Can You Decline a Job Offer After Accepting It

Accepting a job offer tin can exist exhilarating—only what if you have to reject the offer after you have already accustomed it?

Don't feel bad if this happens.

Hither's how to decline a job offering yous already accepted, every bit advised by experts:

Table of Contents

Try your best to go out as diplomatically as possible
- Dissect the contract for any legal event
- Inquire yourself what alternatives you are willing to accept
- Exist thankful
Scenario 1: Y'all've received a competing offer that you adopt
Scenario 2: Circumstances have changed
Scenario 3: You've had 2d thoughts
Be 100% honest with everyone
Do it over a phone call
Send them peers who might be interested
Make certain this is what y'all want to exercise earlier you decline the chore offer because you tin can't change your listen again
Remain professional and respectful
Maintain an air of professionalism
Be honest, professional, and grateful for the opportunity
Always sign the second contract before proverb no to the starting time offering
The decline letter should be polite and courteous
Tell the truth
If y'all have a story that y'all can share, do information technology
Repent and let them know y'all were simultaneously interviewing at other places

Try your best to exit as diplomatically every bit possible

Equally a professional, you definitely don't want to fire bridges. The globe is interconnected, fifty-fifty more interconnected in the professional world where almost every fragment is delicately interwoven in one unified corporate ecosystem. You don't know when you would need your current employer down the line in your career path.

Therefore, if y'all must turn downwardly a job offer y'all had already accepted, yous must adopt best practices and try your best to go out equally diplomatically as possible without ruffling too many feathers.

Of class, there are techniques to plough down a job offer you accept accepted courteously, techniques so amicable that the employer (you are turning down) will like you plenty to ask well-nigh your availability if a senior opportunity comes up.

Related: How to Turn Downwardly a Job Offer merely Keep the Door Open

Dissect the contract for whatever legal issue

How practise you reach this? The first step is to dissect the contract for any legal consequence.

It is more fun watching a approximate on a moving-picture show than facing her in real person. Improper termination of a job offering can go you lot to court for sure! Therefore, earlier you plough downwards any job offer, rigorously written report the contract to see if in that location are explicitly stated legal consequences for such action.

Agreed, some contracts may exist stashed with legal jargon. In that case, where you are non besides clear on what the contract spells, you can consult a lawyer friend.

Most contracts will requite you a time span within which y'all tin turn down the job without consequence. In some other contracts, you must give the employer a heads-up notice inside a stipulated timeframe.

When you are convinced at that place are no legal wars to be fought; you tin now accomplish out to the employer. Yes, this is the harder role.

Enquire yourself what alternatives you are willing to accept

Indeed, some employers can cherish yous and so much that would counter your preferred task (for which yous are turning down their offer) with a more delicious proposition. Therefore, you must exist prepared for all possibilities before you accomplish out to the employer.

What rates or responsibilities could this employer offer you that could cause you lot to have a rethink well-nigh your conclusion to turn them downwards? If the employer asks you what conditions they could provide to make the position more attractive for you, feel free to earn your heed.

Would you desire a convenient remote work setting? Would yous need Fridays or weekends totally off? See if you lot can yet peradventure iron out weather condition with them. In the situation where your decision is personal, yous can allow them know every bit clearly equally possible without unnecessarily divulging sensitive details.

Of class, you dare not sprinkle whatever dishonesty in when explaining your reasons for turning down their offer. If yous got a ameliorate job, tell them candidly.

They may necessarily non be elated with it, just the crux is y'all are telling them the truth. Don't garnish the truth by whatsoever means; what you should rather garnish is your expression of the truth. You lot demand a fair lump of diplomacy here then equally not to sound as annoying or provocative.

Be thankful

Two words: "thank you." They can do an incredible amount of skilful despite being and so brief. You need to be thankful when y'all turn down an employer's offer. Nowhere in life is whatsoever private happy to a miserable pass up. The same applies to your employer.

Yes, you must venerate their offer even if yous decline it. Brand them see that you lot value the offering as an exotic opportunity that you unavoidably have to turn down. Make them experience you cherish always existence considered for that responsibility.

When necessary, emphasize meliorate on how thrilling it was with them. It must not be a heart moving (and tears-invoking) Steven Spielberg rendition, just at least beam a fair lite on the positives of your experience with them.

Sometimes a candidate may make up one's mind to turn downward a job they've already accepted considering they've received a better offering, considering circumstances take changed, or they've had 2d thoughts.

