Rejecting job offers is never a fun or easy task. People often take the unprofessional route to this making them look poorly because they don’t know how to properly reject offers. You may not be the right fit for some jobs, but they can just as easily not be the right fit for you. That’s okay but knowing the ins and out of properly declining is crucial because word of mouth goes far. You never know who that employer knows and how that could affect you in the future.
Why You Would Reject a Job Offer
Committing to a job is a huge deal. It isn’t always easy finding a job so once one’s offered, we feel obligated to accept the position but it’s crucial that you’re finding a job/career that you are genuinely happy with. After all, you will spend most of your time here.
Trust Your Gut
You’ll know if something isn’t right. Maybe it’s the pay, the expectations, the people, or you just can’t pin it down. If your gut tells you it’s not right, it probably isn’t.
The People
You’ll spend a lot of time with your co-workers. You must be able to enjoy their presence. If you feel that there will be a conflict of interest or you won’t enjoy the company, turn away!
The Compensation
You work to live, not live to work. You should be fairly compensated for your work so you can enjoy your life outside of your job. If the company can’t match your needs, it’s okay; there’s another out there that can and will.
The Demand
Maybe the job asks too much or too little. If you feel that it’s too much work, it’s better to say no so there isn’t further frustration on both ends. If you feel you want to be more challenged, find another job that excites you.
The Mission
You must agree with the values of the company. As an employee, you’ll be a face representing a brand. This will fall back on who you are and who the employer is. Staying true to yourself is more important than losing yourself for a pretty penny.
You Can’t Grow
If there isn’t a chance to progress, you’ll lose interest. Maybe it’s a promotion or a pay raise but there should always be incentives to move up. Be sure you’re on the same page as the employer with what you see for yourself.
How to Gracefully Decline
Rejecting job offers isn’t as hard as we make it seem. Knowing these proper ways to professionally decline job offers will make it a whole lot easier!
Let Them Know ASAP
Once you make the decision (even if it’s during the interview), let the employer know as soon as possible. This will give them time to keep looking and not put any holds on their hiring process.
Keep it Short and Sweet
Don’t go into too many details about why unless they ask. Be clear and confident in your reason for rejection and avoid excessive detail.
Keep the door open
You never know when they might have another job offer for you or the reason you declined changed. Always mention that you hope to stay in touch and that maybe something could work out in the future.
Give Thanks
The interviewer took time out of their busy schedule and invested it into you. Thank them for their time and consideration. This goes a long way.
Be kind
The golden rule ALWAYS applies. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Give respect and be kind, it goes along way. Like I said above, you never know who the employer knows and how it could affect you.
Knowing it’s Not for You
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten sick of a job because I say yes to everything! It’s actually a problem. Knowing when to reject job offers is crucial in your well-being. Listen to your heart and listen to your gut.
When you know, you know. Rejecting job offers doesn’t have to be as scary as it feels. Being assertive in what you want will make it better for you in the long run. You will be saving your time and employers’ time. If you feel like you won’t enjoy the job, you probably won’t. This will make it less exciting to go to work each day and will lead to a miserable life.
The amount of work that goes into hiring someone is extensive. Employers will generally respect the fact that you are politely declining before hiring you and then having you unhappy and ultimately leaving. Being able to trust your decisions and know that the right thing will come when it is time is very important in the job-hunting process. It can be stressful and take a while, but it’ll be worth it in the end.
