When You Should Turn Down a Job Offer

Is this Job Offer the Right One?

All the hard job searching and interviewing work paid off and you received  job offer. How do you know if it’s a good offer? Or even the one you have been waiting for?

Trust Your Gut with any Job Offer

If you aren’t jumping up and down and really exited about the offer that is the first red flag. You don’t have to actually jump up an down, but if you are more hesitant than excited–that should tell you something.

How Was Communication During the Process?

There are a lot of different ways people and businesses communicate these days. It shouldn’t be hard to get a hold of someone.

More red flags that this isn’t the place for you could include:

• waiting too long for replies
• confused about directions or requirement
• uncomfortable interviewing
• disrespected or unheard
• you are given vague answers or information

A colleague of mine once sat in an interview where the employer was playing games on his computer the entire time he was asking her questions. He barely looked at her. She turned down the job offer because she felt like she wasn’t being taken seriously and it spoke to the culture of the management at the company.

The Job Description is Unclear

Some start-ups might not have all their ducks in a row when it comes to hiring, and this is somewhat understandable. However, well-established companies should provide detailed job descriptions. They should be able to answer your questions about what is expected of you in the role and future positions within in the company. They should also provide information on career paths and opportunities for growth.

Does the company invest in their employees through training, advancement opportunities and other incentives? If the interviewer can’t answer these questions it’s time to look elsewhere.

What is The Company’s Turn Over Rate?

How long to employees typically stay at this company? How often do they hire? Why did the person leave in the position you are applying for? If they can’t answer these questions, hesitate or beat around the bush, this shows they are embarrassed by their inability to keep good employees. There are usually good (or not so good reasons) for this.

How did Salary Negotiations Go?

Salary and benefit negations should be pretty straightforward. Don’t take a position if you feel underpaid from the beginning. Happiness equals doing a job you like for enough money.

If at any point in the negotiation process you feel deceived or like the employer is hiding something, walk away. Most likely, this won’t change once you are hired. Transparency is very important in the workplace. If you don’t get it in the interview and hiring phase, you won’t ever see it working there.

Have you turned down a job offer recently?

We want to hear about it. Why did you turn it down?