Here are some examples of what to say in each scenario:

Scenario 1: You've received a competing offering that you lot prefer

"I desire to let you know that though I was very interested in joining your house, I accept decided to decline the offer because I've gotten a job offering for a role that I feel is a better fit for me. I appreciate your interest in me, and I wish you lot the best in finding a candidate for the position."

Scenario two: Circumstances have inverse

"I want to let you know that since I accepted the offer, some circumstances have inverse in my life that precludes me from being able to take the job. My married woman has recently been promoted in her job, and given our family'south situation; information technology doesn't make sense for us to make the motion for me to take the part. I appreciate your involvement in me, and I wish you the best in finding a candidate for the position."

Scenario three: Yous've had second thoughts

"I want to let you know that I have decided to decline the position. I've had some fourth dimension to think information technology over and while I enjoyed meeting everyone at your visitor, [give the reason for not taking the job.]" The reasons could be something like "the timing is non right for me to get out my electric current function," "Upon further thought, the focus of this position is taking me as well far from my involvement in [whatever]."

Overall, it's critical to emphasize your appreciation for the time and attention they took with you lot throughout the recruiting process and limited your regret for inconveniencing them.

Despite feelings of discomfort, if you have any doubts about taking a task, it's much better to decline it than to take a chore that you have misgivings. Information technology's better to endure the momentary discomfort than to have the job and live to regret information technology or quit the job a few months afterwards when it's too belatedly for the company to choose another candidate.

You've worked hard all summer, stayed late, poured yourself into your final presentation as an intern, and alas, 60 minutes pulls you in on your final day and offers you a full-time job! You're ecstatic; yous phone call your mom, you're headed dorsum for your senior yr with a job in mitt. Congratulations!

You're now dorsum at school, and the fall career off-white comes around. You say to yourself, "I'll go simply to network," end upwardly coming together a recruiter you vibe with, say yep to an interview, and a few weeks down the road have another task offer in paw. Just oh expect, what nearly the other offer? You know y'all're keen on taking this new one, so how do you pass up the one-time one just keep your reputation intact?

Related: How to Tell a Potential Employer You Take Another Job Offer

Not everyone'due south reputation may stay intact. Yous may get blacklisted. Fortunately, through my own experience and through hearing the many stories of peers, readers, and listeners, information technology'll all exist okay.

At the cease of the day, companies should desire you to brand the all-time decision for yourself and end up where you'll be happy. They don't want someone who's taking a task out of guilt every bit they know you won't last long.

Be 100% honest with anybody

Y'all may feel the need to tweak the narrative at times and tell a white lie or two. Don't.

These are humans on the other side and although it'southward in the professional realm, treat people like people. They've put time into your growth journey, practice them a favor and be honest with why you lot might exist going with a different company, it may even help them improve their offering, then this doesn't keep to happen to them. If they're a smart company, they'll listen.

Practice it over a phone phone call

Yeah, we love to shoot off quick texts and emails, just it's like breaking upwards with someone. They put the time into the relationship; the least yous can do is make the breakdown a little personal and respect it. Starting time it with something like:

"Hi Sam, I wanted to telephone call you personally to update y'all with my plans for after college. This isn't easy for me to do because of the time and energy you've put into my journeying, but I do demand to be honest with you and myself, I think I've establish some other company where I'd be a greater fit."

Don't trip the light fantastic around it. Go to the bespeak and give them the respect they deserve.

Send them peers who might be interested

At the end of your call, ask them:

"I understand this might put stress on your hiring goals for this recruiting season, I withal greatly enjoyed getting to know y'all and your company, would you lot find it valuable if I sent any close peers of mine to you who are interested/who I think might be a bang-up fit based on what I've learned?"

They might say no, but you're showing that you understand the difficult position you might be putting them in.

I turned downwards a task using the three tactics above with one of the iii largest defence contractors in the world and all the same got to interview the CEO for our podcast down the route.

It'll be okay.

Declining an accustomed task offer requires a lot of tact to avoid burning bridges. While it is rare, it'southward something I've experienced a couple of times in my work with employees.

Make sure this is what y'all want to practice earlier you decline the job offer because you lot tin't change your heed again

I had a candidate do this in one instance—he declined the job, and so contacted me less than a week later to say he'd changed his listen and wanted to take it.

Past that time, we had already offered the job to our second-choice candidate. Even if nosotros hadn't, that indecision made us second-guess his delivery to the job, and we wouldn't have hired him unless we were in a bind.

That said, here are 3 tips for declining an accepted job offer:

Tell the hiring managing director as quickly every bit you tin once y'all've made the decision.

