Job Offer Negotiations
Posted August 26th, 2013
With the economy still recovering, most workers don’t yet have to worry about the possibility of multiple job offers. However, there are some individuals who, either because of their background, expertise or their field of work, are highly sought after and have the luxury of being able to turn down job offers for positions they don’t feel suit them.
If you find yourself in this enviable position, there are certain do’s and don’ts you should be aware of as far as the best way to turn down a job offer. When you do turn an offer down, you want to maintain good relations with the company because you never know what the future may hold. Your paths may cross again in the future in your professional life.
So, your letter declining the job should contain three things – the first is a courteous thank you for the offer, a carefully thought out explanation as to why you are turning the position down, and a suggestion that you keep in touch.
A sincere expression of gratitude for the offer is the first thing you should include. You want to let the interviewer know how much you valued the opportunity to interview with the company and how highly you think of the interviewer and the company. You want to let the interviewer know that it was not an easy decision to make. You never want to leave the impression that you really didn’t think very much of the company, even if true.
Then your letter should include an explanation of why you cannot take the job. It could be that relocating would present too much of a problem, or that there were family considerations. Or you may feel that you just don’t have the right qualifications or skills to do the job well, or that you don’t think you would fit in well with the culture of the company.
If you feel the job just doesn’t pay enough, you should explain that as well in a tactful way. For example, you can tell them that the job looks to be challenging and interesting, but that you need to be able to earn a higher salary for it to work for you.
Finally, you can make an offer to stay in touch. You never know if at some point in the future another opening might occur at the company, one that looks very appealing to you.
If your area of expertise is information technology, and you are looking for work in the San Francisco Bay area, get in touch with Bayside Solutions. We can find you a job that matches your skills and interests.
