Rejecting A Salary Offer

There are many reasons why you might end up rejecting a salary offer. Perhaps you received a better offer from another employer, or maybe you just decided the position was not for you. Regardless of your reasons for turning down an offer, there are some things to keep in mind as you work through the process.

Better to reject than to accept and back out

One of the most important things to remember is that it is far better to reject an offer up front than to accept and then get cold feet and back out. Employers would much rather have you decline an offer outright, freeing them up to make an offer to someone else. When you accept an offer and then change your mind, it leaves a very negative and unprofessional impression with the employer, and is very likely to come back and haunt you at some point in your career.

Be prompt

You should always allow yourself sufficient time to evaluate any job offer, but that does not mean delaying or avoiding a response because you plan to reject the offer. If the offer is not to your liking, you have the option of submitting a counter proposal that addresses your concerns, but if you are not comfortable doing so then there is nothing wrong with just saying no. A prompt response is professional and shows you in the best light, and it allows the employer to move on to the next candidate with an offer.

Respond in writing

It is perfectly appropriate to call the employer to communicate your rejection of the offer, but you must also follow up with a written letter of rejection as well. The letter should be polite and express appreciation for the offer that was extended. There is no need to go into great detail or provide a long list of reasons as to why you are rejecting the offer. If you have accepted another offer from another company then say so, but if your reasons are something different then you need to use a little more finesse. A good strategy is to use a neutral statement expressing that you do not feel accepting the offer would be a good fit for you or the employer.

Grammar, spelling and punctuation count

Just because you are writing a letter of rejection instead of a cover letter or a resume does not mean you should ignore the rules of grammar, spelling and punctuation. The rejection letter represents you just as certainly as any other written communication represents you, so it is important to write it with the same high standards you always employ.

Don't burn a bridge

Remember that no matter what the reason is when you choose to reject a job offer, you should handle the situation with enough grace and professionalism that the employer would be willing to consider you for another position in the future. In other words, don't burn any bridges behind you because you never know when you might have to go across one of them again. This is especially true if you work in a small community or in a profession where employers have regular contact and share information with each other.

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