A polite refusal is an applicant's responsibility as well as a professional courtesy. You notify the employer that you are not interested in working for the company and thereby allow him/her to continue to search as quickly as possible. Also closing the door gently, ending negotiation pleasantly on a note of goodwill, makes good sense in terms of the future. In writing the refusal letter, use the indirect plan, giving reasons before saying no as described below.
Do not put off writing refusal letters. They are not crucial to you personally, but they are important to the employer and to others who may be under consideration for the position you are refusing. The sooner you step out of the way, the easier it will be for others.
What do you include?
- Thank the company for the offer.
- Be polite, but firmly reject the offer.
- Give reasons why you turned the offer down. Doing this will improve the experience for future applicants.
- Leave the door open in case you wish to apply for another position at the company in the future.
Model for Writing a Rejection of a Job Offer