[tab name=’Guidelines’]

Guidelines : Declining Job

Declining Job Offers

Guidelines and Alternate Phrases

• Thank the employer for the job offer.
• Thank you for the generous offer to join your engineering department.
• Frankly, I’m quite honored you selected me among so many other qualified applicants to fill the job of marketing director.
• I received your letter about the job offer and want to thank you for such confidence.
• Give your reasons or criteria for the negative response.
• As you remember, I have teenage children who are quite reluctant to leave their friends and change schools in the middle of their high school “careers.” Considering what is best for them, I have decided to stay in Hilldale.
• Although the job is certainly an important one to the company, I have in mind to find something with more challenge. Call it a quirk in my personality, but I want to move into a job that offers me a chance to do more than routine administrative tasks.
• The compensation package seemed a little low for the kind of skills I wanted to bring to the job.
• As you outlined the job to me in your office, I didn’t quite see the advancement opportunities I want to have before me with this next—and I hope final—career move.
• I am hoping to find a position that will give me more opportunity to use my selling experience.
• State your “no” in a positive way, leaving the door open for future contacts.
• Although the job you offered sounded challenging, I have decided to accept another position with David Hewitt International, a position more in line with my experience.
• I don’t feel in a position to accept your generous offer at the present time.
• I’m afraid, therefore, for all these reasons, I’ll have to decline the opportunity you have presented me.
• I regret my situation is such that I must turn down your job offer at this point.
• I want to be completely enthusiastic and ready to give 100 percent to any new job, and in this case, I’m afraid I can’t.
• I wish your job was a little more in line with my personal goals at this point in my life—working for your company would be quite an honor.
• I’m afraid my answer must be “no” under these conditions. I hope you understand my reasoning here and know how much I appreciate your honesty in presenting the job details to me.
• Reestablish rapport.
• I wish you the very best in finding another manager suitable for this position.
• Thank you for considering me for this opportunity.
• Thank you for taking the time to interview me and share your company goals with me. I plan to stay in touch.
• The days my wife and I spent with you were memorable. Thank you for such courtesies in the interviewing process.
• May I stay in touch in case your needs or mine change?
• During the short two days we spent discussing the job, you and your people made me feel very welcome. I appreciate that tremendously.
• Please keep me on your list of interested engineers, and if you have anything else you think we could work together on, let me know.
• If another opening develops along the lines I described to you, please consider me again. I’d love to work with you in another capacity.
• I wish you and your firm every success.

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[tab name=’Example 1′]

Example 1: Sample letters decline job offer

Company Name or Letterhead
Address
City, State Zip

Date

Addressee
Address
City, State Zip

Dear Foy:

Thank you for your kind offer to join Harvester Associates. Since our lunch in Phoenix, I’ve spent many hours analyzing the pros and cons of making the move. The decision was particularly important at this stage in my career because I want my next association to be permanent.

With a decision of such importance, a “yes” response should have been strongly evident, and it was not. There was no one overriding factor but rather the cumulative impact of a number of considerations that influenced my decision.

My family has learned to love a particular way of life in this part of the country—the climate and the slower pace.

Additionally, the salary was some consideration. While the compensation package seemed generous for the job you outlined, a change from my present situation would be quite costly. After our tour through the surrounding subdivisions in the area, it appeared it would be impossible to match our present circumstances at anything like comparable costs.

Neither of the above nor any other one consideration about the job itself was dominant in my decision, but their combination amounted to a “no.”

It has been a personal privilege to meet you and your colleagues, and I appreciate your considering me for the position. You, your hospitality, your people, and the position itself have made the offer extremely attractive.

Thank you,
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[tab name=’Example 2′]

Example 2: Letter to decline job

Company Name or Letterhead
Address
City, State Zip

Date

Addressee
Address
City, State Zip

Dear Mr. Worthers:

Your offer to join Dellany Computer Resources is a generous one. I have given the matter a great deal of thought and, regretfully, I must decline.

The courtesy you and your staff showed my husband and I when we visited the San Diego area illustrates that you are a family-friendly company. It is rare to find such a large corporation that has maintained its small business feel.

My decision comes down to following the path that will move me toward my long term career goals. As I told you when we last spoke, in order to eventually become an executive, I feel my next move needs to be to an upper-management position.

The opportunities for advancement you outlined do not seem extensive enough for me to feel comfortable joining your middle-management team. Although your offer is an attractive one, I am concerned I would become frustrated at the prospect of not advancing my career. That would certainly not be fair to me, you, or your company.

I offer my sincere thanks for your consideration, Mr. Worthers. I wish you and your firm success.

Sincerely,
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[tab name=’Example 3′]

Example 3: Refusing letter job offer

Company Name or Letterhead
Address
City, State Zip

Date

Addressee
Address
City, State Zip

Dear Ms. Allen:

I am grateful for your offer of the position of Promotions Director at Edge Music Television. After much consideration, my wife and I have decided I must decline the position.

As you know, my wife works in the Hazelwood area and both our children attend Hazelwood Village Schools. It is important for our son, who attends special education classes, to remain in this environment.

Since you only have the position open in the Brentwood Hills office, I’m afraid I can’t accept at this time. Nonetheless, I want to thank you for your consideration. It was a pleasure to meet you and your promotions staff.

If a similar position becomes available in your Hazelwood office, I hope you will contact me. I am still interested in the Edge team and impressed with what you have to offer.

Cordially,
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[tab name=’Example 4′]

Example 4: Job declined samples

Company Name or Letterhead
Address
City, State Zip

Date

Addressee
Address
City, State Zip

Dear Mr. Simon:

I appreciate your generous offer to join Garver Enterprises. After considerable thought, I have decided that Garver is not the right place for me at this juncture in my career.

I am concerned that if I take another highly specialized polymers research job, I will be pigeon-holed as a polymers expert instead of a materials engineer. The opportunities for diversification at Garver do not seem substantial enough to suit my needs at this time. I can’t see myself working on one material area for the rest of my career.

Thank you for considering me for this opportunity. I wish you the best in finding an engineer to fill the position.

Sincerely,
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[tab name=’Example 5′]

Example 5: Decline job offer letters

Company Name or Letterhead
Address
City, State Zip

Date

Addressee
Address
City, State Zip

Dear Mrs. Joyner:

I was honored to receive your offer for the Director of Public Relations position. I know you considered a number of worthy candidates. Unfortunately, I must decline your kind offer.

I was impressed with the advanced work you are doing in the cardiac health field. Your doctors and staff are tremendously capable professionals, and your fundraising efforts offer your team a source of long-term stability seldom seen in the field of medical research. The reason I must decline, however, is that the salary and benefits package is not in keeping with my level expertise and experience.

Under different circumstances I would be willing to compromise in that area in order to be a part of an organization such as yours. Presently, with two of my children in college and another set to start next year, I don’t have that luxury .

I am grateful for the opportunity, and regret I cannot accept your offer. Nonetheless, I hope we can stay in touch in case a position opens in the future that suits both our needs.

Sincerely,
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