The Tactful Way to Reject a Job Offer

Receiving a job offer deserves congratulations! As you review the terms of the offer, however, after analyzing the offer and talking with your recruiter, you may realize that this job isn’t the right one for you. When this happens, you may wonder what to do next.

You aren’t obligated to “save face” by accepting the first job offer you receive—especially if it doesn’t fit your career goals. Here’s how to recognize an ill-fitting job offer and how to say “thanks, but no thanks” in a professional manner.

Here are some of the most common “red flags” that may indicate the job offer you’re holding should be one you reject:

  1. It’s Off Track. The job may look great, but does it keep you on the career path you’ve worked so hard to establish? Or is it a distracting “side quest”—and how long do you want to be walking away from your main goal?
  2. It Feels Grinding. If you find yourself looking at things like salary or counting vacation days to calm a rising sense of dread at the day-to-day work with job demands, it’s time to walk away. Work-life balance is essential to both quality work and personal well-being.
  3. The Compensation Isn’t Competitive. If the salary and benefits offered don’t reflect the value of your skills and experience across the job market as a whole, walk away.
  4. It Doesn’t Fit You as a Person. Work shouldn’t compromise your morals or values. When it does, both you and the quality of your work suffer.

This job offer may not be right for you. If not, what’s next?

How to Decline a Job Offer Professionally

Here’s how to turn down a job offer without burning bridges:

  1. Start With Thanks. When providing bad news, it helps to start with a positive statement. Here, begin your response by thanking the hiring manager for the offer and for the time and thought that went into it.
  2. Explain Your Reasoning (Briefly). It’s considerate not to make the hiring manager wonder why you said no, but it’s unnecessary to rehash every red flag you saw. Instead, contain your reason for your “no” to one sentence: “After careful consideration, I’ve decided this position is not the right fit for my career goals.
  3. Express Your Interest in Maintaining a Professional Relationship. Offering to stay in touch can maintain your status as a fellow professional and help keep networking lines open. “Thank you for your time, and I hope we can stay in touch.”

If you’ve received a job offer that doesn’t fit with your career goals, it’s okay to say no. An experienced legal support recruiter, like the team at Kent Legal, can help you do so with grace and stay focused on finding the job you want. Contact us today to learn more.

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