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how to decline a job offer?

ALEXIS_DH

ALEXIS_DH

Tirelessly Awesome
Jan 30, 2003
6,147
796
Lima, Peru, Peru
so, my job search is over.
today, after 10 days of interviews and calls from head hunters, i got an offer for a position which pleases me.

thing is, i already have 2 firm offers and have agreed to come to 2 more interviews tomorrow (where i will likely get an offer) and am awaiting for the reply from another.

how do i politely decline the offers?
i think i have over-applied to jobs (i sent like 20 resumes) and i do not want to be known to headhunters as "that guy", the one who spams his CV, goes to the interviews and then doesnt take the job,
 
buildyourown

buildyourown

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2004
4,832
0
South Seattle
Nothing too it. Just say no thank you, but be polite. It's an offer, not a contract.
Explain that you got a better offer or one that fits your plans/goals/lifestyle better and employers will understand.

I accepted an offer and then slept on it and had to call them the next day and "quit". A bit awkward but they understood.
 
CBJ

CBJ

year old fart
Mar 19, 2002
12,878
4,221
Copenhagen, Denmark
Agree just be really polite and honest. This happens for companies too who always interviews more then one person so nothing wrong with what you are doing.
 
dan-o

dan-o

Turbo Monkey
Jun 30, 2004
6,499
2,805
Cancel the interviews you have yet to attend. They are interviewing others.
Kindly decline the offers you do not want. They interviewed others.
Call any headhunters you have your resume and tell them you found a job. They are looking to fill spots with others.
 
Sandwich

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,080
5,998
borcester rhymes
I suggest, if it's not too big a burden, to go on the interviews that you already have scheduled, especially if they are tomorrow. It takes quite a bit of coordination, especially at a higher level, to bring people in for a whole day. If it's going to cost you time at your current employer, then say no, but I know people in HR who bitch when people blow off an interview last minute. If they do make you an offer, you may simply decline, but if you blow off the interview, you may get blacklisted and you may have a hard time getting your foot in the door at that business again (if there is an again, and there always is). Besides, what do you have to lose? 8 hours of your time? You never know, they may offer you buckets of money.

Just a suggestion. I would decline any further interview offers and tell people that are still "considering" you that you've accepted a position. That will allow them to contact their other candidates and make them an offer without adding your name to the list.
 
$tinkle

$tinkle

Expert on blowing
Feb 12, 2003
14,591
6
Sandwich said:
If they do make you an offer, you may simply decline, but if you blow off the interview, you may get blacklisted and you may have a hard time getting your foot in the door at that business again (if there is an again, and there always is).
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this.

were prepared to make this guy an offer (a friend of mine, but he got in through other channels), and even though he did everything by the book, we won't likely consider him in the future. who likes being made to look like the fat girl at a dance?

above all else, don't NOT call; blowing off is beyond rude
 
kickstand

kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
Sandwich said:
I suggest, if it's not too big a burden, to go on the interviews that you already have scheduled, especially if they are tomorrow. It takes quite a bit of coordination, especially at a higher level, to bring people in for a whole day. If it's going to cost you time at your current employer, then say no, but I know people in HR who bitch when people blow off an interview last minute. If they do make you an offer, you may simply decline, but if you blow off the interview, you may get blacklisted and you may have a hard time getting your foot in the door at that business again (if there is an again, and there always is). Besides, what do you have to lose? 8 hours of your time? You never know, they may offer you buckets of money.

Just a suggestion. I would decline any further interview offers and tell people that are still "considering" you that you've accepted a position. That will allow them to contact their other candidates and make them an offer without adding your name to the list.
Click to expand...
This.

Also, you never know what may happen in those interviews, it may very well be worth your time to go. Competing offers isn't a bad things.

I am a Technical Recruiter, so I deal with this, and even when my candidate has already accepted a different offer I suggest they still take the interview just in case.
 
$tinkle

$tinkle

Expert on blowing
Feb 12, 2003
14,591
6
stevew said:
then you would have to piss in spurts....letting it all out at once would not go with the song.
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your musical diversity should be formally recognized with an honorary doctorate from Howard U
 
jimmydean

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
41,212
13,346
Portland, OR
kickstand said:
This.

