How to Decline a Job Offer

Are you one of the 23 percent of workers looking for a new gig? Before you find your dream job, there’s a good chance you might receive a job offer that doesn’t quite meet your expectations. If your gut is telling you “no,” then it’s critical to know how to decline a job offer in a way that doesn’t burn professional bridges.

In this article, we’ll show you how to put the power of “no” on your side, so you have more control over your job search and career path.

How Often Do Workers Turn Down Job Offers?

If you’ve received a job offer that doesn’t resonate with you, you’re not alone. Previous research has shown that nearly half of job seekers in high-demand industries turned down a job offer due to an unpleasant recruiting experience. Additionally, about 28 percent of candidates who had accepted a job offer backed out after:

• Receiving a better job offer.
• Receiving a counteroffer from a current employer.
• Hearing negative things about the employer.

Ready to learn how to professionally decline a job offer? Read on for step-by-step tips, sample responses, and what to do after rejecting a job offer.

Here’s Why You Might Want to Think About Declining a Job Offer

You shouldn’t have to settle for second-best when pursuing your dream job. There are many reasons why you might want to know how to turn down a job offer, including:

• Low salary: Rejecting a job offer may be your preferred option if the salary doesn’t align with your skills and experience.
• High workload: A job may not be the right fit for you if it doesn’t offer a healthy work-life balance.
• Location: If an employer isn’t located in your area, declining a job offer may be your best bet to avoid a potentially long and stressful commute.
• Company culture: Knowing how to deny a job offer can come in handy if an employer’s company culture doesn’t align with your values and work ethic.
• Lack of potential career growth: Does the position appear to be a dead-end job? It may not be the right long-term option for you if you’re looking for advancement or career growth.
• Insufficient benefits: Does an employer offer paid time off, retirement, health insurance, and other important benefits? If the benefits offered by an employer—or lack thereof—don’t meet your needs, the job may not be right for you.
• Unprofessional hiring process: Does the hiring process seem disorganized or unprofessional? This could be a sign of a larger issue with the company’s management and culture. In that case, it’s a good idea to say “no” and move on.
• You received a better job offer: If you received a better job offer, then turning down a job offer is a no-brainer. You’ll likely want to accept a job offer that meets your professional goals, salary requirements, and personal needs.

How to Decline a Job Offer in 6 Steps

Below, you’ll find six tips for how to say no to a job offer while leaving yourself in good standing with a hiring manager.

1. Respond Quickly

If you’ve received a job offer that you choose to decline, don’t leave the hiring manager hanging. A prompt response shows that you respect the hiring manager’s time and the effort they put into the hiring process. Plus, it demonstrates professionalism and leaves a positive impression, which is crucial if you think you might apply for a future job with the same employer.

2. Use the Proper Form of Communication

Understanding how to decline a job offer is a reflection of your professionalism. When turning down a job offer, always respond with the same method of communication the hiring manager used to reach out to you. For example, if you received a phone call, then respond with a phone call. If a hiring manager emailed you with a job offer, then an email response would be par for the course.

It’s a good idea to try to speak directly with the hiring manager when responding via a phone call. Leaving a voicemail or text message is not the most professional way to turn down a job offer.

3. Express Gratitude for the Job Offer

Be sure to thank the hiring manager for the job offer and for considering you for the role. Showing gratitude when turning down a job offer shows that you appreciate the hiring manager’s interest in bringing you onboard. It also leaves a good impression and can help foster a positive relationship with the employer.

4. Be Honest

It may be tempting to choose niceness over honesty. But being “nice” doesn’t express why are you rejecting a job offer. On the other hand, saying something negative about a potential employer can put you in a bad light.

A tactful and diplomatic response can help build trust between you and a potential employer and can demonstrate that you’re a reliable and trustworthy candidate. In turn, a hiring manager may consider you for a future role.

5. Keep Your Response Brief

Hiring managers often have a great deal of responsibility on their plate. Going into all the details about why you’re saying no to a job offer can tie up a hiring manager’s time. Keep your initial response brief and to the point.

For instance, you could say: "I'm sorry, but I don't think this is the right opportunity for me at this moment in time."

Obviously, no one likes to be rejected, and some hiring managers might press you to explain why you're turning them down, so be prepared to explain why you're turning down the job.

