Comments on: How to turn down a job offer http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/01/10/how-to-turn-down-a-job-offer/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:01:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: No Thank You: Turning Down a Job Offer. « PR PRep http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/01/10/how-to-turn-down-a-job-offer/#comment-137082 No Thank You: Turning Down a Job Offer. « PR PRep Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:46:39 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/01/10/how-to-turn-down-a-job-offer/#comment-137082 [...] Penelope Trunk, blog author of Brazen Careerist, offers four tips on How to Turn Down a Job Offer. [...] […] Penelope Trunk, blog author of Brazen Careerist, offers four tips on How to Turn Down a Job Offer. […]

]]> By: How do you graciously decline a job offer? - myinvestingblog.com http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/01/10/how-to-turn-down-a-job-offer/#comment-109743 How do you graciously decline a job offer? - myinvestingblog.com Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:09:23 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/01/10/how-to-turn-down-a-job-offer/#comment-109743 [...] VT.edu had some good insight into it from here.  Penelope Trunk had some good points on it here.  Be nice, follow up, suggest someone else, and assess your own conduct.  Very valid. Secrets of [...] […] VT.edu had some good insight into it from here.  Penelope Trunk had some good points on it here.  Be nice, follow up, suggest someone else, and assess your own conduct.  Very valid. Secrets of […]

]]> By: Business Week Features My Blog, Sparks Contact From My Secret Mentor » Brazen Careerist http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/01/10/how-to-turn-down-a-job-offer/#comment-28224 Business Week Features My Blog, Sparks Contact From My Secret Mentor » Brazen Careerist Mon, 12 Feb 2007 21:48:20 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/01/10/how-to-turn-down-a-job-offer/#comment-28224 [...] How to turn down a job offer [...] […] How to turn down a job offer […]

]]> By: Carter Cathey http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/01/10/how-to-turn-down-a-job-offer/#comment-15903 Carter Cathey Fri, 12 Jan 2007 16:45:18 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/01/10/how-to-turn-down-a-job-offer/#comment-15903 I agree with your post completely. As someone who has been in the jobhunt several times and coached others through this process, I think it is important to remember that the purpose of every interview is to get the job offer. This does not necessarily mean that the point of every interview is to get the job. An interview is the akward combination of a first date and cold sales call. The candidate is the product up for sale. While looking for jobs, your initial search should be as broad as possible. Too many people box themselves in by a much too narrow definition of their skills and abilities. The goal of every interview is to learn more about yourself and what you should be doing next in your career. An interview that ends with an offer demonstrates that you successfully positioned yourself for the job, but it has nothing to do with whether or not you should accept the offer or not. All this being said, I find this to be a problem that most job-seekers look forward to encountering. Having multiple opportunities from which to choose as you move forward in your career is never a bad thing. --Carter Cathey I agree with your post completely. As someone who has been in the jobhunt several times and coached others through this process, I think it is important to remember that the purpose of every interview is to get the job offer. This does not necessarily mean that the point of every interview is to get the job.

An interview is the akward combination of a first date and cold sales call. The candidate is the product up for sale. While looking for jobs, your initial search should be as broad as possible. Too many people box themselves in by a much too narrow definition of their skills and abilities.

The goal of every interview is to learn more about yourself and what you should be doing next in your career. An interview that ends with an offer demonstrates that you successfully positioned yourself for the job, but it has nothing to do with whether or not you should accept the offer or not.

All this being said, I find this to be a problem that most job-seekers look forward to encountering. Having multiple opportunities from which to choose as you move forward in your career is never a bad thing.

–Carter Cathey

]]> By: Jason Warner http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/01/10/how-to-turn-down-a-job-offer/#comment-15700 Jason Warner Fri, 12 Jan 2007 07:02:55 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/01/10/how-to-turn-down-a-job-offer/#comment-15700 From the other side of the negotiating table, a sophisticated recruiter or hiring manager would never make a job offer that they didn't know would be accepted. When you consider the recruiting and interviewing process, getting to the point of an offer that is not accepted by a candidate is a waste of time for both parties...one goal of the process should be structured by the employer to be 'collaboratively qualifying' so that by the time the offer is being presented to a candidate, all the objections are handled. If they aren't, there's no reason to make the offer - instead, oneshould go back to the qualification phase in the negotiation to handle the outstanding objections. All of that said, one should always decline a job offer with graciousness and humility as you suggest. From the other side of the negotiating table, a sophisticated recruiter or hiring manager would never make a job offer that they didn’t know would be accepted. When you consider the recruiting and interviewing process, getting to the point of an offer that is not accepted by a candidate is a waste of time for both parties…one goal of the process should be structured by the employer to be ‘collaboratively qualifying’ so that by the time the offer is being presented to a candidate, all the objections are handled. If they aren’t, there’s no reason to make the offer - instead, oneshould go back to the qualification phase in the negotiation to handle the outstanding objections.

All of that said, one should always decline a job offer with graciousness and humility as you suggest.

]]> By: Eric http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/01/10/how-to-turn-down-a-job-offer/#comment-15128 Eric Thu, 11 Jan 2007 03:04:47 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/01/10/how-to-turn-down-a-job-offer/#comment-15128 Interesting post.... and its true we should never close the doors on these job offers that we may have turned down. We may have the opportunity to work for these companies eventually. Here's an example of how not to look for a job: http://www.thedubailife.com/index.php/main/blog/how_not_to_apply_for_a_job_in_dubai Interesting post…. and its true we should never close the doors on these job offers that we may have turned down. We may have the opportunity to work for these companies eventually.

Here’s an example of how not to look for a job:

http://www.thedubailife.com/index.php/main/blog/how_not_to_apply_for_a_job_in_dubai

]]> By: Wendy http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/01/10/how-to-turn-down-a-job-offer/#comment-14904 Wendy Wed, 10 Jan 2007 16:13:15 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/01/10/how-to-turn-down-a-job-offer/#comment-14904 Very helpful post. I was also thinking that all of these rules apply to turning down other opportunities. For example, being asked to serve on a panel of experts or speak at a conference or serve on a board of directors. You might have even asked for the opportunity that you subsequently must turn down. Following through on these steps will likely help ensure that the door will still be open for future similar opportunities. <strong>* * * * *</strong> <i>Good point, Wendy. This advice does apply to a wide range of situations. In fact, maybe I should cross post to a dating blog :) Penelope</I>   Very helpful post. I was also thinking that all of these rules apply to turning down other opportunities. For example, being asked to serve on a panel of experts or speak at a conference or serve on a board of directors. You might have even asked for the opportunity that you subsequently must turn down. Following through on these steps will likely help ensure that the door will still be open for future similar opportunities.

* * * * *

Good point, Wendy. This advice does apply to a wide range of situations. In fact, maybe I should cross post to a dating blog :)

Penelope

 

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