Also, you never know what may happen in those interviews, it may very well be worth your time to go. Competing offers isn't a bad things.

I am a Technical Recruiter, so I deal with this, and even when my candidate has already accepted a different offer I suggest they still take the interview just in case.
Click to expand...
If the interview is scheduled, then I go. I don't let on another offer is on the table (or accepted if that's the case). If they schedule the interview, then people have been told, work days have been shifted, your resume is on the printer, what else do you have to do?
 
Austin Bike

Austin Bike

Turbo Monkey
Jan 26, 2003
1,558
0
Duh, Austin
Sandwich said:
I suggest, if it's not too big a burden, to go on the interviews that you already have scheduled, especially if they are tomorrow. It takes quite a bit of coordination, especially at a higher level, to bring people in for a whole day. If it's going to cost you time at your current employer, then say no, but I know people in HR who bitch when people blow off an interview last minute. If they do make you an offer, you may simply decline, but if you blow off the interview, you may get blacklisted and you may have a hard time getting your foot in the door at that business again (if there is an again, and there always is). Besides, what do you have to lose? 8 hours of your time? You never know, they may offer you buckets of money.

Just a suggestion. I would decline any further interview offers and tell people that are still "considering" you that you've accepted a position. That will allow them to contact their other candidates and make them an offer without adding your name to the list.
Click to expand...
I disagree. The only thing worse than coordinating a full day of interviews is having the person come in and take everyone's time with no intention of not working for you. I am in meetings 8+ hours a day and when I have to interview someone it rips up my day. If I found out that person had already accepted a job, I would rip the recruiter a new one.

I have had this situation come up a few times in the past year and I have always been thankful to get that hour back. I would hate to waste the hour. And if you call the recruiter they will tell you that you should not go on the interviews.
 
Austin Bike

Austin Bike

Turbo Monkey
Jan 26, 2003
1,558
0
Duh, Austin
jimmydean said:
If the interview is scheduled, then I go. I don't let on another offer is on the table (or accepted if that's the case). If they schedule the interview, then people have been told, work days have been shifted, your resume is on the printer, what else do you have to do?
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Um, give them an hour back
 
ALEXIS_DH

ALEXIS_DH

Tirelessly Awesome
Jan 30, 2003
6,147
796
Lima, Peru, Peru
well. i got BURRRRRRRRRRRRRNED yesterday, lol.

i cancelled an interview and declined an offer for 60% more of my current salary, because i had been offered the position by the manager and even talked about starting on july 16th on the new company because it was the last position to fill in and it was very urgent, and we worked out the details of the days i needed to leave my current job (i have a business trip in july 18th, which he told me he would prefer i cancel, because i had to start on july 16th). we made an agreement on the salary, responsabilities, was shown my position on the organization´s chart and were told who would be my underlinings.... everything seemed to be worked out.

fast forward to yesterday, after 3 interviews, many tests and stuff i had to meet the CEO and the head of human resources to do the paperwork.
we talked for 20 minutes, 10 of which were the weirdest business interview i ever had. he asked who were my parents, where they worked, what were their titles, how many sibblings i had, what did they go to school for, where they lived and where they worked. pretty odd. i have never been asked those questions.
then he goes "do you have any questions?". i said "no, any questions i had were answered by the manager i talked to before".. then he said "well, i do not have any questions neither, you have answered all my questions very clearly".

after that, when i thought we would go to HR, he told me... "i cannot give you an answer right now"... which had me ****faced. i asked "when will i have an answer".. the guy said "well, i´d have to talk with X (the manager who "hired" me)... it will be 1 or 2 weeks".

now i have to job hunt again... lol, lesson learned
 
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Serial Midget

Serial Midget

Al Bundy
Jun 25, 2002
13,053
1,896
Fort of Rio Grande
A man without questions isn't looking for very much or already thinks he knows everything... from what you wrote I gather you only wanted money and a title and knew you were getting both.

