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Quick/basic declining offer etiquette questions
Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2021 3:34 pm
by Anonymous User
I was fortunate enough to receive several offers, and I have to decline some of them. I really do not like telling people "no" (especially nice people), and I am not quite sure how to approach it; my school's OCS is a bit vague. Three quick questions:
1) Whom should I notify? I have three broad groups of people: (a) hiring recruiters, (b) interviewers (associates and partners) that reached out to me post-offer with detailed/personalized follow-up, (c) interviewers who did not reach out or sent a form-like congratulations email (still a nice gesture). Should I inform all three? Some subset?
2) Email or phone? Perhaps it differs by group.
3) Should I provide a reason? I am targeting particular markets for family reasons, which is a truthful explanation for firms outside those markets.
Re: Quick/basic declining offer etiquette questions
Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2021 3:41 pm
by Anonymous User
....send an email to the recruiter
Re: Quick/basic declining offer etiquette questions
Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2021 3:41 pm
by jackshunger
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 3:34 pm
I was fortunate enough to receive several offers, and I have to decline some of them. I really do not like telling people "no" (especially nice people), and I am not quite sure how to approach it; my school's OCS is a bit vague. Three quick questions:
1) Whom should I notify? I have three broad groups of people: (a) hiring recruiters, (b) interviewers (associates and partners) that reached out to me post-offer with detailed/personalized follow-up, (c) interviewers who did not reach out or sent a form-like congratulations email (still a nice gesture). Should I inform all three? Some subset?
2) Email or phone? Perhaps it differs by group.
3) Should I provide a reason? I am targeting particular markets for family reasons, which is a truthful explanation for firms outside those markets.
1. Notifying recruiters is better, seeing as it is their job, and they will have to find out and keep track of it anyway. Everyone else is too busy to really care.
2. Email, the written record is useful and it is less awkward anyway.
3. No, though they will probably ask where you are going. It is your choice if you want to tell them.
Re: Quick/basic declining offer etiquette questions
Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2021 3:41 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 3:34 pm
I was fortunate enough to receive several offers, and I have to decline some of them. I really do not like telling people "no" (especially nice people), and I am not quite sure how to approach it; my school's OCS is a bit vague. Three quick questions:
1) Whom should I notify? I have three broad groups of people: (a) hiring recruiters, (b) interviewers (associates and partners) that reached out to me post-offer with detailed/personalized follow-up, (c) interviewers who did not reach out or sent a form-like congratulations email (still a nice gesture). Should I inform all three? Some subset?
2) Email or phone? Perhaps it differs by group.
3) Should I provide a reason? I am targeting particular markets for family reasons, which is a truthful explanation for firms outside those markets.
(1) The HR team. Unless you built a particularly close relationship with one of your interviewers (i.e., you networked into an interview via an alumni connection), the only people that need to know is HR so they can manage the appropriate logistics and move on to other candidates.
(2) Email to the HR team. A phone call may be appropriate for a particularly close interviewer as pointed out above but even then, a simple email thanking them for their time and indicating you're going elsewhere is almost certainly sufficient.
(3) No reason at all. Folks pass on firms to go elsewhere as a completely natural part of the process. Just say you're going elsewhere and be courteous and thankful for the offer and opportunity.
Edit -- accidental anon. This is DiligentSage.
Re: Quick/basic declining offer etiquette questions
Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2021 3:42 pm
by Anonymous User
Duplicate post.
Re: Quick/basic declining offer etiquette questions
Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2021 4:05 pm
by Anonymous User
OP here. Thanks for the advice so far. Do/should I really not send anything to people like partners (in addition to HR) who have followed up with me discussing things we talked about during interviews and soliciting questions/offering help in making my decision?
Re: Quick/basic declining offer etiquette questions
Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2021 9:44 pm
by Anonymous User
You should never feel bad about turning down a job. If they didn't want you, they would turn you down and not think twice about it.