Accepted a job offer that you regret? Or simply because a better offer came along after you said ‘yes’ to the first one. It’s nothing personal, it’s just business. However, ‘ghosting’ your potential employers is still not advisable.
It may be the easiest way out to avoid an awkward conversation but give your would-be (or not) employer the due respect of being honest and truthful about backing out of the job offer.
Inform by Phone, in Person or via Email
Although generally speaking, once a job offer has been taken – it is highly recommended that you stick to your word, but even with valid reasons it would behove you to inform the hiring manager as soon as possible to allow them enough time to find a replacement candidate.
When a candidate rejects a job offer that was previously accepted, the company has lost out on other potential candidates as they may have stopped looking. Thus, when you inform the hiring manager by phone or in person, the best way to handle the situation is always with grace.
This is only respectful, especially if you have accepted the offer during a meeting. Avoid informing them by text or email as that can be perceived as rude and insincere, especially if you’ve already agreed to the job face-to-face.
However, if the correspondence regarding the matter took place via email, it is acceptable to send an email detailing your declination.
What to Say & Your Message Tone
It is not necessary to provide the exact reasons for rejecting the job, so keep your explanation brief. Keep it concise, polite, and simple. Throw in a few words of contrition expressing your apologies for not being able to proceed with the job. Be tactful and inform them about your change of heart without offending them.
Do not say anything negative about the company. Just focus on what has changed for you, such as a better offer to suit your skills or that you feel you do not fit in with the culture. Always show appreciation for the offer as the hiring manager did put in the effort in interviewing and reviewing your profile, to begin with.
You can also research email templates on the subject to help you let down your employers gently without bruising any egos. Most of these email templates have formal and polite language. But be sure to edit them to suit your particular situation and make the email more personalised.
The Fuss About Doing It Right
Retracting your acceptance can be damaging to one’s reputation if handled badly, and various hiring managers do talk amongst one another, and you’ll never know who they would be showing your CV to. The last thing you’ll need is an offended party of the industry bad-mouthing your profile based on a bad impression—following you for the rest of your career.
With that in mind, be fully aware of the consequences of declining a previous accepted offer. You may face a much harder time in getting a job in the same corporation after due to this first misstep. It may be a difficult situation, but if you are sure – this could be your first step into getting a better job for you.