Have you recently received a job offer from a company you do not want to work for? Or the job description does not fit your expectations and requirements?
If yes, it’s important to know how to decline a job offer gracefully.
Finding a job that fits you like a glove can be a daunting task. There are a lot of factors to consider before you accept an offer. For example, 86% of job seekers would turn down a job if company culture was at stake.
In this article, we will discuss more such reasons and how to convey them politely to the hiring manager. Let us first look at some templates and samples so that it’s easier for you to respond to the job offer email.
Email template examples for rejecting a job offer
The job searching process takes enough effort and determination. Curating emails while rejecting offers shouldn’t be another headache for you. Hence, we have included examples of how to decline a job offer as gracefully as possible based on several reasons.
You can directly copy these templates or customize them according to your terms.
Template 1 (General rejection)
Subject: Job Offer - [Your Name]
Dear [Employer],
Thank you for offering me the opportunity to join [company name]. I appreciate the time and effort your team invested in the hiring process.
After much thoughtful deliberation, I have decided that the position may not be the best match for my career aspirations at this time. I am grateful for your interest and consideration, and I hope we can keep in touch for any future opportunities that may align more closely with my goals.
Thank you again.
Best regards,
[Your name]
Template 2 (Short email)
Subject: Job Offer - [Your name]
Dear [Employer],
I hope this email finds you well. I express my sincere gratitude for offering me the [Job Title] position with [Company Name]. However, after much consideration, I have realized that I am not the right fit for this job and role.
I appreciate your time and consideration throughout the interview process, and I wish you the best in your search for the right candidate.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Template 3 (You’re not happy with the salary offered)
Subject: Job Offer - [Your Name]
Dear [Employer],
Thank you for offering me the [Job Title] position with [Company Name]. Regarding my request for an interview, I appreciate the time you took to consider it.
I would also like to express my appreciation for your extended offer. However, after careful consideration, I regretfully decline the role. Due to the compensation package not aligning with my current expectations, I have decided to look into more prospects.
Thank you for your time and understanding.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Template 4 (You want to stay at your current job)
Subject: Job Offer - [Your Name]
Dear [Employer],
Thank you for extending the offer for the [Job Title] position with [Company Name]. I appreciate the consideration you and your team invested in the hiring process.
After much thought and reflection, I realized I might not be the right fit for the offer. I have decided that it is in my best interest to remain with my current employer.
I am truly grateful for the opportunities and experiences my current job has provided me. Given my current circumstances, I have decided that this is not the optimal time to pursue other professional endeavors. Thank you for considering me for the opportunity and your understanding.
I hope you understand my decision, and I want to express my thanks for the opportunity and your team's professionalism. I wish you continued success.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Template 5 (You’re not happy with the company culture)
Subject: Job Offer - [Your Name]
Dear [Employer],
I am grateful for the position offered to me. I appreciate your time and consideration throughout.
After much thought and consideration, I have decided not to accept your offer because I do not believe I am a good fit for your company's culture. I must work in an environment where I can connect with the culture and thrive.
However, I believe that my values and work style will not align with the values you practice at [Company Name]. So joining the company would be unbenefitting despite these disparities.
Thank you for the opportunity, and wish you the best.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
69% of Americans would rather remain jobless than work for a company with a bad reputation, according to a survey
Template 6 (Long-term career goals do not align)
Subject: Job Offer - [Your Name]
Dear [Employer],
Thank you for the [Job Title] position offered to me by your company.
I am deeply grateful for your time and energy in considering me for the position. It was not easy, but I have decided to pursue other opportunities that align more closely with my long-term career goals.
Your interest and support are greatly appreciated, and I hope we can stay connected. Thank you again. Hoping for the best for you and your team.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Template 7 (You’re not happy with the position offered to you)
Subject: Job Offer - [Your name]
Dear [Employer],
I am extending my gratitude for the job opportunity offered to me. The effort and time put in by your team are appreciated.
However, after careful review and consideration, I have realized that the position offered does not align with the role I initially applied for. Therefore, with the utmost respect, I must decline the job offer. The position offered requires someone with a specific set of skills, and while I appreciate your confidence in me, I don't think I am the best candidate for the job.
I hope you find the right person for the position. Thank you again for your interest and your understanding.
Thank you.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Template 8 (You got a better offer)
Subject: Job Offer - [Your name]
Dear [Employer],
I express my gratitude for inviting me to join [Company] as [Job Title]. Your interest in my skills and experience is greatly appreciated.
However, after careful deliberation, it would be best for me to pursue another role that aligns more closely with my interests and skills in [area] and [area].
Thank you and the team for the time and effort invested in the interview process and the job offer. It was a pleasure getting to know more about [Company]. I wish you all the best in finding the right candidate for this role.
Thank you again for your consideration.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Be cautious of the signs of a toxic workplace before accepting a job offer. Do not accept a job simply because you’re unemployed or dissatisfied with your current job. The new job could be worse.
Check out the culture, reviews, and ratings about the company. You never know, you could be jumping straight from fire to a frying pan!
How to decline a job offer without burning bridges?
Turning down a job offer that is not a good fit for you is necessary. What is not necessary is to burn your boats while doing so. A polite email or a phone call does the job here. The most important part is conveying your message to the hiring manager.
In addition to the examples above, you should consider a few more things when writing your rejection email response.
When wondering how to decline a job offer politely, these 10 tips should be kept in mind.
- Be prompt with your response.
- Be grateful for the opportunity offered to you.
- Express regret for declining the offer.
- Explain why you want to consider other options.
- Keep it brief and to the point.
- Give a sensible reason but do not overexplain.
- Offer to stay in touch; build your network.
- Be professional and respectful.
- Leave the door open for the future.
- End on a positive note.
Final Takeaway
Deciding how to decline a job offer can get difficult, but it's important to do it professionally and respectfully. Our tips will enable you to decline the offer while maintaining a positive relationship with the employer and leaving the door open for future opportunities.
Red flags to watch out for during job search
Here are some bonus suggestions:
Although in the sea of corporate jobs, finding a fitting job is easy. However, finding the right one is a challenge. If you're too unsure about the job, we can help you identify some signs of not accepting a job offer. Here are some.
- Unclear job description.
- Bad company reputation.
- Absence of work-life balance.
- Lack of rewards and recognition.
- Poor interview process.
- Huge turnover rate.
Take the time to clarify any questions or concerns before making a decision about a job offer. To learn more about the above suggestions and for more reasons to consider while rejecting a job offer, read: 16 signs you should not accept a job offer.
Bonus read:Having a hard time during your Job Search process? Use LinkedIn extensively! Here’s a guide: How to find a job on LinkedIn? (With Steps).
This article has been written by Pansy Thakuria. She works as a Content Marketing Specialist at Vantage Lens. Her areas of interest include marketing, mental well-being, travel, and digital tech. When she’s not writing, she’s usually planning trips to remote locations and stalking animals on social media.