How to Turn Down a Job Offer After You Already Accepted It (2024)

What should you do if youaccept a new jobbut then change your mind? Don't feel bad if this happens to you. You're not the first candidate who has said yes to an offer but had second thoughts.

If you regret taking a job offer, there are ways to politely withdraw your acceptance. It’s better to decline as soon as possibleafteryou decide that this isn’t the role you want for the next step of your career.

There are strategies you can use to professionally decline a job offer, even if you have accepted it already. Here are reasons for declining a job you’ve already accepted, when and how to rescind a job offer acceptance, examples, and advice on what to say to the employer when you’ve changed your mind about a new job.

Reasons To Decline an Offer After Accepting

Thereareanumberofreasonswhyyoumay changeyourmind after sayingyesto a new job. After you've thought about it some more, theposition may not seem as goodas it did when you first accepted the offer.

You could have accepted because you were thrilled to get an offer, and then hadsecondthoughts about whether the position, the salary, the benefits, or the company were a good fit.

Perhaps a family emergency has changed your situation, or you have gotten a dream job opportunity that you just can't turn down. Or,given the length of the hiring process in some cases, you may have hadtimetorethink your objectives, and you'vedecided to shift your career course.

Do keep in mind that it's not just you. A Robert Half survey reports that 28% of candidates backed out after receiving a job offer because they accepted a better offer (44%), received a counteroffer from their current employer (27%), or heard bad things about the company (19%).

The Benefits of Quitting a Job Before You Start

From both the employee's and theemployer's perspectives, it’s better to not start a job than it is to quit shortly after you’ve been hired. The employer will be able to move on quickly to hiresomeoneelse, and you’ll be able to continue your job search without interruption.

For the Employer

Even though the employer would be thrilled to have you on board, they would prefer thatyou declinethejob before you begin working. If you start a job andthen quit, the employer will have to start the hiring processover from scratch.

It's more expensive for the company to onboard youthanitisto start over with a new candidate search,andbeginninganewsearchis harder thanjustgoing back to the pool to consider other applicants.

For the Job Seeker

Declining a job before starting it makes more sense for the prospective employee as well. If you start a new position that’s not a good fit, you’ll be investing time and energy that could be used instead for job hunting.

Plus,if you’re collecting unemployment, you may not be eligible to continue collecting benefits if you quit a job. You also may have to explainwhy you quit a job you just startedduring subsequent interviews.

When You Can Rescind a Job Offer Acceptance

Turning down a job offerafter you have already accepted it can be an uncomfortable experience. However, as long as you have not signed anemployment contractwith the company, you are legally allowed to change your mind.

Employment at Will

In everystateexceptMontana, employment is presumed to be at will, with some exceptions. This means that an employee can be terminated at any time without any reason. It also means an employee can quit at any time for any reason. There is no obligation on the part of either party to continue the employment relationship.

However, some states have public policy, covenants of good faith, and implied employment contract exceptions to at-will employment.

Employment Contracts

Depending on the contract, you may still be able to turn down the job without any legal consequencesif you've signed anemployment agreement. It’s important to review the terms of the contract, discuss your options with the employer (they may agree to let you out of the contract), and consider getting legal advice to avoid breaching the agreement.

How To Turn Down a Job Offer You Accepted

Think it through carefully.Before rejecting the job offer, be 100% certain you do not want (or cannot take) the job. Once you turn down a job you previously accepted, there is no going back. Declining may also negatively impact your chance of beingconsideredfor otherpositions at the organizationinthefuture. Therefore, think carefully about the pros and cons of rejecting the job.

Read your contract.If you have already signed anemployment contract, read through it carefully to make sure there will be no legal repercussions to rejecting the job. For example, some contracts say that you have a specific window of time during which you can reject the job or that you have to give a certain number of days' notice.

Don't wait.Let the employer knowas soon as you realizeyou no longer want to accept the position. The sooner you let the hiring manager know, the sooner the employer can start looking for your replacement. He or she will appreciate your swift communication.

Be honest, but tactful.Let the employer know why you changed your mind, but do so without insulting the hiring manager or the company. If you realize that you don't think you will get along with the other employees, simply say that you do not believe you would fit in with thecompany culture. If you found a job that you are much more interested in, explain that you were offered a job that is more in line with your skillset. Do not say anything negative about the company.

Be concise.No matter your reason for rejecting the job, keep your explanation brief. You do not want to go into all the details of your family emergency or why another job is a better fit for you. This is a case inwhich too much information isn't desirable.

Express gratitude.Be sure to thank the employer for the opportunity to meet and to learn about the company. If there was anything in particular thatyou liked about the company, say so.

Explain that turning down the job was a hard decision. You do not want to burn bridges with the employer. You never know if you might want to work with them in the future.

Know your bottom line.The employer might try to negotiate with you to get you to come on board. Before speaking with the hiring manager, decide what your bottom line is. Would you stay for more pay? Better benefits? There are somebenefits and perks that are negotiable. If you do opt to negotiate, know what would entice you to accept.

Keep in mind,however, that the hiring manager may not be thrilled that you want to negotiate a counteroffer after you already said yes to the first offer.

Choose the right form of communication.Speaking with the employer directly (either on the phone or in person) is the best strategy because it allows you to explain yourself more clearly, andit increases your chances of maintaining a positive relationship with him or her. Follow up the conversation with a letter or email confirming your conversation.

If you are nervous about speaking with the employer directly, or if you are worried you will not be able to fully explain yourself over the phone, you can send them a formal letter or email message. It’s also a good idea to send a letter or email to confirm your withdrawal after you speak to your employer.

Letter Template to Download

Here is a letter template that you candownload(compatible with Google Docs and Word Online), or review the text version below.

Sample Letter Turning Down a Job Offer After Accepting

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)