It’s not uncommon to apply for a job you’re interested in, but after you determine it’s not the right fit for you, you find a different position you want or take another job offer. If you’re no longer interested in the job, it’s best to let the company know ahead of time instead of wasting both your and their time with an interview.
If you get called in to interview for the position, it’s best to turn it down professionally and politely. You can decline the offer for an interview by sending a simple email. In this article, we’ll go over examples of how to turn down a job interview and some tips for doing so professionally.
Many job seekers apply to many positions when hunting for the right one. For some, it can take applying for 27 jobs just to get one interview. However many jobs you’ve applied for, there may be several reasons for declining the offer to come in for an interview.
Here are some of the common reasons job seekers turn down a job interview:
– Already accepted another position
– Conducted research on the position or company and no longer saw it as a good fit.
– Discovered you were overqualified for the position
– Developed changes in your schedule or personal life
– Found negative feedback from employees within the company
– Decided to change industries or go back to school
– Already interviewed once with the company and are declining a second interview
– Determined the commute is too long and not feasible
– Attending the interview would jeopardize your current job
How to turn down a job interview matters as you never know when you might want or need to revisit the offer. You never want to burn a bridge.
Maintaining a polite and professional attitude is best when applying for a job position and turning down a job interview. After all, not everyone gets the call to come in for an interview, so showing appreciation goes a long way to a recruiter.
Here are some tips for turning down a job interview:
Before you turn down a job interview offer, be sure it’s really what you want to do. Consider everything before jumping the gun and be confident in your decision.
Weigh all options and scenarios before you decline the offer, so you are sure you don’t want to consider the position.
Be sure you turn down a job offer in a polite and professional way. Show appreciation for the offer but kindly decline to maintain a positive relationship with the company.
Most hiring managers are extremely busy and looking to get their positions filled quickly. Be respectful of their time and promptly let them know you are no longer interested in the opportunity and need to turn down the offer to come in for an interview.
When turning down a job interview, be short, sweet, and to the point. You don’t need to give a reason for turning down the interview offer. Just be direct, so there’s no confusion and it’s clear they need to move on to another candidate for their position.
Be sure you send the offer to decline a job interview to everyone involved in the process, as you sometimes communicate with multiple people within a company. Sending the message to all key people helps ensure the right person gets the message.
The best and simplest way to turn down a job interview is by sending an email. It’s a professional and quick way to let them know you won’t accept the offer so they can move on to one of the many other candidates who have probably applied for the same position.
Here are some examples of ways to turn down a job interview:
Subject: Offer to interview for Customer Service Manager
Hi Ms. Smith,
Thank you for taking the time to review my resume and consider me for the Customer Service Manager position with ABC Company. Unfortunately, I need to decline the offer to interview for the position.
I sincerely appreciate your time and consideration. I wish you and ABC company the best and hope you find your perfect candidate soon.
Sincerely,
First and Last Name
Email Address
Phone Number
Subject: Withdrawing application for Customer Service Manager
Dear Ms. Smith,
Thank you for the opportunity to learn more about ABC Company and the Customer Service Manager Position you have available. Unfortunately, at this time, I have to withdraw my application.
I appreciate your time and consideration.
Best,
First and Last Name
Email Address
Phone Number
Dear Ms. Smith,
Thank you for the offer to interview for the Customer Service Manager position with ABC Company. After further consideration, I have decided to decline the opportunity and withdraw my application at this time.
I hope you find the right fit for the position soon. I hope we can stay in touch and possibly work together with future opportunities.
Sincerely,
First and Last Name
Email Address
Phone Number
Hi Ms. Smith,
Thank you for the opportunity to learn about ABC company and the Customer Service Manager position you have available. I appreciate the request to interview with your team. However, I regret to inform you I will need to decline the offer and withdraw my job application at this time.
I wish you and ABC company the best and hope you fill the position with a great candidate soon.
Sincerely,
First and Last Name
Email Address
Phone Number
Most recruiters will not press any further about your decision to turn down the job interview offer and will respond with a simple message such as “OK, thank you for letting me know.” They will appreciate you informing them promptly so they can move on to find another qualified candidate to fill the position quickly.
Some hiring managers will reply with a rebuttal trying to get you to change your mind about turning down a job interview offer, especially if they feel you are the best fit for the position.
Others will respond, asking for the reason for your decision. You don’t have to give them an excuse for why you chose to turn down the offer to interview. You can let them know your circumstances or intentions have changed without going into detail, such as:
“I appreciate your time and consideration, but I have re-evaluated my career path and need to decline the offer.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I have accepted a position with another company, making it necessary to pass on this opportunity to interview.”
“My circumstances have changed that require me to turn down the interview. I apologize for any inconvenience.”
If you’ve scheduled a job interview and cannot make it, there’s a professional way to reschedule without breaking the good relationship with the company. As soon as you know you need to change the interview time and date, it’s best to let the hiring manager know right away.
You can send them an email letting them know, but if the interview is on the same day, it’s a good idea to call to ensure they get the message on time. Leaving a busy hiring manager waiting around for you only to no-show will leave a negative impression and possibly cost you the opportunity.
You’ll want to provide a brief explanation for why you need to reschedule. It’s best to be honest and sincere so the hiring manager will understand. Apologize for any inconvenience it may cause. Let them know that you are still interested in hearing about the opportunity and coming in for an interview. Politely ask if you can reschedule for another time.
Be sure to reply promptly when they get back to you with another time to come in for an interview. It shows that you are seriously interested, so the hiring manager doesn’t move on and offer the interview to another candidate. After an interview, if the company offers a job that you want to decline, there are professional and polite ways for doing so.
Whether you need to turn down a job interview or job offer, it’s best to do so in a way that maintains a good relationship with the company. You never know when you might need to revisit an offer in the future, so it’s best not to burn bridges.
Be sure not to turn down a job interview offer without thinking hard about it and are confident it’s not the position for you. You’re not obligated to provide a reason for turning down a job interview. It’s best to be short, sweet, and get directly to the point to not waste anybody’s valuable time. Be sure to let the hiring manager know promptly when you know you will decline the offer so they can move on to find the right candidate to fill the position.
Are you ready to find your perfect match in a position that is challenging and rewarding? If so, contact The Pocketbook Agency today!
Sources:
You now have to apply for 27 jobs just to get 1 interview | Business Insider
7 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Your Job Search | Forbes
How Much Your Commute Is Really Costing You | CBS News