How to Decline a Job Offer With Class - TheJobNetwork

How to Decline a Job Offer With Class - TheJobNetworkYoure job searching and you got an offer. Congratulations, thats greatno matter how you slice it. Downside? You dont really want that job. Either youve been offered something better, or youre holding out for a more appropriate opportunity to your skill level and experience. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Whatever the reason, if you need to decline a job offer with politeness and classand without burning any bridgeshere are five steps to follow for a graceful exit1. Acknowledge.Dont just let the offer letter sit in your inboxor the offer message in your voicemail. Promptly acknowledge your receipt of the offer, making sure to reiterate your gratitude and sincere appreciation for both the offer and their time and consideration, and confirming timetables. When do they need your decision? Or if they havent imposed a deadline, suggest that youll get back to them with your answer by a certa in (in the very near future) date.2. Stay in touch.Keep a line of communication open with you and the recruiter or hiring manager during your deliberation. You never know when a company might be open to negotiate to sweeten the deal for you. Not to mention, ignoring a company thats just made you a job offer is a great way to look seriously unprofessional and childish. Put on your big girl panties and let them know where you are at.3. Dot your is.Before you decline offer A (if youre doing so because you also got offer B), make sure that youre all finished with the preliminary on-boarding obstacles at job B before declining offer A. And please dont post on any social media (especially LinkedIn) that you are accepting any offers until youve notlageified all companies you mean to decline and youre well on your way to bringing in your plants and pictures to the job you are taking.4. Rip the Band-aid.The best approach, once youve decided, is to get your decline over with as quickly and su ccinctly as possible. With an email or phone call, give a good brief reason, whatever that reason is. Either youve decided its not the best time to move/leave your current position/transition to a different role, etc. Or youve opted to pursue a position that allows you to be better challenged in one particular area of expertise. Or youve simply decided to accept an offer from another companyno further explanation needed unless asked. Elaborate only to the extent that it makes sense in the context of your prior conversations with this company. Remember that any intel you provide will help them in their hiring process and give them greater insight into their own process.5. Dont ghost.Reiterate at this final stage how much you enjoyed meeting the team. You really enjoyed your conversations, yada yada. But why not stay in touch? Just because you declined an offer, provided you did so reasonably and with a certain degree of professionalism and class, theres no reason at all to go burning any bridges. Connect on LinkedIn to stay abreast of future employment opportunities. Reference a conference you might be attending together as a point of future contact. If none of this makes sense, simply state that the process was a pleasure and you wish them all the best.