How to Decline a Job Offer: 5 Tips for Declining a Job Offer

There are many reasons that a job seeker may decide to turn down an offer, including:

1. 1. Low salary or benefits. Over half of the rejected job offers in the United States are due to a salary offer that was lower than expected, poor benefit packages, lack of time off options, or scheduling inflexibility.
2. 2. Company culture isn’t the right fit. Sometimes, you may interview with a company that has a different work environment than you expected. For instance, you may be searching for a reserved position and find yourself in an interview with a potential employer that prides itself on a challenging and fast-paced work environment.
3. 3. Job description differs from actual job. Online job titles and descriptions can come across as vague or broad. Sometimes, a position may seem like a dream job until you learn more about it in the job interview. These day-to-day details may not align with your initial expectation for the position or your career goals.

If you decide to decline a job offer, ensure that you communicate this decision professionally and politely. Consider the following tips before reaching out to the hiring manager:

1. 1. Be prompt. Hiring managers typically give candidates a short time frame to decide whether they want to accept the job. Aim to make a decision about the job within the allotted period, and if you make up your mind even earlier, reach out before the deadline to let them know. Companies appreciate promptness, and it makes it much easier for them to continue the interview process with other candidates if you extend them that courtesy. It also helps you maintain good standing if you want to apply for a different position within the same company down the line.
2. 2. Consider a phone call. In nearly all situations, you can politely reject a job offer by email or over the phone, so choose whichever method suits you and the situation best. (In especially formal situations, a hard-copy rejection letter may be a good choice—use your best judgment.) However, if you want to leave a good impression or go the extra mile for the recruiter, a phone call is a nice, personal touch.
   
3. 3. Thank the recruiter. Recruiters spend a lot of time preparing for and conducting interviews during the hiring process, so it can be challenging when a particularly promising candidate declines their offer. When rejecting a job offer, thank the recruiter for their time and trust, and consideration.
4. 4. Offer a brief reason. Hiring managers like to know which aspects of the offer didn’t work for you—whether it was a salary issue or you simply got a better offer elsewhere. If you have a specific reason for declining a job offer, and it’s appropriate to share, you can provide them with a brief explanation. If you prefer not to disclose this information, opt for a more general reason. For example, “This offer just isn’t right for me at this time.” Recruiters may factor in your response as they continue to improve their job application process.
5. 5. Keep it brief. A long-winded phone call or email can come across as impertinent. Keep your response brief and to the point to avoid wasting the recruiter’s time.

If you’ve received a new job offer that doesn’t align with your needs, here’s how to politely and professionally decline it:

1. 1. Be confident about your decision. Declining a job offer is a difficult decision, so before you make it official, be confident that it’s not the right job for you. You don’t want to reject an offer and regret it later or return a day later to ask them to reconsider. Take the reasons you’re thinking of rejecting the offer under careful consideration, as well as your other options and your current position to make the best choice for yourself.
2. 2. Outline your thoughts. To avoid rambling or misspeaking, make a brief outline of what you want to say during the call or email. In general, include a specific reason for your rejection and a thank-you. When in doubt, keep it brief and polite.
3. 3. Reach out to the hiring manager. When it’s time to reach out to the hiring manager with your decision—whether by phone, email, or face-to-face—be polite, professional, specific, and brief. Let the recruiter know why you’re choosing to pass on the offer and thank them for their time. If you’re sending a job offer rejection letter or email, opt for a professional closing, such as “best wishes” or “best regards.”
4. 4. Offer to keep in touch. If you liked the company culture (just not the specific job), or if you felt that you and the recruiter were a good fit professionally, feel free to offer your contact information and request to keep in touch. A well-executed rejection can help you keep doors open down the road for future opportunities on your career path.

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