On the other hand... a CEO who second guesses HR hiring decisions probably has a few issues himself.

ALEXIS_DH said:
well. i got BURRRRRRRRRRRRRNED yesterday, lol.

i cancelled an interview and declined an offer for 60% more of my current salary, because i had been offered the position by the manager and even talked about starting on july 16th on the new company because it was the last position to fill in and it was very urgent, and we worked out the details of the days i needed to leave my current job (i have a business trip in july 18th, which he told me he would prefer i cancel, because i had to start on july 16th). we made an agreement on the salary, responsabilities, was shown my position on the organization´s chart and were told who would be my underlinings.... everything seemed to be worked out.

fast forward to yesterday, after 3 interviews, many tests and stuff i had to meet the CEO and the head of human resources to do the paperwork.
we talked for 20 minutes, 10 of which were the weirdest business interview i ever had. he asked who were my parents, where they worked, what were their titles, how many sibblings i had, what did they go to school for, where they lived and where they worked. pretty odd. i have never been asked those questions.
then he goes "do you have any questions?". i said "no, any questions i had were answered by the manager i talked to before".. then he said "well, i do not have any questions neither, you have answered all my questions very clearly".

after that, when i thought we would go to HR, he told me... "i cannot give you an answer right now"... which had me ****faced. i asked "when will i have an answer".. the guy said "well, i´d have to talk with X (the manager who "hired" me)... it will be 1 or 2 weeks".

now i have to job hunt again... lol, lesson learned
Click to expand...
 
kickstand

kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
Austin Bike said:
I disagree. The only thing worse than coordinating a full day of interviews is having the person come in and take everyone's time with no intention of not working for you. I am in meetings 8+ hours a day and when I have to interview someone it rips up my day. If I found out that person had already accepted a job, I would rip the recruiter a new one.

I have had this situation come up a few times in the past year and I have always been thankful to get that hour back. I would hate to waste the hour. And if you call the recruiter they will tell you that you should not go on the interviews.
Click to expand...
The recruiter who tells you not to go on the interview is a poor recruiter. I can count at least 3 occasions over the last 6-12 months where i have had a candidate who said he wanted to cancel the interview because he already found something. 1 occasion the job was pulled, luckily he interviewed for me and got the job I convinced him to interview for. 2nd occasion the candidate took the original offer but thought long and hard about the job I convinced him to interview for. 3rd occasion the candidate accepted the job i told him to interview for because it in turn fit his background and desires better.

Alex DH should have done the same, do not cancel an interview until you report to your first day of work at the new job, you NEVER know what may happen.
 
dogwonder

dogwonder

Nitro
May 3, 2005
1,849
0
Walking the Earth
kickstand said:
The recruiter who tells you not to go on the interview is a poor recruiter. I can count at least 3 occasions over the last 6-12 months where i have had a candidate who said he wanted to cancel the interview because he already found something. 1 occasion the job was pulled, luckily he interviewed for me and got the job I convinced him to interview for. 2nd occasion the candidate took the original offer but thought long and hard about the job I convinced him to interview for. 3rd occasion the candidate accepted the job i told him to interview for because it in turn fit his background and desires better.

Alex DH should have done the same, do not cancel an interview until you report to your first day of work at the new job, you NEVER know what may happen.
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Definitely some wisdom here. I was in a bit of similar situation with my soon to be new job. I got the offer, which involves me moving continents, but had to give 3 months notice to my current employer. It was a clause in my work contract here. My concern was, and to a certain extent still is, that something were to happen during that 3 months I would already be out of my job here, in a foreign country, and completely screwed.

A deal isn't a deal until it's a deal.
 
ALEXIS_DH

ALEXIS_DH

Tirelessly Awesome
Jan 30, 2003
6,147
796
Lima, Peru, Peru
the saga continues.

yesterday, 6 days after my interview with the CEO, i got a call from the head of HR.

We will meet today to "continue the process" and to "be able to give an answer"....

we´ll see how it turns out... considering its my FOURTH interview with these people (not counting the additional 2 phone calls i got from the headhunter, before the first interview)
 
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