How To Turn Down A Job Offer But Keep The Door Open

Getting a job offer can be exciting and a great thing, most of the time, but sometimes there will be a time when you have to turn down the job offer. When turning down a job offer, be sure to reach out as quickly as possible to thank the hiring manager for the offer.

If you’re a job seeker who needs to turn down a job offer but keep the door open, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll go over how to turn down a job offer but keep the door open, provide some how to turn down a job offer you might want later examples, as well as some reasons to turn down a job offer.

Key Takeaways

• Contact the hiring manager to turn down a job offer as quickly as possible.

• Say thank you, clearly and concisely reject the job offer, and mention how you’d like to keep the door open to working together in the future.

• Many people decline a job offer because they’ve accepted another job, the salary is too low, or the job isn’t what they want.

How to turn down a job offer but keep the door open

When declining a job offer but you want to keep the door open, you need to respond quickly and start with a thank you to the hiring manager. Here are more steps for how to turn down a job offer whether you’re turning down a job offer by email, phone, or in person.

1. Respond quickly. If you decide to decline the job offer, make sure you do it quickly. This will be important to the company so they can continue to search for other candidates. If you wait too long, they might not want to consider you as a future candidate for another position.

2. Start with a thank you. Always say thank you to someone who took the time to consider you for a job. Whether you’re offered the job or not, whether you’re accepting the job or not. They put time and effort into your application, basically at your request, so they deserve a thank you.

3. Say something positive about the opportunity. You don’t have to go on and on about how you thought this would be the perfect job. That’s not necessary, but consider this a polite compliment.

   If you’ve ever done a “compliment sandwich,” this is really what you’re doing here. You sandwich the negative between two compliments to make it easier to swallow.

4. Reject the job offer. Make it clear that you’re saying no — no waffle room or ambiguity. But there’s no reason to go on and on about how the job offer is insulting, or you’re better than that job, etc.

   Simply tell them you won’t be taking the job at this time. You can add a reason or two if you want but keep them very short and make sure you’re not insulting.

5. Don’t close the door. Yes, you basically said no a second ago, but you want to still offer to keep in touch or possibly work together in the future. You never know if the other job you want could fall through, and then you’ll be desperate for this one again.

   Also, most professions are really very connected, and you don’t want to risk tarnishing your reputation.

How to turn down a job offer but keep the door open sample answers

1. How to decline a job offer because you accepted another job example

   You wanted the job, but you had another good job offer come in while you were waiting to hear from this company. It happens a lot, and if you’re happy with the job offer you accepted, then it’s time to start saying no to the other offers — graciously, of course.

   Bob Smith
   Editor of The Times
   1122 First Street
   Sacramento, CA 94203

   Dear Mr. Smith,

   I want to thank you so much for the offer to work at the Times. I enjoyed meeting with you and learning more about the business.

   Unfortunately, I am unable to accept the offer at this time as I have just accepted another offer.

   Again, I want to thank you for the offer and for taking the time to consider me for this position. I wish you the best and sincerely hope that we can professionally cross paths again in the future.

   Best wishes,

   Abigail Jones

2. How to decline a job offer due to salary example

   You like the idea of the job, but the compensation is just not making you smile. If you aren’t completely desperate, it’s best to say no and then wait for a better offer to come in. Starting off at a low salary sets you up to continually be behind the curve.

   Bob Smith
   Editor of The Times
   1122 First Street
   Sacramento, CA 94203

   Dear Mr. Smith,

   I want to thank you so much for the offer to work at the Times. I enjoyed meeting with you and learning more about your company and your team.

   Unfortunately, I am unable to accept the offer at this time as the compensation doesn’t line up with my experience and career goals.

   Again, I want to thank you for the offer and for taking the time to consider me for this position. I wish you the best and sincerely hope that we can professionally cross paths again in the future.

   Best wishes,

   Abigail Jones

3. How to decline a low job offer while asking for more money example

   You really like the job, and you want it, but you know you’re worth more compensation, so you’d like to leave the door open to negotiation. But you’re not entirely sold, so if they don’t jump at your offer to negotiate, you’re okay walking away.

   Bob Smith
   Editor of The Times
   1122 First Street
   Sacramento, CA 94203

   Dear Mr. Smith,

   I want to thank you so much for the offer to work at the Times. I enjoyed meeting with you and learning more about the business.

   I am very interested in working for The Times, but I’m afraid that the current compensation package isn’t in line with my requirements. I would be open to future discussions if there is some flexibility in salary and benefits.

   Again, I want to thank you for the offer and for taking the time to consider me for this position. I hope to hear further from you, but if you are unable to negotiate on salary, then I do wish you the best in your candidate search, and I hope we have the opportunity to work together in the future.

   Best wishes,

   Abigail Jones

4. How to turn down a job offer if it’s not right for you example

   You thought you wanted the job, but once you talked to the hiring manager or the recruiter, you realized that you really didn’t. There’s just something, it could be anything, that makes you feel that this is not a good fit for you, and you don’t want to work there.

   Bob Smith
   Editor of The Times
   1122 First Street
   Sacramento, CA 94203

   Dear Mr. Smith,

   I want to thank you so much for the offer to work at the Times. I enjoyed meeting with you and learning more about the business.

   Unfortunately, after deep and careful consideration, this position doesn’t line up with my current career goals.

   Again, I want to thank you for the offer and for taking the time to consider me for this position. I wish you the best and sincerely hope that we can professionally cross paths again in the future.

   Best wishes,

   Abigail Jones

5. How to decline a job offer after accepting it example

   Please note that this is not as straightforward as declining a job you haven’t accepted. There may be employment contracts involved, and if you’ve already signed them, you might want to enlist the assistance of an attorney. It’s also important that you act quickly in this situation because the longer you put it off, the worse it’s going to be.

