How to Decline a Job Offer

If you’ve been offered a position at a Riverside company and decide it’s not quite right for you, instead of just ignoring the hiring manager’s calls and emails, instead of just saying “No, thank you!” you need to decline the offer in a professional manner. Why? First, because it’s the right thing to do and, second, because word gets around; hiring managers in similar industries do talk to each other and if you’ve left a hiring manager in the lurch in a big way, understand that word will get out.

In other words, you could hurt your chances with other companies if you act unprofessional with this one.

Read below for some tips on how to decline a job offer.

  • If you haven’t accepted the offer yet and decide it’s not the right offer for you, you should tell the hiring manager why. (Note: if it’s a case of not enough money, you should be able to negotiate your salary before making your decision. If you and the hiring manager can’t come to a happy agreement regarding salary, this is a perfectly acceptable reason to decline the offer and you should let the hiring manager know this.)
  • Always, always, always thank the hiring manager for the job offer. Thank him or her for offering you the opportunity and be sure to compliment the hiring manager on how he or she conducts him/herself, how well the department appears to be run and so on. You don’t need to gush, but you need to be sincere.
  • As you’re at the point where you’re declining the offer, speak clearly and steadily. Cut to the chase: “I am going to decline your job offer. The reason is…” That’s really all you need to do.
  • The hiring manager may ask questions and you can answer them as you see fit, but it’s wisest not to go into too much detail. The best answer, in the case where you’re declining the offer because you received a better one, is “The job didn’t meet my career objectives.” Truly. That’s really all you need to say.
  • If you receive a better job offer, you tell the hiring manager that: “I’m declining your offer because I received one that’s more in line with my career goals.”
  • You should let the company know of your decision as soon as possible and most definitely not on the day you were expected to start work. If you decide at the last minute to turn down the offer (and we consider last minute to be the day before or the day of your expected first day), do not send the hiring manager/your supervisor an e-mail or a text. A phone call is called for. If you must leave a message, let the hiring manager/supervisor know you will call back as soon as possible to speak with him or her in person. If necessary, make multiple efforts until you reach the hiring manager. Leave a phone number where he or she may call you.
  • If the position you’re declining was in management or something other than entry-level, than you owe the hiring manager/supervisor a lengthy e-mail (in addition to a phone call), giving more detail about your decision. You should send this as soon as possible after you’ve spoken to the individual on the phone. You don’t need to go into excessive detail, but you should give at least one major reason for your decision. Appropriate reasons are you received a better offer at another company, your current employer presented you with a better offer (although it’s really not a good idea to accept a counteroffer from your current employer), you decided you wouldn’t be a good fit within the department, you decided to take your career in another direction.
  • Again, unless you receive another and better job offer at the last minute, you really should give at least one or two days’ notice (a minimum of a week is best) of your decision to decline the offer.

If you’re looking for work in the Inland Empire area (San Bernardino and Riverside counties), then contact the recruiters at Arrow Staffing. We can help you find temporary, temp-to-hire and direct-hire opportunities with some of the region’s top employers. If you are looking for a Redlands employment agency, contact us today.

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