How to Reject a Job Offer - by Pushpa Sreenivasan

As a candidate, you have got a call from your dream company, cracked the interview and also have just received a job offer. But, you are unable to join them due to various reasons best known to you. In this instance what is the best way to approach this situation?

1) Don’t beat around the bush: Pick up your phone and make a call to the Recruiter as soon as possible. Tell him or her what’s lurking on your mind instead of avoiding calls from the Recruiter, your prospective manager and anybody from your future dream company. Your recruiter always was your first face to have set up the interview and remember they know a lot many things that you don’t know. Being honest in saying what you are going through will help you renegotiate the offer and see if the company can address what is on your mind.

2) Negotiate the offer: If you were not extremely happy with the offer made by your dream company but don’t want to reject the offer and also don’t want to accept it, again talk to the Recruiter and help him/her understand what’s on your mind. The Recruiter may be able to work as your mediator and help resolve the outstanding points that need to be addressed. In this scenario, sometimes you may get what you want. But when you don’t, it means your expectations were beyond your limits. Go by it.

3) Ask for an extension: Most of the organisations, counter the offer you have received from the outside company only after you get it. When you attempt to resign from your current employer they may try to retain you by promising something else. If your manager is in that mode and you are awaiting his response, again, talk to your Recruiter or your prospective manager for an extension in giving your confirmation. This will give a feeling that you are genuine and true.

4) Gracefully Exit: Even after all the efforts you have put, the prospective manager has tweeked in the offer letter and yet if you are not able to accept the offer, do that gracefully. Explain the people concerned what exactly it was. Remember, this is your dream company and you may want to see yourself in this place in the future, keep that door open for yourself. Above all, the worlds is small and flat. You will bump into the same people and Recruiters/Hiring Managers have a great memory. The Hiring Managers remember most of the candidates and don’t take a chance if they feel they a candidate has n0t been honest with them.

5)Maintain a good track record: Even if you decide to exit the interview process, make an attempt to refer somebody else for the role, which will give a good feeling in the minds of the people of the company who offered you as they had invested a lot of time, energy and money in interviewing you. Ensure, you stay in touch with them as you will be the next first person the hiring manager will approach when the position gets vacant again.

All the best.

The author of this article has been with the Oracle India Recruitment Team for the past three years and can be contacted at pushpalatha.sreenivasan@oracle.com