How to Decline a Job Offer: Tips, Email Samples & Phone Scripts

There will come a time in your job search when you receive a job offer that you have to reject. Some common reasons to decline job offers are salary expectations, company culture problems, commute issues, and career development concerns.

There are a few different situations in which you may need to write a job offer rejection email or make a job offer rejection phone call - when you already accepted another job offer,  when you are not interested in the position, or when the position is not a good fit for you.

Job offer rejection is an important part of the job search process for both the job seeker and the employer because it allows for each side to move on and find the best possible match.

This is why it is always important to be professional and clear when you are rejecting a job offer. As a job seeker, you don't want the company that has offered you the job to think that you didn't take their offer seriously.

In this article, we will provide tips on how to reject a job offer professionally in any situation and give you the confidence boost you need to get started!

Before you turn down a job offer, here are a few things you might want to consider:

✅ Job title and responsibilities

Make sure that you are familiar with the job title and the responsibilities involved.

• What does a typical day look like?
• Who will you be closely working with?
• What are the expected goals?

You don't want to turn down a job offer only to find out later that the job is actually something you’d enjoy doing.

✅ Salary

• Do you feel that the salary is appropriate?
• What are your salary expectations?
• What would it take to get a raise?

It is important to be realistic about your salary expectations and to factor in things such as the cost of living and how much you want to save when you evaluate whether you should reject or accept the job offer.

✅ Benefits package

The benefits package, along with the salary, make up your total compensation.

• What are the benefits that are offered?
• Are there medical and dental benefits?
• Does the company offer insurance?

It is important to look at more than just the salary when considering turning down a job offer.

✅ Work schedule

The working schedule is also important to take into consideration because it has a huge impact on your work-life balance and, possibly, physical and mental health.

• Will you be working long hours?
• Do you have to work weekends? 
• How often will you be traveling?
• Are there flexibility options?

✅ Starting date

Make sure you have enough time to give your two weeks’ (or one month's) notice at your current job. If the new job starts sooner than your current notice period, you will need to weigh out the pros and cons of declining the offer.

✅ Commute 

Consider how close or far the job is from your house and whether you are comfortable with the commute. Commuting can be an issue because it can take a lot of time out of your day and it can be stressful.

✅ Company culture

• Do you agree with the company's values and mission statement?
• Do you like the people you are going to work with?

These may influence how happy you are at work and how long you stay with the company.

✅ Career development

A good job takes you one step closer to your career development goals.

• Do you see yourself advancing in this company?
• Are there opportunities for professional development?
• Will you be able to attend training and development programs?

These are all crucial questions to consider before deciding on whether to decline a job offer.

✅ Personal issues

If you have any personal issues that need to be sorted out, it is best to do that before accepting a job offer.

There are different ways of rejecting a job offer politely—you can do it over the phone or through email. There is no best option, but depending on the rapport you have built with the company throughout the interview process, you may want to opt for the appropriate choice.

📞 Rejecting a Job Offer Professionally Over the Phone

The key to turning down a job offer over the phone is to be polite, respectful and professional. Since you won't be able to see each other's faces and expressions, our tip is to put extra effort into the tone of your voice.

Make sure you sound polite, firm, thankful and professional by practicing with a friend or just practicing in general.

✅ Pro: It's a more personal way to reject a job offer and you can build a rapport with the recruiter or hiring manager.

❌ Con: There is a higher chance of the conversation going awry if you're not careful with your words.

✉️ Rejecting a Job Offer Politely via Email

Declining a job offer through emails can be less personal, so the key is to make it sound personalized. The hiring manager will most likely be busy, so make sure your email is short, precise and professional.

Luckily, turning down a job offer politely via email is the most common way, and there are plenty of email templates you can find. We will also provide useful job offer rejection email samples later in the article.

✅ Pro: You have time to carefully construct your reply and you can avoid any awkwardness that may occur if you speak to the recruiter over the phone.

❌ Con: There is a higher chance that the recruiter may not see your email if it's in their spam folder or they're too busy to read all the emails they receive.

Not sure how to reject a job offer politely over the phone? Here is a sample phone script that you can follow, but make sure to personalize it as much as possible to reflect your appreciation and professionalism.

Now let's move on to job offer rejection email samples. Just like how you would personalize a phone conversation, make sure to personalize your email as much as possible to show your appreciation.

How to Write a Job Offer Rejection Letter Due to Personal Reasons

How to Decline a Job Offer You Already Accepted

How to Decline a Job Offer Due to Salary

How to Decline a Job Offer Due to Long Commute/Location

How to Decline a Job Offer Due to Family Reasons 

How to Decline a Job Offer After Accepting Another Job

How to Turn Down an Internship Job Offer 

How to Decline a Job Offer from a Friend 

How to Reject an Internal Job Offer 

How to Decline a Job Offer After Signing a Contract 

We hope by now you have a clear understanding of how to reject job offers over the phone and with email. Finally, we would like to offer some tips on how to turn down a job offer without burning bridges.

💡 Be honest and clear with your email/phone call.

Not wanting to upset people, you might not want to sound too blunt when turning down a job offer. But that’s only going to cause inconveniences for others, so be sure to always be honest and clear to avoid confusion.

💡 Don’t give too much specific information.

Giving away too much specific information may leave room for misinterpretation and could damage the relationship you have with the potential employer. Keep the information generic and just enough to get your point across.

💡 Keep it to the point.

Recruiters and hiring managers are busy, so always keep it to the point. This saves time and ensures clarity for both you and the potential employer.

💡 Show appreciation.

The key to politely turning down job offers is to always be respectful and appreciative of the opportunity given to you. This will leave a good impression and could result in future opportunities.

💡 Offer to stay in touch.

Lastly, offer to stay in touch. This will keep the door open for future opportunities and maintain a positive relationship with the recruiter or hiring manager.

We hope you've found some of these tips helpful as to how to decline a job offer. Whichever way you choose to reject a job offer, always remember to maintain professionalism and courtesy. 

--- Originally written by Candy Ho ---