How to decline a job offer without burning bridges
The job market is filled with opportunity at the moment, says Amie Duignan, a career coach and founder of A.D. Connects. Case in point: Duignan recently had a job seeker successfully land 6 different offers, all with similar roles and salaries.
It’s an incredible but stressful position to be in – knowing the world is your oyster, but that you also have to make a tough decision in a short amount of time that will end up disappointing 5 of those 6 businesses.
Reflect on what’s most important
“He [the job seeker] really had to sit down and reflect on what was important to him, and he realised that living close to his work was a priority, and he decided to go with the job closest to his home – shock, not the one with the highest salary,” Duignan says. “Because he had that time to reflect, he was able to chat to the other companies and be super honest about what he was feeling and where he wanted to go.”
Honesty is the best policy when it comes to building trust and connections that can help you in the future, she observes. It’s not just about looking good on paper, but also having a conversation with every prospective employer that they will remember. This is really important when it comes to turning “thanks but no” into potential future career prospects.
“I had [another] really good client who had 2 amazing opportunities at 2 large banks,” Duignan says. “She ended up going with the one that offered her more flexibility, but she called the other hiring manager and explained her situation.” The job seeker also added the hiring manager on social media and kept in contact, Duignan adds. “They fostered that relationship and a few years later ended up working together at an even better opportunity.”
The best way to politely decline
So, what do you do when you’re offered multiple jobs at the same time? How do you turn some of them down? And what if you’ve accepted a new role and something better comes along? Is it okay to back out and go in a different direction? We asked some experts to weigh in with their top tips.
When it comes to declining an offer, it’s important to do it formally and politely, says career coach Kirsty Ferguson, founder of Interview Chix. Employers invest heavily in recruitment, so it’s important to show respect and respond in a timely manner.
Ferguson recommends communicating verbally with the hiring manager and following up with an email to ensure you leave a great impression.
“It’s a privileged place to find yourself having multiple offers,” she says. “Be gracious and appreciative of the opportunity and give the employer a chance to respond or match the other offer if appropriate. Provide genuine reasons [for turning the offer down] instead of saying something generic, such as ‘The other role was a better fit’. This will help the employer regroup and continue to improve.”
But what if you’ve already accepted a job, but something better comes along? It’s a tricky situation, Ferguson says, because it depends on what part of the process you’re in when you change your mind.
“You can certainly do it if no formal contract has been signed or you have not been privy to company-specific documentation or proprietary information,” she says. “If you have already signed a contract, this is where it’s important to have the guidance of an agent or legal representation. If you feel safe doing so, you can discuss the opportunity with your new employer as they may want to match the offer to entice you to stay.”
Making the right call
Tanya Abbey, CEO of recruitment agency Black Wolf Group, says job seekers should be clear about what stage they’re at in their job search right from the initial interview to start the relationship on the right foot.
“Be honest with the recruiter or hiring manager during the process, as they may be in a position to help or negotiate the job description,” she says, adding that this can lead to win-win situations. “Also, don’t apply for every role. Be specific around what you’re looking for and what career progression is available.”
It’s never nice to disappoint someone, but declining a job in the right way means you can do it without burning bridges in the process. Make decisions in a timely manner, change your mind before contracts are signed, be respectful, and always give genuine and constructive reasons for making your decision.
Who knows – a polite rejection now might open the door to tremendous opportunities in years to come.
Originally published on news.com.au, republished with permission.
