How to Decline a Job Offer While Leaving the Doors Open for Future Opportunities

Getting a job offer is great news. It means you impressed a recruiter, have the skills necessary for the role, and have shown yourself to be able to perform at the expected level. Whether you decide this job is for you or not, you should consider it a huge win and let it boost your confidence for future job applications.

However, not all job offers are equal, and sometimes, you may receive an offer that is not what you’re looking for. This could be for several reasons. For example, you may not align with the company in values, accept another offer, or be offered a position and package that you feel is below your worth. Whatever the reason, how you respond to the offer is important because it could affect future opportunities.

Reasons why declining politely is important

How you respond to a job offer can cement an image that lasts long after the job has been taken off the table. It’s important for you to look at the bigger picture and think about how your reaction now can help or hinder future career success.

Maintaining relationships

Being polite and giving a reason why you are declining a job offer is a way to ensure you maintain relationships, leaving a path to possible future opportunities, whether these are jobs, networking opportunities, or potential partnerships. Remember, the person you are addressing is human and should be treated respectfully.

Future opportunities

You may not want this job, but if you applied to this company, something likely attracted you to this position. Another job that’s a better match could become available at this company. How you conduct yourself when you turn down a job offer could determine whether you’re interviewed for the next. 

If possible, stay connected with the company and department you interviewed for. Add them as contacts on LinkedIn and ensure you have contact details so you can get in touch if you notice any other vacancies or want to enquire about work in the future. Make it apparent that you have a strong interest in the company and would be very interested in future positions, even though you had to turn down the current offer. 

Protecting your reputation

It’s essential always to remain professional, even if the offer you received felt like an insult. An aggressive, angry, or rude response can damage your reputation with this company, its partners, and networks.

Steps to take to decline a job offer

Declining a job offer need not be a daunting process. It just takes a short email informing the appropriate person that you will not accept the job, with a brief description of why, and thanking them for their time. 

Step 1: Make sure you want to decline

Before declining the offer, give it some proper thought and be certain you don’t want the job. Consider the pros and cons and the other options on the table before making your decision. Consider whether you may be able to negotiate terms if the offer is almost what you’re looking for. 

Step 2: Be timely

Once you have decided to reject the offer, don’t waste time deliberating. Instead, give the company time to contact the next person in line, rather than holding up the recruitment process. 

Keep it short and sweet

You don’t need to go into reams of detail about why you don't want the job, but it is helpful to explain why you won’t be accepting the job offer. Keep it short and simple, with information that will be helpful for the recruiter. If you loved the company, but the job wasn’t quite what you were looking for, say that, but don’t dwell on any negatives or go into too much detail about how the position you did accept was so much better. 

Make it known you want to stay in touch

Offer to stay in touch and provide contact details and an invitation to connect on LinkedIn. This will help you stay in the loop if any future jobs arise or for networking purposes. You may even build relationships that allow you to find a mentor. 

Be polite and thankful

Always show your gratitude to the recruiting team for taking the time to interview you and for offering you the position. The interviewer will appreciate that you are polite and respectful. This may make it more likely that they will consider you for future opportunities and will contribute to your reputation as a professional. 

How to write an email declining a job offer

Use this helpful template and the examples below to craft your own job decline email. Remember to be polite and professional. Also, keep the email short for maximum effect. 

• Say thank you. Open the letter with gratitude, expressing your thanks for the job offer and for the time the recruiter took to interview you. 

• Give your reasons. Provide a brief and accurate reason for turning down the job offer. You don’t need to go into detail about what was lacking or what you’ve found elsewhere, but be honest about your reasons. 

• Keep in touch. Provide contact details and offer to stay in touch. This may have future benefits for your career.

Example emails declining a job offer

Below are several emails declining a job offer under different circumstances. You can use these as a guide or take them as they are and change the personal and job details.

Declining a job offer because you are accepting another

Dear XXXXXXXXXXXXX,

Thank you for offering me the position of  XXXXXXXXXX  for XXXXXXXXXXXXXX. I was excited to learn more about the company and admire your ethos on creating a sustainable environment (or insert something you liked about the company). However, after careful consideration, I have accepted another offer from a different company.

Thank you for taking the time to interview me and for showing me around your workspace. I would love to stay in touch, and I look forward to seeing you at next month's XXXXXXXXX conference (or insert somewhere that you may meet).

Best wishes,

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Declining a job offer because there was a misalignment

Dear XXXXXXXXXXXXX,

Thank you for offering me the position of XXXXXXXX for XXXXXXXXXXX. I appreciate the time you took to show me around your offices and answer all my questions. However, after careful consideration, I have decided that this position isn’t help me reach my career goals now, so I regret that I respectfully decline your offer. 

Thank you for taking the time to interview me, and I wish you luck finding the right candidate. Hopefully, our work will allow us to cross paths again.

Best wishes,

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Next steps

If you have recently declined a job offer, maybe now is the time to upskill to prepare for your next application round. You’ll find various short courses and qualifications offered on Coursera that will help you build interview skills, learn how to negotiate a job offer, and improve your people skills. You may also consider taking a Professional Certificate to advance your skills in a specific field.

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