How To Decline A Job Offer Gracefully!

Looking for a job is no child's play. If you apply for five jobs, chances are you will end up with one offer. Just to be sure you do not lose out on that one job offer, you apply for five others. After all, statistically speaking, the probability of getting one job out of ten is higher than one out of five.

As a consequence of this habit of yours, you may well end up with two or three different job offers. Now we admit that getting a job offer is a great experience and the joy is multiplied manifold when you receive that one phone call conveying the great news.

However, in such a situation the only thing that can dim your day is receiving too many such calls. First and foremost, it becomes difficult to make a choice about which job you will go for, and which is the one that you will ignore. Once, after much thought and contemplation, when you are finally able to make that decision, the next million dollar question that comes into the picture is how to reject the other offers?

After all you do not want to burn out your future job prospects in the company. Neither do you want to be in bad terms with anyone in that company. To help you deal with such a tricky situation, this article explores a myriad of situations with respect to the same.

Offer Referrals

There are times when you refuse a job not because you do not like the company, but because you do not like the job that is being offered to you. In such a situation, make sure that you mention your appreciation for the company in the letter that you are drafting. If you have someone in mind who fits the said job role, feel free to share their LinkedIn links with the employer.

However, before doing so make sure that the candidate is interested in the same; not doing so will embarrass you further. In a way, by suggesting appropriate candidates for the post, you are making up for the loss that you have caused to the company.

Be Gracious

Even though you know that you are not going to join the particular firm, it gives you no liberty to be rude to them. Remember this is the very company that gave you a job when you asked for the same. Thus, it is your duty to express your appreciation for the same.

Be gracious and if it is possible, send a personal appreciation note to the people who referred or hired you. They are the people who wanted you in their team and now that you are not joining them, the least you can do is express your gratitude for being given the opportunity.

Stay In Touch

In the world of careers, what goes around often comes back around. You never know when you might need assistance from the person whose job offer you have just declined. Thus, it is important to realise the importance of networking and stay in touch with the people who have hired you.

If you have followed the previous point of being gracious to them and showing them your appreciation, this should not be a very difficult task. Over the years you will be amazed to see the role this small gesture will play in your career.

Phone Calls

All of us will agree on the fact that if there is something that written communication cannot convey it is the tone of the conversation. Writing "I am sorry" is different from saying it aloud with the correct emotions.

Thus, if you are someone who does not want to burn down the bridge to future career opportunities with a company while refusing a current offer, the best thing that you can do is politely refuse the offer via a phone call.

Give A Reason

No one likes to be dumped without being given an explanation. Hence, if you are unable to join a particular job, make sure you mention the reason for the same. Chances are the people who are hiring you have traced career trajectories in the past that are similar to the one you are facing now. In that case they will understand the same and may even support you. In case they do not do so, you can still leave the company knowing that you have done your bit.

Keep It Simple

When at the end of the day you know that you are turning down an offer, there is no way you will make it easier for the recruiters who have to go through the cumbersome process of searching for the right candidate from scratch.

By beating around the bush you do not make things any easier for them. Thus, considering that it is a professional environment and that there is nothing you can do to lessen the inconvenience that you are causing, it is always better to keep it short and simple. Be direct about what you want to convey and make sure not to beat around the bush.

Do Not Show Your Lack Of Confidence

As stated in the beginning of the article, chances are it will not be easy for you to pick the right job. Thus, even when you are refusing a particular job offer for a better one, there might be some underlying hesitation in your mind. Make sure you do not mention this to your employer. This is not just unprofessional but it also raises the question on your decision-making skills.

Take time to make your decision and pick a job offer that you feel is the best for you. Once you have taken a stand, do not even consider looking back. You will be amazed to see how your confidence can take you places.