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Original poster

Has anyone ever declined a job offer?

73 replies

Ceriane · 30/03/2021 21:45

Has anyone ever declined a job offer after going through the interview and being offered the job and given really good feedback, after thinking about it for a while and then realising it’s really not for you and you are better off staying where you are for the time being, and realised the job you applied for isn’t quite what you thought it was?

OP posts:
MadMadMadamMim · 30/03/2021 21:48

No. But I work in an area where that would be considered hugely unprofessional and would cause me issues.

Have you accepted the job - or have you asked for time to think about it and come to the conclusion it's not for you?

If it's the latter it's ok. If it's a job you've already accepted then, no.

(I'm assuming this isn't just hypothetical)

BearFoxBear · 30/03/2021 21:50

Yes, a couple of times. I've just responded to the offer saying that after careful consideration, I have decided not to accept the role, and hope that they find the right candidate. Thank them for their time, good feedback and wish the business luck. Sorted.

doubleshotespresso · 30/03/2021 21:52

Yes one of my biggest regrets I suppose despite the fact there was a valid reason for doing so.
I still often wonder what about if? in my idle moments a few years on

Suzi888 · 30/03/2021 21:53

Yes, more than once. I also took one and stayed for two month before going back to my old jobBlush.

Hottesttrikeintown · 30/03/2021 21:54

Yes lots but never after accepting

Easterbunnyislactoseintolerant · 30/03/2021 21:55

Cleaner here... Was offered a job in a top city hotel. Until the trial shift(working alongside 2 other staff) opened my eyes
Showers and baths dried with the previous guests dirty towels..
Also the cups and saucers...
Envy

Not envy.

Moondust001 · 30/03/2021 21:56

But I work in an area where that would be considered hugely unprofessional and would cause me issues.

More issues than someone going through with an offer that they genuinely don't feel is right, getting that confirmed and then almost immediately leaving for another job? I don't think that it's unprofessional at all. Interviews are as much about the interviewee finding out about the role and the company and deciding whether that is what they want. I wouldn't want to work for a company that is so precious about them being perfect that they get insulted if someone decides that a particular job isn't for them. After all, isn't that exactly what they are doing to all the people they turn down after interview? Why on earth is it any different?

Maverickess · 30/03/2021 21:57

Yes I have, mainly because on interview I didn't like the place or manager and got a bad feeling, it was a step up but I just didn't see myself fitting in there, they told me they'd let me know and when they emailed to offer the job I politely declined and thanked them for their time.
Not a professional role by many standards though.

JamMakingWannaBe · 30/03/2021 22:00

Yes. I believe the interview process is two way - do you want to work for them? When I turned it down the recruitment manager got really arsy and said "I was obviously institutionalised" because I was, at that time, working for the local Council!

FrogsSpawnofSanta · 30/03/2021 22:03

I turned down a job after accepting it and telling my employer I had been offered it, it was pure gut instinct that it wasn't the right move for me. No regrets about it.

DukeOfEarlGrey · 30/03/2021 22:04

Yes, I even signed the contract and my firm was so upset when I resigned that I wondered why I was leaving and renaged on the contract. I felt awful and think I looked unprofessional but we all got over it. I explained my reasons and apologised to the firm that made the offer. They said the door would still be open in the future so can’t have viewed it too badly. It’s easy to overthink these things.

Original poster
Ceriane · 30/03/2021 22:07

Thank you. I did ask to think about it first, then declined.

OP posts:
StephenBelafonte · 30/03/2021 22:08

I've done this a few times. The whole point of the interview is to see if you like the job surely?

AlohaMolly · 30/03/2021 22:09

Yes, several, one recently! And one after accepting it as well. That was definitely not my finest moment though Blush

Most recently, I’m a trained primary teacher who quit when I had DS4. I now work as a part time receptionist and am getting bored so have been tentatively applying for things. I applied for a job as a teaching assistant in a lovely private school, with a vague advert that said full or part time. When I arrived for the interview, I loved the interview itself and the school. I said I wanted part time, they said fine, five mornings and one long day to cover staff meetings then also said it wasnt term time only. I was so blown away by the school that I didn’t turn it down straight away, although I said I was looking for three full days.

They offered me the position by the end of the week and I said no thank you, as the hours don’t suit. They came back with a counter offer and I still turned it down.

TaraR2020 · 30/03/2021 22:11

Yes it became clear during the interview that although they were very keen, the reality wouldn't be what I was willing to sign up for. I also trusted my gut which screamed at me not to do it. No regrets.

wintertime6 · 30/03/2021 22:12

Yes, I did. But I didn't want to leave the job I was in. I went through a horrendous time with workplace bullying and it was affecting my mental health so much that I just couldn't have continued to work with her.

