) are just not the way to conduct yourself in a professional way.With these tools, youre re ady to take the difficult step of cutting loose from the hiring process. It can be a difficult decision, but againif the job isnt right for you or you have better opportunities, theres no need to draw it out. Be quick, be nice, and be firmand youre out and ready to move on to the next opportunity.