How To Know When To Turn Down The Job Offer

In my work, I help working women of all levels become very clear on exactly what they want to be doing in their professional lives, and what they are ready and willing to walk away from.  Only when they’ve achieved that level of clarity, and mustered the courage and commitment to honor their visions, are they able to go out and make their highest goals a reality.  In recessionary times, however, there’s a tremendous amount of fear and anxiety.  People are downright afraid to say “no” to a job offer, even if it’s a horrible one.

The harsh reality is that there are plenty of jobs that you should run away from without a moment’s hesitation.  But how do you know for sure which jobs to consider and which to reject?

I caught up with Miles Jennings, CEO and cofounder (with Ashley Saddul) of Recruiter.com, to answer that question.  Miles has been helping job seekers, employers and recruiters for many years in their decision processes, large and small.  Prior to co-founding and running Recruiter, Miles worked for a decade in the employment space, serving as Managing Director for Modis, an IT staffing firm (part of Adecco Staffing), and at Indeed.com.

After serving as a recruiter himself for seven years, Miles learned just how many professionals struggle with how, why and when to go about refusing a job offer.

Here’s Miles’ take:

The job market and unemployment rate in America has been on a slow and steady positive rise since the economic recession in 2008, and employment is finally becoming attainable for more and more job seekers. However, with the amount of layoffs and budget cuts that we have all struggled through in the past 6 years, it is hard to imagine anyone would be willing to turn down a job offer of any kind. After all, money is tight (for most of us) and who knows what the future might bring, so we might as well take what we can get - right?

Well, not exactly. While on the job hunt, it may seem that an offer is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, the holy grail, the end of the line and the beginning of a new position. But settling for a job or company that is not right for you could be a very big mistake and could make a negative change in your life with lasting repercussions. Saying “no” to a new position sometimes must happen for a handful of reasons, and you are not wrong, or foolish, for doing so.

Here are some warning signs from Miles on how to know when to turn down the job offer:

Initial communication with the employer is unprofessional.

If communication and connection with the company you are interviewing for is sparse, disrespectful, unprofessional or just downright non-existent, take this as a severe warning sign. If your new manager is too busy to give you adequate information on the position or answer last minute questions, who knows what else he/she will be inattentive to.

Meeting the manager is a negative experience.

It’s all about the vibe. When you first meet the prospective manager and other employees at the company, feel out their personalities, styles and approach. If you do not feel that you will fit in with the company, or are concerned that you’ll be unable to forge a healthy, positive relationship with your boss, consider this warning sign that the job is not for you.

The terms of the offer are far from what were described in initial communications.

So the salary is not as much as you were looking for - this happens more times than not. Although money is tight, you should never settle for a position that offers far less than you are reasonably comfortable with. If you believe (because you’ve done the necessary competitive and market research) you can command significantly more for your set of skills and experience, don’t be afraid to push back. In fact, some negotiation is often expected, especially for more senior roles. However, if the offer differs significantly from what was originally communicated to you, consider it a real warning sign about the employer.

The actual role differs from the description shared.

When you receive a job offer, most letters usually state the job title and the supervising manager.  If those are both the same as you expected and you have had discussions with that specific manager, everything is most likely okay. However, when they are different, you’ll want to probe further to understand both the actual job responsibilities and the hierarchy of the organization. Don’t leave anything up to chance.  Good questions to ask include “What are the day to day responsibilities?” and “What does the most successful (Job Title) do for your company?” If you are expected to be managing people, but the actual responsibilities seem to point to stapling and faxing, you’ll need to explore that.

The position will not benefit you in the long run.

If the job you are interviewing for feels like a dead end, it probably is. One of the most important evaluations to make when offered a position is where it will take you in the future. Will the job give you priceless connections and knowledge that will move you forward for the future? What can the position become? What new skills will you learn?

Step back and look at the big picture - where will this job potentially take you? How will it benefit not only your career path, but your life in the long run? When it comes down to it, you don’t want a job that pigeonholes you in a function you dislike and doesn’t hold any longer term reward or skill development. You need to take a hold of your career, and see clearly where this job will lead you in one year, three years, even five years. Don’t waste your time on a job that doesn’t lead to your growth or expansion of some dimension of your life.  Your time, energy and commitment are simply too valuable.

In the end, if you have fully evaluated the position and feel that these warning signs sound oddly familiar, it is most likely time to turn down the job, and the process of rejecting an offer is much easier than you may think.  Simply focus on being genuine, brief and appreciative. Thank the employer for the offer, give a short and simple reason for your refusal, and leave your negative opinions to yourself.  Don’t neglect to stay in touch with the employer (if they received your rejection in a gracious, professional manner). You never know when a situation will change there and they may grow to become a positive connection for you in the future.

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One final word on accepting or rejecting an offer:

I agree 100% with Miles’ tips and warning signs. Use your intuition and instincts to help you gauge if this move will be a positive or detrimental one. I’d add, however, that people often race to reject a lateral move because their ego says “I’ve already done this! It’s not big enough.”  The reality is that lateral moves can be positive if they can help you grow and expand in the direction you wish to. Don’t automatically reject positions that may serve as powerful, positive stepping stones to what you ultimately dream of.  Explore these opportunities thoroughly, and then make your informed, balanced decision.

For more info about employment opportunity and growth, visit www.recruiter.com.

For more on career success, take my Career Success Readiness quiz and visit The Amazing Career Project.