How To Politely Decline a Job Offer or Interview

Received a job offer but want to turn it down? Here’s how to politely decline a job or interview offer.

You’ve applied to jobs, and you even got accepted. Someone from the prospective company sent you one of those acceptance emails or gave you a call. And now the ball is in your court to either accept or decline. But something isn’t sitting right. You need to politely decline the job offer.

Reasons Why You Might Want to Politely Decline a Job Offer

Everyone has their reasons. Maybe another offer came along, you landed your actual dream job in, say, technology sales, or perhaps the salary didn’t make you smile. Here are a few common acceptable reasons to turn down a job offer.

Accepted Another Offer

This is actually a good position to be in. Usually, if you accept one job and decline another, it’s because you received a better offer. Congratulations! Now, it’s not appropriate to leave the other company in the dark. And you definitely want to maintain that relationship in case of future opportunities.

Salary Didn’t Meet Expectations

Were you expecting a higher salary? In most cases, you can negotiate a higher salary before heading straight toward declining the offer. However, if a higher salary just isn’t on the table, then it is reasonable to politely decline the job offer.

Job Position Isn’t the Right Fit

Maybe along the way, you realized the job position itself is not the right fit for you. That is a common occurrence. It’s best to recognize that the role isn’t for you sooner than later. You never want to be stuck in a job that doesn’t align with your career goals or likes.

Company Culture Isn’t the Right Fit

Perhaps you need to politely decline an offer because of the company itself. You’re not alone. According to BND, 77% of people would consider company culture before they apply for a job. If it is a company culture issue, manager issue, or anything else about the organization that is unappealing, you should listen to your intuition. From a stat by Bonfyre, 58% of employees have left a job or would leave their job due to cultural issues. Simply revert back to the fact that this job just isn’t the right fit for you.

How to Politely Decline a Job Offer or Interview

Regardless of the reason why you opted not to take the job, there is a proven method to politely decline a job offer. You can follow these steps for any industry or circumstance.

Choose Your Communication Method

The first thing to consider is how you will tell them the news. Naturally, you don’t want to text them, as that will be informal and impolite. Instead, leave an email or call. Direct communication is the golden rule when politely declining a job offer- or interview.

Use the same method of communication the company used to inform you of the job offer. If talking over the phone is too gut-wrenching, then a formal, polished email is still thoughtful.

Start With Gratitude

Always open the conversation with gratitude. Express your thanks for the opportunity, even though you don’t want it. It’s always important to start off with a “thank you” because the company has invested a lot of time, resources, and energy into the hiring process.

Since they extended a job offer, they are showing how much they like you. And they assume you also like them. So, it’s only polite to preface the rejection with appreciation.

Give a Brief Reason

This is the part of politely declining a job offer that many people forget. Your would-be employer will want to know the reason behind your rejection. Even if they don’t verbally ask for the reason, they deserve to know.

You don’t need to give a long-winded answer full of all the details. Give a brief and honest explanation for turning down the job offer. Highlight the key points, such as the job not being a good fit for you, etc.

Stay In Touch

Last but not least, stay in touch with the company. When wrapping up the conversation, express your desire to keep in contact. It’s important that you end the discussion on a positive note. And what better way to do so than by extending a hand to connect?

A job rejection doesn’t have to be negative. Consider connecting on LinkedIn with the people you formed a relationship with during the hiring process.

Skip the Interview and Go Straight to a Dallas Recruiter

Are you looking for a job in the sales industry in Dallas, Texas? Our team can help you find the perfect sales position that aligns with your objective, future goals, and current skill set. We will connect you straight to hiring companies to expedite your job search.

If you are trying to fill a sales-based role within your company, Sales Recruiters Dallas can also help you hire the perfect candidate. We use a hands-on approach that’s proven to get results and makes the hiring process a breeze.