Declining a job offer

[Gerber1]

Over the years I've declined a small number of job offers; I've always been polite and professional when giving feedback on why I've decided not to accept the offer. Every time, it's been met with animosity from the recruiter.

I know that declining the role is delaying the recruiter's 20% commission or whatever they charge these days. Still, surely they can’t expect everyone who receives a formal offer to accept it?

The reason for this post is I received an offer recently after completing an interview, a presentation (which took me two days to prepare and rehearse), and a chat with the FD.

The FD shared a couple of things which has put me off the role, and now that I’ve received the company handbook, it’s put me off even further.

I’ll be politely declining the offer, but meanwhile, I’d be interested if anyone else has had a similar experience or have I just been unlucky?

[abzmike]

It’s just business… don’t worry about it.
Recruitment is pretty hard, and you turning down a role you have been put forward for prevents your agent getting commission. It may also think it reflects poorly on him/her for putting forward a candidate that isn’t serious or overly picky. But at the end of the day, it’s you and the employer that need to be happy.

[Wilmslowboy]

I’ve been on both ends of this…….no one thinks it’s a done deal until contracts are signed.

As long as, you as a candidate are transparent about concerns and or other processes you are involved in, I would not lose sleep over it.

I once tuned down a role on offer, the CEO of the company rang me direct, we went for coffee and settled on a different structure of deal - both parties happy, and agreed in this situation the recruiter just got in the way.

[Aunty Pasty]

I had this situation once where I was running two prospects concurrently. Both gave an offer. The 2nd place offered first but I held out for my preferred option and accepted it. The recruiter for the other place got a bit annoyed and said a few things which I thought were a bit unprofessional but no big deal.

A candidate gets faced with rejection all the time so the recruiter should be prepared for the same. Should come with the territory.

[captain.scarlet]

Gerber1 said:

I’ll be politely declining the offer, but meanwhile, I’d be interested if anyone else has had a similar experience or have I just been unlucky?

Quite a few in my experience.

First one was early on in my working life. I was put forward for a reputable company but the day before the interview I was told it was only a maternity leave job when I was after something permanent. Who knows, I could've proven myself and been promoted internally etc.

I went to the interview and I was then offered the job.

It wasn't worth the risk and when I told the agent (herself quite junior), there was no end to the calls, text messages, pressure tactics, her senior getting involved trying to sell me the dream.

The advantage of a recruitment agent is that there's no need for the awfully contrived covering letter, plus they can occasionally have contacts besides the HR team, which can lead the way towards something.

However, many are full of hot air and the same tricks as any other.

There's also being left in the dark with negotiations relating to YOU and your job which are carried out between them and the employer.

You're relying on their honesty to be transparent with you about everything, but I can't help but feel that they will buckle, sell you project fear (other applicants, they'll withdraw the offer etc) and settle for things like a salary that means a commission that THEY can live with, rather than a salary that you're genuinely happy with and deserve.

I speak from experience there as well!

[NDA]

My company regularly receives declined job offers from candidates - we're in a hot recruitment space and prefer people to be in the office at least 3 days out of 5. Many candidates don't want to come to the office at all.

Not a big deal to be honest. Companies are used to it.

Recruitment agencies/headhunters are another matter - they work on commission and will do almost anything to place a candidate.

[Gigamoons]

abzmike said:

It’s just business… don’t worry about it.
Recruitment is pretty hard, and you turning down a role you have been put forward for prevents your agent getting commission. It may also think it reflects poorly on him/her for putting forward a candidate that isn’t serious or overly picky. But at the end of the day, it’s you and the employer that need to be happy.

Agreed, it’s just business.
And pretty short-sighted of the recruiter to get snotty in terms of working with you again in the future.

[Terminator X]

#tyrekicker

TX.

[Countdown]

Gerber1 said:

Over the years I've declined a small number of job offers; I've always been polite and professional when giving feedback on why I've decided not to accept the offer. Every time, it's been met with animosity from the recruiter.

I know that declining the role is delaying the recruiter's 20% commission or whatever they charge these days. Still, surely they can’t expect everyone who receives a formal offer to accept it?

The reason for this post is I received an offer recently after completing an interview, a presentation (which took me two days to prepare and rehearse), and a chat with the FD.

The FD shared a couple of things which has put me off the role, and now that I’ve received the company handbook, it’s put me off even further.

I’ll be politely declining the offer, but meanwhile, I’d be interested if anyone else has had a similar experience or have I just been unlucky?

There have only been a couple of times where I've declined a job offer. I've also made job offers which have been declined. It's a bit of a blow to the ego 9from the Employer's perspective) but nobody wants an Employee who isn't 100% sure they want to be there. And usually (in my experience) there are other appointable candidates that the Employer can turn to so I wouldn't worry about it, they will have forgotten about you as soon as they get the post filled.

