Turning Down a Job Offer After an Interview
Most job seekers want advice on how to score interviews and make themselves more marketable to employers. But sometimes, guidance is required when dealing with the other side of the coin: turning down a job offer. Some may think it's crazy to turn down a paying job, but valid reasons exist for doing so, and how you turn down a job may affect future opportunities and business relationships.
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Reasons
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Turning down any job in tough economic times is a hard decision to rationalize. But there are a variety of legitimate reasons to turn down jobs, including salary considerations, bad feelings about management or superiors, not meshing with a company's culture or not being qualified for the position. Turning down a job for the right reasons can actually be the responsible thing to do. It is unfair to employers if you accept a job at a lower salary or one that you are not qualified to do. If another employer offers you more money, you'll likely take the opportunity. If you're unqualified, your employer is going to end up paying for your mistakes.
Gratitude
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Turning down a job isn't the end of the world, even if you've progressed far enough along the hiring path to interview with the company. How you turn down the job, though, matters. First thank your interviewer and any contacts you have at the company. Burning bridges is never a good idea. Even if you have serious reservations about the types of people who work at the company, indicate your gratitude and respect for the company when you decline the job.
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Diplomacy
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If you turn down a job, chances are you'll be asked why you do not want it. Communicating your reasons to employers requires diplomacy. If you are concerned about how much the job pays, it is perfectly acceptable to say that. If you're concerned about the types of people who work there, make it about you. Say something like "I don't believe this is a good fit for me personally," rather than talking about your dislike for the people you've met.
Looking Ahead
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As Jodi Glickman wrote for the "Harvard Business Review" website, "the employer you dismiss today may be appealing down the road, so keep the relationship positive and the door open." Success in the business world is all about opportunities. As long as you turn down a job politely and diplomatically, chances are the hiring manager is not going to be offended. That can lead to future opportunities with the firm.
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