“Thanks, but no thanks.” is not going to suffice as a polite way to decline a job. This isn’t a rare occurrence, there are many reasons to decline a job offer, including low compensation and a poor fit with the company’s culture.
You’ve probably never been in this situation before, but in the business world, it’s perfectly normal. You’ll never forget the first time you had to send a rejection letter in a job search.
But look, if you’re serious about your profession, that’s why you’re here. It’s preferable to turn down an unsuitable employment offer than to accept it and spend your days in misery.
There is an appropriate approach to turn down a job offer, so keep that in mind. If you follow to this 3-step approach, you won’t have to worry about burning any bridges.
Respond Immediately
Let’s say you get an email with the job offer. what are you doing?
A) Ignore that and keep watching Netflix
B) Reply as soon as possible
You already know the right answer. Don’t just ignore a job offer from a hiring manager. This is crucial since it allows them to consider other applicants for the position.
By taking too long to respond, you’re taking up valuable time that someone else could be using. That would be rude. So, if you get a job offer and decide you don’t want it, you should respond by the end of the business day at the latest.
Make your response as personal as possible
There’s no harm in sending a brief email saying you’re not interested, but sometimes that’s not enough. Without careful word choice, it can come out as indifferent or even frigid.
You should notify the hiring manager in writing (I’ll get to that in a second), but you should also give them a call to explain why you’re declining the position. It’s the professional and courteous thing to do, even though we know you don’t want to call them. If you’re hoping to keep in touch for potential future employment, this is an excellent tool to use.
Use proper email etiquette.
Prepare a thoughtful email response to the recruiting manager’s inquiry before picking up the phone to have a conversation with them. This will help you organize your thoughts and communicate only what is necessary. It also guarantees congruence between your verbal and written communications.
If you want to send the perfect “no thanks” email, use this template.
You should be thankful that the company took a chance on you and provided you a job. That’s awfully kind of them to do. Always express your gratitude to the person who helped you land the job.
Don’t leave this potential employer guessing why you’re passing on this job. Explain briefly why you think you would be a poor match for the position.
Make a sincere offer to keep in touch: You liked the company, but the position wasn’t a suitable fit since (for example) the salary was too low. Offer to stay in touch for future job chances if you can see yourself working with this organization again.
Here’s an illustration that ties everything together:
Greetings, Hiring Manager
Gratitude is a virtue. I appreciate the chance you’ve given me to work for the Company. Although accepting your kind offer was initially appealing, I have chosen to reject.
[Please explain why] The position’s wage and benefits package is too low for me to consider accepting it.
[Propose maintaining contact] I appreciate your kindness very much. Thank you for your consideration, and please keep me informed about any suitable opportunities at Company. Keep in touch and we can discuss potential opportunities in the future.
All the best,
Your name
Make a dignified exit
It’s a huge compliment to be offered a job. However, after going through the interviews for a job, you may decide that it isn’t the right fit. You are under no obligation to take employment simply because it is offered to you.
If you want to gracefully decline a job offer without damaging relationships, Hopefully this script was helpful.
If you realize a job is not for you prior to even getting the actual offer, these tips might be beneficial to you: