8 very legit reasons to turn down a job offer
Finally, your ongoing job search has yielded some results in the form of a job offer. Exciting news, isn’t it? Yes, except that you can’t quite revel in congratulatory enthusiasm because a little (or very big and loud) voice inside your head wants you to flatly reject this job offer.
On the other hand, your bank account is practically begging you to dole out an eager handshake and a thank you to the interviewer so you can officially rejoin the workforce after a nerve-racking stint of unemployment or leave your current job for something better.
This is what you’ve been wanting all along — or is it? Only you can make that call for certain, but confusion over whether you should just take the gig and run may not be something you can afford to ignore.
Even when you’re really grateful to have landed a new gig, there are actually very legit reasons to turn down a job offer.
1You landed a better offer.
This offer sounds good, but it doesn’t compare to the company that offered you medical, dental, and vision benefits, a gym membership, matched 401K contributions, and a heftier salary to boot.
Let the interviewer know you appreciate being considered for the position, thank them for their time and skedaddle to your awesome new job.
2The job description has changed.
So, you applied for one job, but the offer the company placed on the table sounds more like three. The ad clearly read “hiring writers,” but the interviewer abruptly informs you that this position will involve absolutely no writing. WTF, indeed.
Anytime a business tries to pull a fast one by switching up the actual job duties before a prospective employee signs on the dotted line, it’s a clear-cut sign that it’s time to bail on the offer.
3They can’t provide clear answers for any of your questions.
Now that you’ve aced the interview, you have questions before you accept the offer for which the company just cannot seem to give concrete answers. No one knows when your actual start day will be or whether you’ll be paid for training. And when you ask why the last person left the position you’re applying for, you’re met with a diversion tactic that leaves you questioning if this is the best step for you to take.
In the event that you can’t get straight answers about any of your concerns prior to taking the job, that’s a sign that things will probably be the same way if you accept. In this case, turning down the offer will help you avoid working for a company whose values don’t align with yours.
4They refuse to negotiate your salary.
Everything else about the gig is wonderful…except for the pay. Although you’ve thoroughly researched the position for which you applied and have determined that the currently salary will result in you being seriously underpaid, the company refuses to budge on the money.
Sometimes, you find yourself in a tight spots where you feel like you have no option but to take a position after the employer refuses to negotiate. But if you have options, walking away from a company that won’t even try to meet you halfway is the obvious choice.
5There’s a high turnover rate.
If people are leaving the company on a regular basis, odds are, this could be you shortly after you accept the job offer. A business with a high turnover rate for employers probably won’t offer much in the way of job satisfaction, positive work culture or any of the other reasons that compel people to stay at their jobs.
6You don’t like the office environment.
Even if you land an incredible job offer, weigh your options carefully if the atmosphere in the office leaves you with a sour impression before you even start your first day of work. It won’t count for much in the long run if you’re willingly going into a toxic workplace that will eventually take an emotional, mental, and physical toll.
7Your gut tells you to pass.
Sometimes, there’s no rational reason for rejecting a job offer other than the fact that it just doesn’t *feel* right. Even if you can’t pinpoint something specific, trust your instinct and wait on a job that you can confidently accept without any lingering concerns.
8There’s nowhere to advance.
You get the impression that if you take this job, you won’t be able to advance beyond the position you’re starting at, or at least won’t be able to advance very far. No one wants to start off a new gig where they’re basically guaranteed to feel stuck at work. If you sense the professional stagnation from a mile away, leaving the job offer on the table might be in your best interest.
Overall, don’t misconstrue the offer to be anything other than what it is — an offer — which you should not blindly accept. If it doesn’t feel good or measure up to your expectations, you can simply move on to searching for other professional prospects, one of which will hopefully be the job of your dreams.