   Bob Smith
   Editor of The Times
   1122 First Street
   Sacramento, CA 94203

   Dear Mr. Smith,

   I want to thank you so much for the offer to work at the Times. I enjoyed meeting with you and learning more about the business.

   Unfortunately, although I accepted the position of Custodial Engineer last week, I’m going to have to rescind my offer at this point. After careful consideration, I have determined that I would not be a good fit for your company and believe it’s better to rescind my offer now rather than leave you in a hiring bind in the future.

   Again, I want to thank you for the offer and for taking the time to consider me for this position. I apologize for the inconvenience.

   Best wishes,

   Abigail Jones

6. How to decline a job offer because you can’t relocate to another area example

   You may like the job, but you are unable to relocate to a new area at your current moment. Things happen such as family emergencies or you can’t find a suitable living situation. When this situation happens, it’s important to decline the job correctly that way you can still reach out when you are in a situation to relocate in the future.

   Bob Smith
   Editor of The Times
   1122 First Street
   Sacramento, CA 94203

   Dear Mr. Smith,

   I want to express my interest and sincere gratitude for considering me for the position at the Times. It has been a pleasure learning about your organization and the exciting opportunities it offers.

   After careful consideration, I regret to inform you that I will not be able to proceed with the job application for the writer job. Moving poses a significant challenge for me at this point in my life.

   Thank you once again for this opportunity, and please know that I hold the Times in high regard. I hope our paths might cross in the future under different circumstances.

   Best wishes,
   Abigail Jones

Why it’s important to know how to turn down a job offer but keep the door open

It’s important to know how to turn down a job offer but keep the door open because you may want to return to the company if your situation changes or you might want to add the hiring manager to your network.

Today, jobs are easier to find through the internet, which opened a whole world of opportunities to job applicants. It also means, for some professions, that working remotely is possible, so you’re no longer tied to a location.

This is fantastic because you can find jobs that financially are better for you, that suit your interests more, and you can pick the type of company you want to work for. Of course, this all means you’ll probably be turning down a job offer at some point.

Let’s be honest, turning down a job offer is a rejection, and many people have a hard time with that. Luckily, we live in a world of remote connections, i.e., almost everything is done by email. This can make the entire process much easier, especially if you’re nervous about it.

Reasons to turn down a job offer

In each situation or for every reason you turn down a job, you’re going to have a different reason, and that can color your rejection letter.

Also, sometimes you’re not actually saying no. You’re saying no to what they’re currently offering, but you might be open to a better offer (i.e., an offer that would allow you to earn more). So, let’s first look at some reasons you might turn down a job offer, then we’ll give you a sample rejection letter for each situation.

• You’ve already accepted another job

• The salary is too low (not interested at all)

• The salary is too low (but more money could sway you)

• The job really isn’t what you want

• You accepted the job, but now you have to reject it

• You are not ready or can’t relocate to another area

Tips for declining a job offer

When declining a job, try to stay in touch with the hiring manager and be positive when declining the offer. Here are some more tips for things you can do after:

• Stay in touch with the hiring manager. It is a good idea to stay in touch with the hiring manager and continue to build that relationship. This can ensure that they will remember you when it is time to start hiring again.

• Be honest. Lying about the reason you turned down the job could come back to haunt you. You don’t need to go into deep detail as to why you are declining the job offer but telling them why will make things a little easier.

• Be a resource. During the interviewing process, you learned about the job and what they are looking for. If you know of someone who would be a good fit, recommend them to the company. This is also helpful if you are still in contact with the hiring manager.

• Be positive. Your letter should be positive no matter the reason for declining the offer. Being negative or criticizing the role won’t allow you to keep the door open for a future in the company.

How to decline a job offer but leave the door open FAQ

1. How do I decline a job offer without closing the door?

   To decline a job offer without closing the door, write a professional email following these steps:

   • Respond quickly.

   • Start with a thank you.

   • Say something positive about the job opportunity.

   • Clearly and succinctly reject the offer.

   • Express your desire to keep in touch or possibly work together in the future.

2. Can you decline a job after accepting an offer?

   Yes, you can decline a job after you have accepted it. When declining an offer after accepting, make sure you do it once you are certain you want to decline the offer. Be sure that you check your contract to avoid breaking any terms. When contacting your employer, use a straightforward and honest approach, and show your gratitude.

3. Is it rude to decline a job offer after accepting it?

   Yes, it is rude to decline a job offer after accepting it. However, it is ruder to take a job that you have no intention of staying in, so if you find yourself wanting to turn down a job you’ve already accepted, do it as quickly and politely as possible.

   This will reduce the number of headaches that you and the company have.

Final thoughts

If you’re offered a job, and you don’t want to accept it, for whatever reason, you still need to respond to the offer and decline the job. Ignoring the offer isn’t professional, and it can put you in a bad light that might come back to haunt you in the future.

Rejecting a job offer can feel difficult and uncomfortable, but it’s best to take the professional approach and do it graciously, politely, and succinctly. You don’t have to mention the reason you’re declining the job offer.

You can simply say it doesn’t line up with your current career trajectory, but mentioning the why can sometimes be useful, and it can keep the door open for future offers.

Speaking of keeping the door open, it’s always good to end the rejection email with your best wishes and suggest that you’d welcome the opportunity to work with that individual or that particular company in the future.

You’ll find that the business world is a small place and people often circle back, so leaving a good impression is probably the biggest key takeaway.

References

1. Columbia University Center for Career Education – How to Accept or Decline an Offer

Author

Hope Stebbins

Hope Stebbins is an experienced writer and editor within the field of finance and contracts, sales, and business operations. She combines operational analysis with creativity to develop compelling written content. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Eastern University.