It's ideal from a legal standpoint if you reject the offer before you sign any employment contracts. Fifty-fifty if you already have, though, the faster the visitor knows, the college the chances they'll exist able to pin to another candidate without needing to showtime their search all over. The less inconvenience y'all cause the company, the fewer bridges you lot'll fire.

Do it in writing.

This does two things. First, it provides a newspaper trail of exactly when you notified the company of your decision. Second, it helps go along any emotion out of the conversation by providing a layer of distance. You'll be able to edit and refine your message before sending it, and the hiring manager volition have time to procedure it before responding.

Explain your reasoning in as few words every bit possible.

An explanation of some kind is necessary, but yous don't demand to go into detail. The explanation of why yous're turning the offer down should take up no more than than a paragraph in your letter.

Also, this isn't the time to air grievances nigh the chore you're turning down. If another visitor offered yous meliorate pay, benefits, etc., don't become into those specifics. A elementary "I've received a better offer with 10" is an advisable grab-all.

Marie Buharin

Hiring Manager | Founder, Modernesse

Remain professional and respectful

It is kickoff essential to recognize that candidates should do everything they can to avoid this situation. It does put employers in quite a bind when a job offer is declined after being accustomed.

If yous do observe yourself having to reject a job offer afterwards accepting, the virtually important thing is to remain professional and respectful. Let the employer know every bit soon as possible of your decision past sending an email.

Here is a draft template that I would recommend:

How-do-you-do [HR rep/recruiter],

I regrettably must inform you that I can no longer accept the employment offer from [organization]. [Short, concise reason for the alter]

I sympathize this change may be challenging for [arrangement], and this was not an ideal sequence of events.

If there is anything I can assist with, please let me know.

Thank you,
[proper noun]

Y'all practise not have to provide a reason for your change of heart, but it would make the situation easier for the employer to understand if yous provide a brusk explanation. You certainly desire to attempt to stay in adept standing with these individuals, as yous never know who you may work with in the time to come.

Failing a job offering you lot've just accepted can feel uneasy at all-time and downright guilt-inducing at worst. Still, things don't always work co-ordinate to program, and a more than tempting offer can testify up as you lot sent in the paperwork accepting the offer.

Well, c'est la vie. We get it, so there's reason to crush yourself up almost it. Instead, remain proactive, assertive, and polite.

It's essential to inform your prospective employers of your change in management without going too in-depth into the reasons why. Nosotros've all changed our mind or found something better, and so rest assured that no i is going to hold this over your head.

Lastly, we'd much rather y'all do a double-take and decline a previously accepted job offering than show up whilst daydreaming of what could've been at the other identify.

A simple, directly, and courteous instance such as the below does the task simply fine.

Dear (first proper name of the hiring manager or HR rep),

It is with corking regret that I must inform yous that despite my recent credence of the job offer, I will not be joining your organization after all. Frankly, while I was genuinely excited about the role, a ameliorate opportunity presented itself, and at this juncture of my career, I believe that it is a ameliorate fit for my skill set.

I'd like to cheers for your time and consideration. I sincerely apologize if my change has caused any inconvenience and wish yous and your team the all-time of luck moving forward.

Sincerely,
(Starting time and final name)

Maintain an air of professionalism

I've always recommended the thought that chore candidates should write a thank you letter after a job interview. In the spirit of that, to decline a chore, you can write a 'thanks, but no thanks' kind of letter.

Related: How to Write the Best Thanks Electronic mail After Interview

In the letter, you tin can mention that you're so grateful to have received the opportunity and state the reason yous have had a change of centre. As long as you kill them with kindness and maintain an air of professionalism, y'all'll be able to pass up the job offer in a diplomatic way, and peradventure stay on skilful terms with the employer should you always revisit an opportunity with them.

Below is a short instance:

Dear Mr. Smith,
I wanted to take the fourth dimension to say thanks and so much for your job offering. I really enjoyed the interview process, and I enjoyed learning about the visitor. I've come to the realization that accepting this opportunity would get in challenging to manage my piece of work/life balance, and the daily commute would but be more than I can realistically handle.

I just wanted to say thank yous once again for your time, and I wish yous the best in filling the position.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Be honest, professional, and grateful for the opportunity

The best approach to this is to be honest, professional, and grateful for the opportunity. Nearly bosses would understand your reasoning if you could just tell them most it. You can either ship them an e-mail about the situation or give them a call. A phone call is ordinarily preferred when dealing with these things, but if you're more comfortable with an email, that should work fine.

