How To Reject A Job Offer

No one likes rejection and so many people hate confrontation so what do you do if you received an offer from a company you love but at an offer you hate?

Think you are unworth?

Then scream or cry how the world is unfair to you?

Or take a minute to think about what you like and don't like then come back and think what is my gut telling me.

Is this worth it?

Are they worth me and my time?

The funny thing is by the time you receive an offer you know if you want to work there it's now a question of if the numbers make sense and who can and wants to bend to make ends meet.

It may be that no one wants to and that's okay but it's also their contract of appreciation to have you on board so if you don't like it.

Ask questions about the points that don't make sense to you.

SALARY: If the salary is lower then your expectations the ask if there is wiggle room, we had discussed X is there a way we can get closer to it by end of year? Perhaps with a signing bonus, end of year bonus, there are RRSPs or pension you didn't see or can there be added vacation days instead?

VACATION: You wanted 5 weeks they gave you 3. Why? Ask. How can you get to 5, what is reasonable within the company? Is it 3 because they are closed between Christmas and NewYears and there are 5 personal days? If not can you live with 3 based on everything else you know? Is it worth mentioning? You decide.

HOURS: Is there flexibility or not? Was it discussed before and not in the contract

RESPONSIBLITY: Why is the list longer then my grocery bill? What is the need to do based on the actual responsibilities? Ask.

THE PEOPLE: Maybe after some reflection you realize the work ethics aren't inline with yours and that's okay

No one knows what you need to put food on the table and live a comfortable mentally healthy life.

Only you do and only you can dictate that BUT remember you spend more hours working then you do anything else so take the offer away from yourself, lean back and think...

Money aside, Do I LOVE the company, the people and the product or service?

If the answer is yes then everything else will fall into place BUT always come back with honest.

If it's about the money then state you aren't about the money but was thinking ABC

If you truly don't see a fit call the hiring manager and say thank you for the opportunity but unfortunately explain you either

A) Accepted another offer

B) Thank you for the opportunity but..

And always offer to stay in touch as you just never know.

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Jessica Glazer is a founder and president of MindHR, career coaching, recruiting and resume writing agency based in Canada. Jessica is also a motivational speaker and appears regularly on various news and radio stations speaking about start-up and large corporate employment related issues. She was also the television host of Videotron MaTV Starline, micro-documentary series about local businesses as a multi-generational and multi-ethnic urban exploration of Montreal's entrepreneurs and job market.