In terms of the Recruitment Agency, again it's nothing to worry about. Although you turned the role down they will have probably referred 2 or 3 other candidates, one of whom may get the job. Also they know that you're likely to be successful in the future so they'll keep putting you forward.

[Ferrari60]

I find recruiters in initial stages say things such as if it is not right do not take it. But if you get to end and decline, they all get moody and start trying to persaude you.

At end of day it is up to the candidate. I just think of it as 5 minutes awkward convo and then that's it.

[MissChief]

I'd love to know what it is that's putting you off, especially as in my experience most employee handbooks are broadly similar. Something about expected days in the office perhaps?

[Gerber1]

MissChief said:

I'd love to know what it is that's putting you off, especially as in my experience most employee handbooks are broadly similar. Something about expected days in the office perhaps?

It feels a bit vague in certain areas and one-sided in others.

For example, I must give them three months' notice if I wish to resign, but they only need to give me one month.

Sick pay is also at the company's discretion, which is lacking for this type of white-collar finance role. Instead, I'd expect to see a balance of how much sick pay you are entitled to based on your tenure.

Without the likes of sick pay and other similar benefits, I may as well go contracting and get paid double.

[Gigamoons]

Gerber1 said:

MissChief said:

I'd love to know what it is that's putting you off, especially as in my experience most employee handbooks are broadly similar. Something about expected days in the office perhaps?

It feels a bit vague in certain areas and one-sided in others.

For example, I must give them three months' notice if I wish to resign, but they only need to give me one month.

Sick pay is also at the company's discretion, which is lacking for this type of white-collar finance role. Instead, I'd expect to see a balance of how much sick pay you are entitled to based on your tenure.

Without the likes of sick pay and other similar benefits, I may as well go contracting and get paid double.

Fair, that sort of stuff would put me off as well.

[Ferrari60]

Gerber1 said:

MissChief said:

I'd love to know what it is that's putting you off, especially as in my experience most employee handbooks are broadly similar. Something about expected days in the office perhaps?

It feels a bit vague in certain areas and one-sided in others.

For example, I must give them three months' notice if I wish to resign, but they only need to give me one month.

Sick pay is also at the company's discretion, which is lacking for this type of white-collar finance role. Instead, I'd expect to see a balance of how much sick pay you are entitled to based on your tenure.

Without the likes of sick pay and other similar benefits, I may as well go contracting and get paid double.

If a company is only giving stat sick pay, that would definetly ring alarm bells

[Gerber1]

Ferrari60 said:

Gerber1 said:

MissChief said:

I'd love to know what it is that's putting you off, especially as in my experience most employee handbooks are broadly similar. Something about expected days in the office perhaps?

It feels a bit vague in certain areas and one-sided in others.

For example, I must give them three months' notice if I wish to resign, but they only need to give me one month.

Sick pay is also at the company's discretion, which is lacking for this type of white-collar finance role. Instead, I'd expect to see a balance of how much sick pay you are entitled to based on your tenure.

Without the likes of sick pay and other similar benefits, I may as well go contracting and get paid double.

If a company is only giving stat sick pay, that would definetly ring alarm bells

This is for a role paying £83k as well (not that I think lesser-paid roles should forfeit a dependable sick pay policy).

[Ferrari60]

Gerber1 said:

Ferrari60 said:

Gerber1 said:

MissChief said:

I'd love to know what it is that's putting you off, especially as in my experience most employee handbooks are broadly similar. Something about expected days in the office perhaps?

It feels a bit vague in certain areas and one-sided in others.

For example, I must give them three months' notice if I wish to resign, but they only need to give me one month.

Sick pay is also at the company's discretion, which is lacking for this type of white-collar finance role. Instead, I'd expect to see a balance of how much sick pay you are entitled to based on your tenure.

Without the likes of sick pay and other similar benefits, I may as well go contracting and get paid double.

If a company is only giving stat sick pay, that would definetly ring alarm bells

This is for a role paying £83k as well (not that I think lesser-paid roles should forfeit a dependable sick pay policy).

That is crazy. I am in agreement with you, I can understand stat sick pay till probation but after that occupational sick pay should be given.

I read a sky news article last week about the challenges with stat sick pay

[lizardbrain]

Are these kinds of terms not up for negotiation? The employer may be happy to change them? If you like the job otherwise, seems little downside to asking

[Gerber1]

lizardbrain said:

Are these kinds of terms not up for negotiation? The employer may be happy to change them? If you like the job otherwise, seems little downside to asking

My problem is, even if I negotiated new terms, would I want to work for somewhere that tried to impose them in the first place?

[Ferrari60]

That sick pay policy will be company wide no doubt

[lizardbrain]

Gerber1 said:

My problem is, even if I negotiated new terms, would I want to work for somewhere that tried to impose them in the first place?

Impossible to say without knowing more about the company. Perhaps it's worth digging a bit deeper and finding out for sure.

Sometimes companies do this stuff to protect themselves against difficult employees, but rarely if ever enforce the terms. Maybe this is such a company.