The job I was offered was a good job and I would have been happy there, but I preferred my old job.

I asked for a few days to consider the offer and my manager was fully aware of the situation as they were trying to deal with the bully through the proper channels. Anyway, on the day I had said I'd let them know my decision, the bully handed in her notice (she realised at that point it was going to go to a disciplinary and I think she didn't want to lose face)! So I agreed to stay in my old job and my manager even offered me a pay rise.

And guess what company the bully moved to? The one that had offered me the other job! So if I had moved, I could have ended up working with her again. Sometimes things happen for a reason.

VienneseWhirligig · 30/03/2021 22:15

I've done it. I was at risk of redundancy and had to reapply for my own job, so I applied for another one that took my fancy too in case I didn't get my job back. Job interviews for both one day after the other. Then on the day of the interview for my own job, I bumped into an old director in a lift amd was telling him my woes, and he offered me a managed move into his team. I said I'd think about it. I got offered both of the other jobs too so had three to choose from. I discounted the insurance policy job because it meant a longer commute to a different city. I loved the job I was doing but the trust in the management wasn't there (long and boring reasons not just related to the redundancy) so I plumped for the managed move. I had never turned down a job before and found it awkward, but I explained my reasons and didn't burn any bridges just in case.

bigbluebus · 30/03/2021 22:16

DH did once for quite a senior position after a 3 part interview process. He didn't have a job at the time either, having been made redundant from his previous job. I was a SAHM with 2 small DCs at the time. He didn't discuss it with me - just told me he'd been offered it but decided not to take it. I was less than impressed at the time.

memberofthewedding · 30/03/2021 22:18

I applied for what was advertised as a full time job. At the interview IU was asked if I would consider a job share. I said no because I was seeking a full time post. I needed the income to support myself. I had no partner or other source of income. Job share is more suited to people who seek part time work and have other comittments and sources of income.

They offered me the job share but I turned it down, stating that I felt their advertisement has been very misleading.

Maxellious · 30/03/2021 22:22

Yes. I didn't get a good feel at the interview. I was desperate to leave my old job, but also wary of ending up in a similar situation. One of my interviewers was totally disengaged at the interview and couldn't answer my questions very well (we would have been peers). And then, at the time of offering me the job, the hiring manager told me he was leaving to manage another team (internal move). I later found out that the disengaged colleague had also handed in his notice. I don't regret turning it down!

ElephantsNest · 30/03/2021 22:24

Yes I turned one down because the pay wasn’t high enough. No regrets. Know your worth.

MadMadMadamMim · 30/03/2021 22:25

@Moondust001

But I work in an area where that would be considered hugely unprofessional and would cause me issues.

More issues than someone going through with an offer that they genuinely don't feel is right, getting that confirmed and then almost immediately leaving for another job? I don't think that it's unprofessional at all. Interviews are as much about the interviewee finding out about the role and the company and deciding whether that is what they want. I wouldn't want to work for a company that is so precious about them being perfect that they get insulted if someone decides that a particular job isn't for them. After all, isn't that exactly what they are doing to all the people they turn down after interview? Why on earth is it any different?

I think you misunderstood.

I have turned down job offers at the interview when I've been offered them. It would be acceptable to decide that the job wasn't right/wasn't what you'd expected or you didn't like the feel of the company. It is perfectly acceptable to withdraw throughout the day - and common to be asked at the end of interview "are you still interested in the post?". That is the point to say politely that you didn't think it was for you and to stop wasting any more of your own or the panel's time.

It would be considered unprofessional to accept the job and then contact them a week or two later to say I'd changed my mind. By that point they would have let other candidates know they'd not been successful and would have to start the advertising/interview process again.

It would not go down well.

BrilliantBetty · 30/03/2021 22:28

Yes.
I hate an awkward commute so have turned a couple of roles down because i've found the journey to/from the interview to be a pita. I told them why as well.

eurochick · 30/03/2021 22:28

I've never asked nor been asked if I'm still interested in the role at the end of an interview. I'd find that really odd.

Isadora2007 · 30/03/2021 22:29

Yes. I’d accepted a new job and went to do my induction days around 2 weeks after the initial interview panel. I went to put on my “work skirt” and struggled to fasten it. I realised I was pregnant! (Planned but unknown fertility so hadn’t been expecting to actually conceive!)
I felt it wasn’t fair to do a few months of fairly intensive and expensive training for the role to then go off on extended maternity and part time work.
They were fine about it.