How To Decline a Job Offer Politely With Email Examples!

how to decline a job offer politely

Oh boy, It’s bad. 

What’s the matter?

Did they offer you below your expectations? 

Or, did you get a better offer from another employer? 

You went through the entire interview process and did everything possible to secure that job offer, only to turn it down. You want to decline the job offer without burning the bridge. 

You want to keep the doors open, but believe me when I say that employers despise candidates who turn down job offers. Instead, they’d be more than happy to address your concerns or renegotiate the offer.

Recruiters, employers, and HR managers spend hundreds of hours interviewing potential candidates to find one right fit for the position. Only to find out that the candidate has decided to turn down the job offer.

Of course, they’d hate it. 

But, now that you’ve made your decision, let me help you figure out how to politely decline a job offer while keeping the door open for future opportunities.

You might need to go back to them. 

You must understand the etiquette for declining a job offer.

This guide will help you navigate the storm you are about to get in. here is what you’ll learn here. 

  1. How to deline a job offer politely with examples
  2. How to reject a job offer after accepting it
  3. Do’s and don’ts before rejecting a job offer letter

You must understand, as previously stated, that employers despise it when candidates turn down job offers. If you’re reading this, it means you appreciate and respect their time and efforts.

However, not all of them are the same as you. When they do not want to join the company, most candidates prefer to remain completely silent. They don’t answer the phone or respond to messages.

  1. Call them: The most important aspect of any relationship is mutual respect. If you have decided to decline the job offer, call the recruiter. Yes, the recruiter you’ve been speaking with is a real person. He is deserving of that phone call. He would undoubtedly try to persuade you to stay, but he would appreciate and respect your decision too.
  2. Send them an email: If you don’t feel comfortable calling them, send them an email instead. Sending them an email informing them of your decision is preferable to not informing them at all. 
  3. Express gratitude: Regardless of whether you like the position or not, thank them for offering it.
  4. Be polite: Regardless of why you’re declining the job offer, it’s important to be polite when you call or email them.
  5. Offer a replacement: To compensate for the time and effort, offer to share a referral. You probably know someone with similar expertise and experience who would be interested; sharing their contact information can help them close the position as soon as possible. 

How to reject a job offer after accepting another job

Dear Hiring Manager,

I’d like to express my gratitude to you for considering me for the position of __________________with__________________. I’ve decided to accept a position with another company after much thought.

I sincerely thank you for taking the time to interview me and for considering me for this position. I wish you the best of luck in finding a suitable candidate for the position.

Thank you once more for your consideration.

Regards

Name

How to decline a job offer due to salary

Dear Hiring Manager, 

Thank you so much for offering the position of Sr. Software Engineer at Tesla.

I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to talk with me about salary expectations. Unfortunately, I will have to decline this position because the salary does not cover my current living expenses.

Thank you for your time and consideration, and I wish you the best of luck in finding someone suitable for the position.

Regards

Sam J.

How to reject a job offer if the job isn’t the right fit

Hello [Name],

Thank you for considering me for the position of [Job Title] at [Company].

After much thought, I have decided not to accept the position because it is not a good fit for my long-term career goals.

I sincerely thank you for your offer and wish you the best of luck in finding a suitable candidate for the position.

Regards

Name

How to decline a job offer to stay with current employer

Hello,

Thank you for offering me the position of ______________________ at _______________.

I regret to inform you that, I have decided not to accept the position because my current company has offered me to stay with a better offer and promotion. 

I sincerely thank you for your offer and wish you the best of luck in finding a suitable candidate for the position. 

Regards

Name

Job offer rejection letter due to personal reasons

Hello,

Thank you for offering me the position of ______________________ at _______________.

However, I am unable to accept the position due to unforeseen circumstances.

I sincerely thank you for your offer and wish you the best of luck in finding a suitable candidate for the position. 

Regards

Name