Wed, 27 Jul 2022 03:33:33 +0800 https://www.michaelpage.com.hk/advice/career-advice/career-progression/how-decline-job-offer-gracefully You spent a lot of time tailoring your resume to the job. You may have gone through months of job search, several rounds of interviews and received a job offer. You should be thrilled that you got the job, but you have chosen to decline it.

Declining a job offer takes careful consideration, and there are many reasons why people decline a job offer.

Perhaps the offered salary was too low even after negotiations (go to our salary comparison tool to understand the industry average for your salary), there was a disconnect with your future manager, and you sense that you would not be a good fit with the company culture, or during the discussion, you realise that the actual job does not match the job description you signed up for.

Related: 3 impactful resume templates to guide your resume writing process

Is it unprofessional to decline a job offer? Not at all. In today’s job market that is candidate-driven in some functions, skilled professionals may have more job opportunities, and it is widely accepted that job seekers might turn down a role.

Depending on your industry and sector, you might even receive multiple job offers. In fact, a recent survey by Gartner found that nearly 50% of job seekers are considering at least two job offers simultaneously.

Turning down a job offer takes tact and grace

Declining a job offer is a difficult decision. A big decision. It is natural to feel nervous about turning it down. It almost feels like you are breaking a promise or not holding up your end of a deal you made when you first applied for the job.

The reality is employers know that candidates may not accept a job offer even if they interviewed hard for it. If you still feel bad, think of it this way: Like the way hiring managers turn down applicants, job seekers also have the right to turn down job offers.

Declining a job offer will not burn bridges. You need to do it in a respectful and professional way that would not damage any work relationships with the organisation in the future. Ahead, you'll find tips on just how to decline a job offer.