6. Stay in Touch

You might change your mind about an employer in the future—or they might have a job opening that’s more up your alley. That’s why you shouldn’t burn any bridges when turning down a job offer. In your response, let the hiring manager know that you’d like to stay in touch in case another position at the company interests you.

For example, if you wish to work with the company in a different position, you could say: "Although this position wasn't the right fit, I'm still very interested in your company and would love to hear about other positions in the future. Let's keep in touch."

If you have no interest in working for the company in the future, simply thank the hiring manager for their time and say something along the lines of: “I hope our paths cross again."

Examples of How to Decline a Job Offer

Want to reject a job offer, but don’t know how to put it into words? Below, you’ll find examples of how to rescind a job offer professionally and respectfully.

How to Turn Down a Job Offer by Email

When you reject a job offer via email, you have the luxury of editing and refining your response before sending it to a hiring manager. To get an idea of how to create your response, see the example letter below:

[Date]

Joe Smith
Hiring Manager
Company One
1 Business Park Dr.
New York, NY

Dear Mr. Smith:

It was a pleasure speaking with you during the interview and learning more about the administrative position and Company One. While I appreciate the time and effort you put into the hiring process, I have decided to respectfully decline your job offer. I wish to pursue other opportunities that better align with my professional goals and expectations.

All Best,

[Your Name]

How to Decline a Job Offer Over the Phone

Responding by phone can sometimes be nerve-wracking. Practice what you’re going to say beforehand so you can politely decline a job offer over the phone without having to search for the right words. See the example below:

[Date]

Kelly Jones
Hiring Manager
Company Two
50 Professional Way
Boston, MA

Dear Mrs. Jones:

Thank you for offering me a position as a customer service manager at Company Two. I have decided that it’s not the right position for me at this time. I enjoyed speaking with you during the interview and I’m honored to have been a leading candidate. This hasn’t been an easy decision for me to make. However, I hope we can stay in touch in case any other opportunities arise in the future.

All Best,

[Your Name]

How to Decline a Job Offer Due to Salary

A low salary is one of the top reasons for turning down a job offer. Here’s how to respectfully decline a job offer due to salary:

[Date]

Mike Edwards
Hiring Manager
Company Three
100 Market Blvd.
Chicago, IL

Dear Mr. Edwards:

Thank you for offering me the marketing director position at Company Three. After careful consideration, I have decided to decline the offer. Unfortunately, the offered salary does not meet my expectations and needs at this time.

While I appreciate the opportunity and experience that this position offers, I must prioritize my financial well-being. Please feel free to reach out to me if any future opportunities arise that meet my salary requirements.

All Best,

[Your Name]

What to Do After Rejecting a Job Offer

Knowing how to decline a job offer can be beneficial to your career for several reasons—it helps you to hone your negotiation skills and add more professional contacts to your network. Instead of viewing a declined job as a waste of time, think about how you can use it to your advantage. Below, you’ll find lessons you can learn from declining a job offer.

Prioritize Your Values and Long-Term Career Goals

If you’re serious about advancing along your career path, you’ll want to choose jobs that allow you to learn new skills, hone existing skills, and gain valuable experience. Weighing your options before rejecting a job offer allows you to recognize and prioritize your values and long-term career goals. Now that you know what you’re looking for in a job, you can narrow your job search to opportunities that help you grow in the right direction.

Apply Negotiation Skills to Your Job Search

Saying “no” respectfully and professionally isn’t always easy. But by learning how to respectfully decline a job offer, you gain valuable negotiation skills that can benefit your career. Through negotiating for a better salary, job offer, or career advancement, you demonstrate that you know your worth and you’re not willing to settle for second-best. This is a quality that many employers value and even look for in candidates.

Broaden Your Professional Network

The larger your professional network, the more opportunities become available to you. If you decide to turn down a job offer, be sure to keep the hiring manager in your professional network. You never know when you could make use of that connection.

Accept a Job Offer That’s Right for You

Search for jobs you’ll want to accept when you create your profile on Monster. We’ll send you free notifications for jobs that match your skills, career interests, and salary requirements. Plus, we’ll make your resume visible so recruiters can reach out to you with new opportunities. One thing’s for sure: You won’t need to know how to decline a job offer once you get a job you love.