How to decline a job offer: The 2022 Guide with 15+ Examples & Samples

by Hiration

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You have applied for numerous jobs, haven’t you?

Yes, we all do that.

It is definitely, what we call it, ‘playing safe.’

Keeping Plan B handy is an intelligent thing to do.

And sometimes we tend to like our Plan B more than our Plan A.

And it is fantastic that you have been through the anxious process of making a shortlist-worthy resume and have cracked the interviews.

Yes! Interviews.

Since you can accept only one of the job offers, you will have to decline the others.

No! Not responding to their job offer email or not attending the phone calls from the company is not a solution.

And would put you across as a highly unprofessional individual.

Also, you never know you want to apply to that company again in the future. Or if your current company collaborates with it for any project.

So, to keep doors open, it is essential for you to know how to deny a job offer.

Or precisely, how to politely decline a job offer.

Not only the reason stated above, but there might also be other reasons for declining a job offer.

Like the salary is not what you have expected, or maybe you are not satisfied with the roles offered to you, or simply do not feel the need to leave your present job, or whatever your reasons may be.

It is difficult. We know.

And that is why we are here to help you with how to decline a job offer.

This blog will walk you through:

How to decline a job offer?

While declining a job offer, you have to be specific in your mind because that would help you be confident with your decision.

You can decline a job offer on a phone call or through an email.

We suggest declining the job offer through the same medium the job was offered to you. It seems more considerate and would help you keep in touch with the concerned person.

But if declining a job offer on a phone call is not possible, you have to make sure that you draft an email that is considerate enough.

The following tips will help you how to reject a job offer on a phone call or on an email.

Be quick

Once you have decided to reject the job offer, there is no point in procrastinating. Try to revert to their mail or call as soon as possible. This would help them to start looking for another candidate without wasting much time.

  • Here is how you can deny the job offered by them on phone:

Thank you so much for the generous offer, I appreciate it, but I am afraid that I have accepted the job offered by another company.

However, if they have called you to offer you the job and are unsure what to do, ask for some time to think.

Here is how you can frame your sentence:

Thank you for the job offer Mr. Ashley Connor; please allow me a few days to contemplate and get back to you.

They will give you an apt time.

But it is your responsibility to decide at the earliest and revert quickly before they call you again to confirm.

Show Appreciation

Not only you but the recruiter or the hiring manager has equally endured the entire selection process by putting in a lot of effort by reading your resume, interviewing you probably more than once, and devoting their time and attention.

He might have preferred you over other potential candidates and have recommended you in front of other members of his team.

It is imperative that you show appreciation and thank the recruiter or the hiring manager for their valuable time and the job offered to you.

So a personalized and sincere thank you note will be worth a whole lot. Here is an example of the thank you regard for your how-to decline a job offer guide.

The following examples can be used both for a phone call or for an email.

  • This is how to decline a job offerpolitely.

I wholeheartedly thank you for offering me the post of Sales Associate. I appreciate your valuable time and consideration towards my application and being patient while addressing all my concerns.

Or you may also try this.

I appreciate your offer for the post of Assistant Media Marketer. I am writing this to exhibit my due respect and thank you and your team for the interview last week. It has been great knowing such a dedicated and accommodating recruiting team of the XYZ company.

The examples above show how to appreciate the efforts put in by the recruiting team and at the same time acknowledge it by mentioning a genuine thank you.

No ornamented words yet impactful.

Easy peasy!

Give a brief reason

Since the hiring manager or the recruiter has spent a lot of time on your application, they deserve to be given the reason for declining the job offer.

Fair enough!

But that also does not mean that you go about telling him all the shortcomings that they or their company or their work culture have that made you decline the job offer.

Just give brief reasoning on why you can not accept the job offered by them.

Here are the examples:

  • how to decline a job offer after accepting another job

After intense deliberation, I have decided to accept the job offered by another company.

Or.

I genuinely consider this job offers a great opportunity, but I would like to make transitions in my job profile to pursue my passion for digital marketing.

  • how to decline a job offer to stay with current employer

After careful consideration, I believe this is not the appropriate time to leave my present position.

  • how to decline a job offer due to salary or how to decline a job offer after accepting another job

I recognize the job offered by your company, but I would like to join another company that is providing me a much greater role and responsibilities along with other benefits, which I feel is quite an apt fit for my career growth.

The examples above are straightforward and genuine while preventing you from coming across as rude at the same time.

You can try one of these by modifying them according to your reasoning.

