How to decline a job offer (without burning bridges)
When looking for employment, ‘how to decline a job offer’ doesn’t usually top the list of concerns…but if you receive multiple offers or an offer that is not aligned with your career goals, it suddenly becomes very important. To help with this, we’ve compiled a few tips for ensuring a smooth process with no bad blood – check them out below!
How to decline a job offer politely and professionally:
- Explain your decision clearly
If you’ve declined the position in favor of another role with a different employer, it’s a good idea to let the company know. You don’t have to share specific details about your new job, but informing the company why you’ve gone in another direction can help them adjust their process. On the flip side, if your reasoning is personal in nature, this lets them know that it wasn’t an issue with the offer itself.
- Be gracious and respectful
Though this might seem like common sense, anyone who has worked in recruitment or HR can tell you that it is not. Job candidates who have had bad experiences interviewing with one company or agency sometimes assume that this reflects the entire industry. Mutual professionalism is a two-way street that benefits everyone. Showing some appreciation and thanking the employer for the opportunity doesn’t cost you anything.
- Leave things open for future opportunities
Maintaining professionalism isn’t just a matter of courtesy or respect. In today’s business environment, networking is huge. Closing the door on an opportunity does not have to close the door on future employment with the company. A great example of this is in a high-growth industry tech, where a bootstrapped startup offering low wages can become funded overnight.
- Continue making a good impression
The fact that you’re receiving the offer means that you already made a good impression on a decision maker within the company. Why squander this goodwill? It’s also important to note that people regularly move between different organizations in the same industry – the intern taking notes during your interview and receiving your email could be a hiring executive at a different company down the road. If he or she remembers you in a positive light, that can help your chances.
Even with these tips, determining how to decline a job offer can be nerve-wracking. If you have any suggestions or insights, let the community know in the comments below.