What to do if you realize you have to say no to a job interview?

The layboard website will help you answer this and all other questions

Just disappear from the sight of a failed employer, not responding to calls and emails? 

This is not the best option, and in addition, such behavior can have very unpleasant consequences. For example, the company’s representatives will think that the applicant is just an unfaithful person, who can let you down at any time. The corresponding characteristic will be reflected in the database. But what if after a year you passionately want to work in this very firm? It could end up even worse – the offended employer so weakens you in professional circles, that the way to decent organizations will be closed. So, you need to find a decent way out of an unpleasant situation.

How? Tell everything as it is, according to the principle “better a bitter truth than a sweet lie”? Our experience suggests that this option is not always acceptable. Just imagine how the employer’s face will change when you tell him that the company and him personally are notorious or his office is not trustworthy. Then the employer, obviously hurt, is able to start a crusade against the impudent person. It is understandable: he wasted people’s time, trying to get a free position, and now he is turning his nose up at them…

At what stage can you say no 

Usually the negotiations between the applicant and the employer consist of several stages. The number of steps varies from company to company, the complete list is as follows:

• An advance letter or communication.
• a call, a brief discussion, an invitation to an online or offline interview.
• An interview with the company’s HR specialist or recruiter.
• testing (if available);
• meeting with an immediate supervisor.
• Completion of the tasks of the competency assessment center or case solution;
• meeting with a superior or members of the board of directors or shareholders;
• getting a job offer.

A negative response to a job offer at any of these stages is normal practice. Ultimately, the candidate has the right not to accept unsuitable or even potentially harmful terms. 

Each stage of the interview exists to get new details about the company, the team, the position, the requirements and the results expected of the potential candidate. If at the next stage the HR professional or supervisor does not provide new information and avoids direct answers, the follow-up should be abandoned.

Recruiters also take offense at such statements as “I can do much more, and I’m afraid that with your narrow profile my knowledge will not be in demand, I will get bored. Short answer options like “no” and “I don’t want to” will not work either. 

However, as practice shows, in reality, the employer is not too interested in why you rejected his great offer, but you will be asked about the reasons for rejection at least because it is supposed to.

By the way, do not panic – to question with a hard refusal is unlikely to become, it happens very rarely. In order not to get into trouble, think of a universal version, memorize it and use it in the situations described. I advise you not to bet on lies, because it is not too long and you need, among other things, the answer to sound plausible. 

It’s not too tricky. For example, it is worth referring to the inconvenient location of the office or not being satisfied with the salary.

In addition, you can generally take the path of generality and vagueness and, using a minimum of words, say: “I’m sorry, but now I can not accept your offer. And no more specifics.

By the way, this is exactly what employers themselves do when they refuse applicants. Remember, most companies do not think it is necessary to explain the reasons for your failure. So take an example from the employers. The main thing is to speak as correctly as possible, in a friendly, calm way. This also applies in a situation where you really are not happy with something in the firm, but you just do not want to focus on the “terrible omissions” in the department.

And let the truth is the reason for your refusal will be disagreement to work overtime schedule, to receive a salary in an envelope, to obey a man who is famous for a despot and autocrat. You should not share your knowledge and emotions without knowing the pitfalls and currents in this organization.

Examples of how to politely say no to an employer after or during an interview:

“I realized from our conversation today that I am unlikely to fit into the team. I am used to making many decisions on my own, and I had carte blanche to do so in my former (current) job. I would have a hard time adjusting to the new format of the relationship with the manager, so I think it would be better to take on another, more suitable candidate for the position.”

“The product you want to entrust me to manage is interesting, but I see many difficulties in obtaining project financing. I have my doubts that other shareholders would be willing to spend that kind of money, because the implementation requires expensive equipment that may not pay for itself even in 15 to 20 years. It seems to me that my experience will not be enough to successfully launch the project as it is today.

There are also situations where recruiters are too late to agree to accept you and you are already working for a competitor, honestly saying that you have already found a place. This is a perfectly normal situation. Moreover, hiring managers are often ready for it, because they are not in the profession for the first time and they understand that the vacancy they offer you is most likely not the only one. A person who is on the search looks pretty strange if they don’t do anything until they know the result of a past interview. As a rule, from one interview we go to the second, third, fourth – the chain can be as long as you want.

Usually it is interrupted only by an offer from one of the employers to hire the person. In general, the company that is ripe for such a decision first wins the competition for the specialist. All others face rejection on the part of the recent candidate. He makes an exception in rare cases, usually only if it is a company where the applicant simply dreamed of getting. Consequently, questions about whether it’s ethical for a position applicant to turn it down shouldn’t even arise.

If you are currently employed and came to the interview simply out of curiosity, tell the recruiter willing to hire you that circumstances have changed in your organization: the employee to whom you were supposed to hand over the cases did not come out, and you are not in a position to leave your supervisor in such a situation. You can also give another good reason, for example, at your current company you have been offered a new and interesting project, and you have decided to try your hand at it. The choice of excuse depends on the specific situation and the standard answer that is accepted in the field of human resources. 

Experts advise not to say “no” at the first meeting with the employer’s representative. First, you are not expected to promise to start work tomorrow. Secondly, you can still change your mind. So promise to call back in a few days and, after weighing the pros and cons, give a final answer. Have you not changed your mind to refuse? Then you don’t even have to go, just call the recruiter and tell him that you prefer another employment option.

If you are required to make a specific decision right at the first interview, and you have already determined that this office is not for you, you will have to compromise your principles and give a negative answer without a timeout. This is where the homemade stuff comes in handy. Despite the fact that you will now leave, and probably never see these people, it is possible that you will have to contact them again. 

Apologize to the recruiter who talked to you, tell him how nice it was to have contact with him, and wish him good luck in his search for a candidate. After you say goodbye to the HR-specialists, they should have the best opinion of you.

Particularly talented people rejected then even receive a letter from the organization – unsuccessful employer with wishes for success, and even make business contacts with this firm, settling in a new place.

Just as long as your kindness is not interpreted incorrectly and does not rush to persuade at least try, promising to pick something more interesting and relevant to your needs. No – then no. Long bickering looks ugly and leaves an unpleasant residue. So nip that kind of bargaining at the root. Said “no”, do not worry and do not suffer remorse: you do not owe anyone anything, the company will find the employee and without you, because you probably were not the only candidate. So it is unlikely that someone will be upset and take offense at your refusal. layboard.in  wishes you good luck!