How to Turn Down a Job Offer But Keep the Door Open? Professional Guide

Have you ever received a job offer that you neither wanted to join nor turning the opportunity closed? If so, then how did you manage the situation? Being professional, you have to deal with such situations where you shouldn’t ignore the opportunity.

But… how to turn down a job offer but keep the door open professionally? That’s the real problem in a professional career, which you have to deal with. If you’re interested in knowing more about how, then keep reading because I’ve compiled a comprehensive on this.

So, Let’s Get Going!

Here are some considerations that you should apply to turn down a job while keeping the opportunity open for you.

Firstly, you need to respond to the jobs offer promptly because that would be a smart move. When you respond to the opportunity after 24 hours, that may damage your reputation and make it difficult for you to maintain a good reputation.

Therefore, you must respond to the job opportunity as quickly as you can to maintain a positive attitude in front of the employer.

As you have made up your mind to turn down the job opportunity, you should maintain a positive attitude. You should be grateful for the offer, no matter what the post is or what salary they offer, because that’s an indication of a good personality.

Start with a sincere thank you for the offer to showcase your gratitude for their efforts, which is a good human quality.

Being grateful for the offer is another thing and declining the offer is something different, which shouldn’t so straight forward. Although you should decline the job in concise and clear words to not causing someone fall in wrong instructions.

Moreover, you should avoid over-explaining or justifying your decision of turning the job offer down to not make them feel like that you’re acting.

As if you want to keep the opportunity door open, you should end your note with a positive attitude. Further, you should indicate that you’re interested in their company and smartly turn your next move into their work environment by thanking their teams.

For Example: “I have great respect for your team and the work you’re doing at [Company Name]. I’d love to stay in touch and hope our paths cross again in the future.”

Here are the 2 most convenient ways to turn down a job offer while maintaining a healthy relationship with the company.

Subject: Thank You for the Offer – [Job Title]

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

Thank you very much for offering me the position of [Job Title] at [Company Name]. I genuinely appreciate the time and effort you and your team invested throughout the process.

After careful consideration, I’ve decided to decline the offer at this time. This was not an easy decision, as I have great respect for your organization and the opportunities it provides.

Ultimately, I’ve chosen a path that aligns more closely with my current career goals and personal circumstances. That said, I truly enjoyed our conversations and was impressed by the culture and vision at [Company Name].

I hope to stay in touch, and I’d be happy to reconnect if there’s a better fit in your company.

Best Regards!

Signature-

Hi [Hiring Manager’s Name],

Thank you again for offering me the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. I really appreciated the chance to connect and learn more about the team and the exciting work you’re doing.

After careful thought, I’ve decided to pursue another opportunity that’s a better fit for my goals at this time. That said, I have a lot of respect for [Company Name] and would love to stay in touch in case our paths cross again in the future.

Best Regards!

You guys have made it… 😀

That’s how you can turn down a job offer while keeping the opportunity accessible for you always.

In the above section, I’ve compiled a comprehensive guide that you should follow to not spice up your relationships.

Hopefully, this guide will be very helpful for you to keep the doors open!