When to Say No to a Job Offer
Posted December 9th, 2013
Let’s just say you’ve been offered a job. Congratulations!
Should you take it?
Many people think one should always accept an offer when it’s proffered. But there are times you should say no to a job opportunity. Read below for reasons why and examples of when to turn down a job offer.
- It may be best to turn down the first position offered to you when you’ve just started your job search. If you’ve been diligent about networking and applying to jobs for which you’re highly suited, taking the first job you’re offered could mean you have to turn down a job that’s offered to you just weeks later. (You can change your mind and turn down a job after you’ve accepted it, but you must give the hiring manager fair warning. If you’ve already started at the job, if you’ve worked there a week or more, it’s very bad form to quit for a better offer that comes along once you’ve started.)
- Let’s say you’re interviewing elsewhere while you’re mulling the offer. As you learn about new opportunities, is your excitement about the offer waning? If so, that’s a sign you may want to turn it down. There’s no guarantee the job that currently excites you will pan out, of course, but if you’re seeing things “out there” that excite you more than the offer, it’s wise to keep looking.
- Listen to the little voice in you head that says this job is not for you. As you’ve interviewed for the position, what did your gut tell you? Are you feeling great excitement? Do you feel you’ll be comfortable/happy in the work environment? The little nagging feeling that this job won’t be a good fit is important to heed. If that little voice is speaking to you, listen to it.
- How far is the commute? Don’t overlook the negative effects of a long commute (one that’s more than 40 minutes long each way). Long commutes have been shown to negatively impact one’s home life and personal happiness much more than previous thought.
- Having a hard time deciding whether or not to accept one job over another offer? To help you decide, sit down and – while forgetting the offers you have – write down what you consider to be the most important aspects of your next job. Then take an objective look at each of your offers (or any offer you may have) and see how the position(s) match up. If one – or even both – don’t make the grade (and if you haven’t been looking for months with little luck), consider turning the job offer(s) down.
When looking for work in the Bay Area, don’t forget to send your resume to Bayside Solutions. We have many temporary, temp-to-hire and direct-hire opportunities for professionals (particularly IT professionals) and we’d love to discuss them with you. Contact us today.
