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September 24, 2021

The Art Of Saying No – How To Turn Down A Job Offer Gracefully

You've been offered a job. Congratulations! But now, you have to turn it down, and the thought of doing so may feel like a punch in the gut. It's not just about turning down an opportunity – it's about having to say no to someone who has given you an offer that you're honoured by. The good news is: You can do this with class, grace, and some simple strategies for turning down a job offer without triggering offense or resentment on either side of the table.

If you're reading this, chances are that you've already been offered the job and have a lot to think about. So let's get down to it: Here's how you can turn down an offer with tact!

Step One: Think Before You Respond

Be sure of your decision before responding. Don't be “yes-and” or change your mind later on when emotions fade in light of other offers (or lack thereof). Once you decline, there should be no turning back. This means being certain enough to not beat around the bush or say things like “I'm really flattered by this offer…” If you aren't 100% positive that taking another position would better serve your career goals, then you should take a deep breath and say no!

Step Two: Decide How To Respond

Gracefully declining an offer can be done in several different ways: You could respond with a counter-offer of your own, or simply decline the job without offering any alternative ideas. A third option would be to recommend someone else for hire who might better suit their needs (if applicable). Keep in mind that there are many other options than those listed above so feel free to deviate if it suits your situation! The point is: It's always best not to let emotions cloud your judgement when turning down a request.

Step Three: Be Honest, But Don't Burn Bridges By Being Vague Or Negative In Your Response

While it's never fun to tell someone “no” (especially if you truly enjoyed the interview process), your goal should be to make yourself feel better about turning down a job offer and not offend other parties involved. This means avoiding being vague when delivering bad news – you don't have to give in-depth details but be sure that you say something along the lines of: “I'm so grateful for this opportunity; however, I've decided to go in another direction at this point.” If there are any concerns with their hiring practices or things that didn't feel quite right during the process, you can bring those up in a professional manner as well – but be sure to remain diplomatic!

Although there is no one “perfect” way to turn down a job offer, you should always be objective and honest about your specific reason for not accepting the position, saying something like:

  • I’ve accepted another position and decided that it was the right choice for me.
  • After reviewing my current schedule and financial situation, I have decided that it is better to remain with my current employer.
  • Although this position seems like a great opportunity, I have decided to pursue another role that will offer me more opportunities to pursue my interests in programming and software development.

Step Four: Follow Up With Your Contact And Express Gratitude For The Opportunity (If Applicable)

Once you've turned down an offer, it's always a good idea to follow up with your contact-especially if they're someone who might be able to help you out in the future. You want to keep them on your side. So shoot them a quick email thanking them again for their time, and reiterating that no one is better suited than yourself at this point but wishing them well either way. This will leave things on positive terms rather than turning into something negative or awkward. 

Thank-you responses are a good way to demonstrate your gratitude for time and effort. For example:

  • Thank you so much for offering me the position of Marketing Manager. I'm excited about your offer and the company, and am grateful for all of the time both you and your colleagues have taken to answer my questions.
  • Thank you again for the interview last week—it was great to meet the team and see the offices. I did enjoy learning about the Operations Director position, but after giving it some thought I've decided that this is not quite right for me at this time.

Why Good Communication Skills Matter Most When Turning Down Requests (And How They Support Relationship Building)

One of the most important things to remember is that your offered job isn't always going to be a perfect fit for you-no matter how good it looks on paper or in person. That's why being able to turn down offers gracefully is very important when looking at long-term career prospects. It shows self awareness, confidence, professionalism, pride and discretion which can help support building relationships within the workplace environment from both employer/employee perspectives. The goal should always be getting closer as opposed to moving further apart with each job offer turn-down, so having great communication skills are necessary in order to keep things moving forward.


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