How to decline a job offer?

[iwannaseesomecats]

I have an interview coming up. I'm not totally sure I want the job, but I will do the interview and see what the people are like before making my mind up. I feel the interview stage should be a two way process to decide if I want the job too.

If I am offered the job and I don't want it, how can I politely turn it down? I don't want to seem like a totally time waster, but sometimes it's hard to know if you want the job or not before having the interview...

Thank you very much for your time but unfortunately I won't be able to take up the role as I have accepted another offer.

If you’re already thinking about declining should you get the offer why go for it?

Go to the interview and see how it goes, if you don't like it politely turn them down and say, thank you very much for your time but i have received another job offer or have accepted another job offer.

I would just be honest and say you don't think you would be a good team fit/the organisation wouldn't suit you. Whatever the reason is.

In teaching, at the end of the interview, you are asked if you are still 'a firm candidate' which is the time to say, no thank you, having gone through the whole process, don't think the job is a good fit for me. Thank you for the opportunity.

If that doesn't happen in your working sphere, and if you are sure you don't want the job when you finish the interview process, I would speak up then, or have a quiet word with the person who shows you out (if an in-person interview) to say thank you, but you are withdrawing as you don't think this is the job for you.

If an online interview, again, either speak up in the 'Do you have any further questions for us?' bit, or email immediately after.

Any of those are preferable to letting the panel go through all the post-interview discussions and potentially offering you the job, only for you to turn it down then.

Having said that, better to be honest at that late stage than accept the job due to embarrassment and turn it down later!

I have had to do this a few times recently and I will always thank them for their time and consideration but advise that I will no longer be looking to take up the offer/attend interview as I have accepted another offer/do not feel I am a good fit for the role upon receiving further information.

Just be honest, thank them and don't drag it out.

I have done this recently (went for 3 jobs as I was being made redundant and got offered all 3!). I did it over the phone, not email - was very polite and just honest - I had been offered another job that was a better fit for me at that time. Just try not to burn any bridges as you may want another job at the same organisation one day!

I agree the interview process is a two way conversation. You both have to feel the fit is correct and there should be no hard feelings in saying that you don’t think it’s right for you.

It’s also possible to explore those concerns in the interview setting. You don’t have to say “I’m not sure the job is right for me” but perhaps “you’ve talked a lot about the policy aspects of this role but I’m more interested in the training and development, can you tell me a bit more about your expectations in relation to that element of the role”.

As others have said thank them for their time but after some consideration you have decided the role / organisation whatever isn’t a good fit so you would like to be withdrawn from the application. It happens a lot OP don’t sweat it :)

I was asked if I wanted an offer or not and said that on reflection, now wasn't an appropriate time to move and therefore, no.

If you’re already thinking about declining should you get the offer why go for it?

Because interviews are also about them persuading you it's a good place to work.

I turned this job down initially - they asked me to another interview, and I said yes after that. Been here a few years now...