How to Gracefully Turn Down a Job Offer

If you recently got offered a job but ruled it’s not a good fit, it’s hard to know how to respond. You’re thankful for the opportunity but have decided to move forward with another job. Or, the salary they offered you is too low. Whatever the case may be, it’s time to let them know.

The interview process may have been long and difficult, so you feel bad turning down the offer. But, you must, and the sooner, the better. You don’t want them to be left hanging when a different applicant can move forward instead.

Here are some tips to make turning down a job offer more manageable.

1. Respond Graciously

It takes a company a long time to interview a variety of applicants. After much deliberation, they decided that you’re the person they want for the job. They’re assuming you’re going to say yes to working with them, and they’ll feel disappointed when you don’t.

That’s why it’s vital to let them know that you appreciate their time and are grateful for the opportunity. Thanking them is the right thing to do since it took them a lot of time and resources to go through the process.

2. Explain Why You’re Turning Them Down

You may feel hesitant about letting them know why you’re not moving forward with the position, but don’t be. After thanking them for the opportunity, briefly explain why you’re turning them down. Here are a few examples:

Accepting a Different Job Offer

If you’re going with a different job, let them know that you’re accepting another position at a local law firm, for example. You don’t have to go into specifics, but you can specify that it’s a better fit for you.

Disagree With an Employment Contract

You may have gotten close to accepting the job position. But once you looked over the employment contract, you found you didn’t agree with everything.

They may want to discuss things with you further.  But if you’re convinced that’s the reason you don’t want the job, it’s better to be forthright about it.

Position Isn’t a Good Fit

If it’s something specific to the position, still be honest. Perhaps the company didn’t explain well enough what the role would entail. After finding out more about the work environment, you may realize that it’s not the right job for you.

In that case, being upfront with them can help them improve their communication. And their hiring process can go better for other hires moving forward.

3. Stay Connected

If you hit it off with an interviewer, or even if you didn’t, conclude your email by mentioning you’d like to stay in touch. Don’t yet go into details about how you plan to keep in touch, though.

It’s better to wait a month or so before requesting to connect with them on LinkedIn. If appropriate, ask if you can grab a coffee with a hiring manager to stay on good terms with them. If not, sending an occasional message on LinkedIn is effective.

Your current position with a company may not pan out in the future. If that should happen, you never know what kind of opportunities may present themself to you. Assuming the company that interviewed you responds, reaching out once in a while keeps you informed. And it shows them that you’re professional.

Conclusion

It’s not easy turning down a job offer, mostly if the hiring process was long and drawn out. But graciously turning them down by drafting an email is the right thing to do. That’s especially the case since you both spent time going through the process.

The good news is you likely learned a lot and improved your interviewing skills. Not only that, but you also figured out how best to thank a company for their time and efforts politely.

Hopefully, you won’t have to turn down another job opportunity in the future. But if you do, you’ll know how to proceed.