How do you respond when someone declines an offer?

Asked by: Merritt Koss  |  Last update: May 19, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (58 votes)

How To Respond to a Declined Offer
  1. Step 1: Be Respectful. While your pride may be hurt as you are reeling from all the time spent finding and interviewing this candidate, put that aside to be polite and respectful. ...
  2. Step 2: Request Details. ...
  3. Step 3: Evaluate a Counter. ...
  4. Step 4: Politely Accept. ...
  5. Step 5: Move Forward.

How do you politely respond to a decline?

Here are a few steps to follow:
  1. Thank them for their email. Start by thanking them for taking the time to send a rejection email. ...
  2. Express your disappointment. Be honest. ...
  3. Request feedback. ...
  4. Show your interest going forward. ...
  5. Sign off politely and professionally.

How do you respond to a declined offer sample?

Express your gratitude for their time and consideration. You can directly mention contact you've had with them, like a phone or in-person interview . Tell them you appreciate the opportunity to learn about the company. You can also mention that you enjoyed the chance to meet certain people who work there.

How do you thank someone for a job offer you declined?

If you do decide to decline the offer, try your best to lead with gratitude. Thank your interviewer for their time and the opportunity, and close with optimism. You can say something like, I sincerely appreciate the time that you took to share more about your organization and I enjoyed meeting everyone on the team.

How to respond when someone declines your proposal?

If someone rejects your proposal, here are some steps you can take: Stay Calm and Respectful: Accept the rejection gracefully. Avoid reacting negatively, as this can damage the relationship. Seek Feedback: If appropriate, ask for constructive feedback.

HOW TO DECLINE A JOB OFFER POLITELY | How to turn down a job offer gracefully

22 related questions found

How do you respond when someone declines your offer?

5 Sample Email Responses to a Candidate Who Declined a Job Offer
  1. Sample 1: Acknowledge the rejection and thank candidates for their time.
  2. Sample 2: Seek feedback and offer to help in the future.
  3. Sample 3: Send a counteroffer, if appropriate.
  4. Sample 4: Keep in touch for future opportunities.

What to say when someone declines a job offer?

Whether they accept the countered offer or decline the offer again, politely accept their response. Thank them for their time considering the counter and show appreciation for the insight they provided to improve your process in the future. If they accept your new offer, you're off to the races with your new employee!

How do you thank someone but decline?

Declining an offer or invite
  1. I appreciate the offer/invite, but I can't commit.
  2. I'm honored by the offer/invites, but can't.
  3. I'm flattered you considered me, but unfortunately I'll have to pass this time.
  4. I appreciate the offer/invite, but I am completely booked.
  5. Thank you for thinking of me, but I can't.

How to respond to a rejection text?

15 healthy responses to rejection texts from a woman
  1. “I respect your decision.” ...
  2. “No hard feelings.” ...
  3. “I understand and appreciate your honesty.” ...
  4. “I wish you the best moving forward.” ...
  5. “Thanks for letting me know where you stand.” ...
  6. “It's all good—take care.” ...
  7. “I appreciate your honesty, and I respect your choice.”

How to reply offer letter acceptance email sample?

I am writing to formally accept the offer for the position of [Job Title] at [Company Name]. Thank you for this exciting opportunity. I am genuinely thrilled to join your team and contribute to the success of the organization. I confirm my start date as [Start Date] and agree to the terms outlined in the offer letter.

How to reply to a reject job offer?

Thank you for offering me this position—it's a great opportunity. However, after careful consideration, I have decided to accept another role with another company. Thank you for this opportunity to work for your company. I appreciate it very much, but I'm afraid I need to decline your offer at this time.

What to say when someone doesn't get a job?

Be genuine and heartfelt while maintaining an empathetic mindset about their situation. Here are a few phrases you can use: "I'm sorry to hear that, I know you worked hard on that application." "I know that's disappointing, I'm here if you want to talk."

How do you respond to a lower offer?

How to respond to a low salary offer
  1. Ask for time. Whether the company presents the offer to you in person or through an email, it's important to ask for some time to process it and get back to them. ...
  2. Understand your minimum acceptable salary. ...
  3. Conduct research. ...
  4. Make a plan. ...
  5. Practice negotiations.

What is the etiquette for responding to a declined request?

Express gratitude

Start your response on the right foot by expressing genuine gratitude. Thank the employer for the opportunity to interview and for their time and consideration. Mention any positive experiences or insights you gained during the process.

How do you say respectfully declined?

1. Practice
  1. Thanks for thinking of me. I can't right now/I can't make it/I can't attend.
  2. I'm at capacity right now, so I will decline. Thanks for understanding.
  3. No, not at this time.

How to turn down a job offer but keep the door open?

How to turn down a job offer but keep the door open
  1. Respond quickly. A pivotal step in rejecting a job offer is to respond quickly. ...
  2. Express your gratitude. When writing your decline letter, thank your interviewer and the company for their efforts, time, and the job offer. ...
  3. Politely decline the offer.

How do you graciously accept rejection?

Practice self-care by engaging in activities that promote wellbeing and self-compassion. Reframe the rejection by challenging negative thoughts and focusing on positive aspects of yourself and your life. Remember that rejection is not a reflection of your worth and remind yourself to stay open to future possibilities.

What should I reply if I get rejected?

In addition to thanking the other person for their time and expressing gratitude for the opportunity, you should do two things: State your interest in being considered for future opportunities, and ask for feedback on how you can improve.

What to reply when someone rejects your proposal?

Thank you again for your time and consideration. I look forward to the possibility of collaborating in the future. Remember, maintaining professionalism and showing gratitude, even in the face of rejection, can leave a lasting positive impression and increase your chances of future opportunities.

How do you say no thank you without being rude?

30 examples of nice ways to say no
  1. "I appreciate the offer, but I have other commitments right now."
  2. "Thank you for thinking of me, but I'm unable to help this time."
  3. "I'm flattered you asked, but I need to focus on my own tasks."
  4. "Unfortunately, I can't fit this into my schedule at the moment."

Can I say graciously decline?

You can graciously decline an invitation by saying that you wished you could attend but have a prior engagement — rather than saying, for example, that you want to wait and see if something more enticing is happening that weekend.

How to respectfully decline a job offer?

Thank you so much for offering me the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. I truly appreciate the time and effort you and your team put into considering my application and offering me this opportunity. After much consideration and reflection, I have decided that I must decline the offer.

How to reply for rejecting an offer letter?

I sincerely appreciate the offer and your interest in hiring me. After careful consideration, I will have to decline this role/job offer as the salary is too far outside my expectations to leave my current position. Again, I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to interview and the offer.

How to respond when someone declines your invitation?

Thank them for letting you know.

You might say, “Aw, that's a bummer, but I understand. Thank you for giving me a heads up,” or, “I appreciate you telling me ahead of time. I'm sorry you can't make it!”

How do you respond to a candidate that is not interested?

Use these steps:
  1. Thank them. Whether you're sending an email or making a phone call, thank the candidate for applying for the position. ...
  2. Explain that you're pursuing other applicants. ...
  3. Mention the strengths of the other candidate. ...
  4. Let them know that many qualified applicants applied. ...
  5. Encourage strong candidates to apply again.