Here'south a template you can use if yous need to reach them out via email:

Howdy (Name of Employer),

Earlier everything else, I would similar to give thanks you lot for the opportunity y'all have given me.

Unfortunately, I will have to retract my acceptance of your job offer. I have been offered a position in another company which, to me, seems similar the more practical pick. I have decided to accept that offer instead.

I hope you find someone else to fit this position. Once more, thanks for your fourth dimension. I wish you all the best, moving forward!

With my best,
(Your Proper name)

Bottom line: Keep your emails directly to the betoken, and avoid divulging too much unnecessary data (like your new company proper noun or even an overly specific reason equally to why you lot're retracting your acceptance). Ever show your gratitude and wish them luck to cease on good terms.

E'er sign the 2nd contract before maxim no to the first offering

This is not a situation that you want to be in, only sometimes, it happens. If you receive a better offer before y'all even signed a contract for the first one, it's fine to say no.

The only bit of communication I accept: ever sign the second contract before saying no to the commencement offer.

That way, you have one selection in the handbag. Merely e-mail the visitor and say that although their offer was more than off-white, yous had to accept some other one considering it had something more than that yous wanted. Take your time and write a thoughtful email, thanking them for their time. They volition near likely exist furious at you lot in whatever example, and then try to make them understand.

Kim Chan

Founder and CEO, DocPro

The decline letter of the alphabet should be polite and courteous

Strictly speaking, from a legal perspective, once the offer has been accustomed by the candidate, at that place is a binding legal contract (unless one can evidence no consideration has been provided by the visitor).

Thus, the candidate needs to have due care when withdrawing of the acceptance and then that the company will non hold the candidate to legal liability.

The refuse letter should be polite and courteous, get-go thanking the employer for the offering but unfortunately, must decline the accepted offer due to a change of circumstance. The reason given should be discreet, fifty-fifty if the original offer did not meet your expectations, and you accept received a amend offer subsequently.

Inform the employer as soon as you lot have made the conclusion to decline the accepted offer. Practise not expect until the last minute (just before you are scheduled to outset) before informing the employer, equally they would have made Hour arrangements for y'all, and it would be very inconsiderate to do so.

From a legal perspective, the less time there is between the acceptance of the offer and the revocation of acceptance, the harder information technology would exist for the employer to show that consideration has been fabricated for the employment contract and thus less likely to concur you to whatever legal liability.

Tell the truth

Declining a job offering under whatever circumstances tin be uncomfortable. Even so, once you lot've already accepted, that can make things a petty more complex.

What I accept e'er appreciated from anyone I'g potentially going to be working with is honesty. Tell the truth. Explain if you've received a meliorate offer or found a nicer fit for your skillset.

The reality is that many people in human being resources can odour an excuse a mile away. And perchance you may notice that your paths cross again for another job opportunity downward the route. So, look them in the eye (or ship a very personally charged bulletin), and simply explain what's happened.

Yous may have heard this old proverb a time or two, but honesty actually IS the best policy.

I in one case received a phone phone call from a man who a few days before accepted our chore offering. He was honest with me and said that another company offered him a position in Norway, where he and his wife dreamed of moving to after their honeymoon.

His rejection wasn't what I planned, and it didn't match my goals for that quarter. I couldn't be upset, though, because this applicant did everything right. Equally soon as he could, he called me, stated a adept reason for his decision, and thanked me for the offer.

The mode he handled the situation left the door open up if his condition changes in the time to come. We continued on LinkedIn, and I'd be happy to consider him for whatever future openings. If you lot care for others the way you want to exist treated, declining a job offer afterward accepting it isn't the globe's end.

Apologize and let them know you were simultaneously interviewing at other places

I have had 3 unlike candidates reject a position after I have offered information technology to them. Information technology is very rare, but it does happen. From the employer'due south perspective, it does put them into a tough spot, particularly if they are hiring out of immediate need.

Before accepting a job, it is a good idea to be as committed as possible and check off all the other opportunities. That beingness said, if you decline later accepting, the employer volition be OK with information technology, every bit they will exist happy you did it now rather than subsequently.

The best way to go about doing information technology is to apologize and permit them know you were simultaneously interviewing at other places. If you want to, you lot can give them the option to counter, but information technology does risk abrasive them a bit. Overall, yous can simply let them know you are sorry, you have some other pick that you are moving forward with, and you thank them for the opportunity.

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Source: https://upjourney.com/how-to-decline-a-job-offer-you-already-accepted