Stay in touch

While you are declining the job offered to you, you can try to contact the concerned person or exchange pleasantries.

You might feel weird doing this.

But the job world is very small.

You might want to apply to the company in the future.

Or

Your present company collaborates with this one.

It is always a better idea to adjourn the letter or email on a good note.

Confused?

Let us look at some of the examples below:

I hope to work with your company on a project soon.

I am looking forward to meeting you at the seminar we are both attending next week.

I am honored to know you in person; I hope we collaborate sometime in the future.

I thank you for your time and consideration, and I wish you all the best for your future.

See, a thoughtful ending is always convenient and probably helps you answer how to turn down a job offer.

Provide a Recommendation

Although you are declining the job offer, you can recommend someone who is looking for a job and is an apt fit for the post.

The employer may or may not consider your recommendation, but this would exhibit your concern and consideration towards the employer.

However, before recommending a person, make sure to communicate it to them beforehand. Ask them for their interest in the particular job.

Sample Emails on How to Decline a Job Offer

Here are a few sample emails on how to turn down a job offer keeping in mind various conditions.

How to reject a job offer politely email sample

Dear Ms. Lara Jane

I wholeheartedly thank you for offering me the post of Sales Associate. I appreciate your valuable time and consideration towards my application and being patient while addressing all my concerns.

After consideration, I am afraid I will not be accepting the position offered by you. I feel it is not in sync with the career path I am taking to achieve my career goals.

I am honored to know you in person; I hope we collaborate sometime in the future.

Regards,
Leo Messy

How to decline a job offer to stay with current employer email example

Dear Ms. Pippa Jones

I appreciate your offer for the post of Assistant Media Marketer. I am writing this to exhibit my due respect and thank you and your team for the interview last week. It has been great knowing such a dedicated and accommodating recruiting team of the XYZ company.

After careful consideration, I believe this is not the appropriate time to leave my present position.

I hope to work with your company on a project soon. Good luck in the future.

Regards,
North Taylor

How to decline a job offer after accepting another job sample email

Dear Mr. Keith

Thank you for offering me the position of Public Relations Manager with Flow High LLP. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to consider me for the role.

I recognize the job offered by your company but I would like to join another company that is providing me a much greater role and responsibilities along with other benefits, which I feel is quite an apt fit for my career growth.

I am honored to know you in person; I hope we collaborate sometime in the future.

Best of luck with your future endeavors.

Regards,
Tom Richards

How to decline a job offer due to salary sample

Dear Mr. Flynn

Thank you for offering me the post of Marketing Executive at Delight FMCG. I truly appreciate your consideration of my application.

I am afraid I will not be able to join your company. I have decided to join another company that offers me greater responsibilities and other benefits that I feel are apt for my career growth.

I would take the time to recommend my colleague, Stuart Williams, Marketing Associate, for the job. I have enclosed his resume for your consideration.

I am looking forward to meeting you at the seminar we are both attending next week.

Good luck in the future.

Regards,
Sissy Leone

How to decline a job offer but leave the door open example

Dear Mr. Flynn,

Thank you for offering me the post of Marketing Executive at Delight FMCG. I appreciate you >taking the time to consider me for the position.

After careful consideration, I respectfully decline your offer since I feel this position does not >align with my long-term career goals at this time.

I enjoyed conversing with you and the rest of your team. You have been most kind and patient >throughout the interview process.
I hope you find the perfect candidate fast. I’d like to keep the door open to working with you in >the future, and I’ve sent a connection request to you on Linkedin.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Key Takeaways

With this, we have come to the end of this blog. Here are a few key takeaways from this blog of how to decline a job offer.

  • Choose the Medium - Decide on what medium you want to use to decline the job offer; it can be on the phone or via an email or a voicemail, or you may even want to meet in person to break the news
  • We suggest you use the same method they used to extend the job offer to you
  • Be prompt - If you are still dicey about which job to choose, then contemplate and decide on the one you want to join quickly; this would help the employer to look for another potential candidate without wasting much time
  • Begin with a “Thank you” - It is imperative that you appreciate the efforts put in by the recruiter or the hiring manager, especially when you are declining a job offer
  • Be lucid and concise - There is no other way; bushing around is a bad idea; be straightforward while declining the job offer and give a brief reason for turning down the job offer
  • Recommendation - If there is someone whom you think is suitable for the job, then recommend them
  • Express the desire to keep in touch with the employer to let them know that you loved their company

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