Receiving the call that a company wants to interview you for a position is rewarding. Next thing you know, out of multiple candidates, due to your skills and experience, they want to offer it to you. Yet, of course, you’ve already contemplated how to meet their outlook and contribute to the success of their organization.
However, there are times which the offer is followed by a set of terms and expectations that are disconcerting in ways you did not anticipate. So, what are those terms, and what reasons for turning down a great opportunity? Are they truly valid? Well, that all depends on you and your situation. So, with that in mind, here are six reasons to say NO to a job offer!!
1. Financial negotiations
You’ve interviewed and impressed them with flying colors. One reason to accept a job is for the salary expectations. It’s great to negotiate a figure you believe is the cost of what you can bring to the table.
By all means, never let them dissuade you to accept less. However, there are those times HR offers a figure that doesn’t meet your needs, and you have to decide to accept or decline. It causes you to look at your current condition and you may realize the offer is not sufficient to support planned life changes, maintain stability, or keep up with your area’s cost of living. In this case, to accept is to welcome a dismal working experience. Let’s face it, if the money is not enough to keep afloat significant responsibilities, you’ll end up looking for another job later, or find yourself in a situation more stressful than being unemployed. So save yourself the financial and mental headache and gracefully decline
2. Position Assigned – Under-qualified
Another reason to accept an offer is the perks of the position itself. You know what you want, believe you have room to learn and grow with the company (or get closer to your ideal position elsewhere) Yet, the more important detail is knowing what you can or cannot do. There will be times when recruiters are looking to fill a specific assignment. Eager to fill the position as soon as possible, they will try to convince you that you can take on that role for which you know you’re not adequately qualified.
I received a call for a Senior Project Manager. The recruiter gave me all the bells and whistles with great benefits. There was just one problem, I only had one year of experience and my current title was Junior Business Analyst. Richard Branson said, “If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity, but you are not sure you can do it, say yes then learn how to do it later!” Though, I understand and mostly agree with that statement….I declined knowing I was not ready to lead and facilitate several different departments with limited PM skills and experience. This brings me to my next point….
3. Skills Mismatched
As I stated in my earlier blog, there is an important factor in being honest with your resume’s details. It’s essential to accurately list your skillset even when you seek a position in which you meet minimal to none of the requirements. If you really want that position, take the time to learn it and at least acquire a mid-tier, intermediate level of knowledge. This helps you curtail your lack of experience. In the meantime, when the calls and numerous emails come through. Saying “No, I’m not interested,” should be an easy task for this situation.
4. Recruiter-modified resumes
This is something I do not agree with and find it to be unethical. This practice needs to be addressed even if it exposes some hiring agencies or recruiters to appear dubious and unprofessional. It’s one thing to want the job for yourself, but as I stated earlier when they are desperate to fill a position, they may resort to a questionable review of your resume. Now, it’s understandable to accept modifications to correct grammatical mistakes, simplify details, or remove details keeping them relative to the position. However, it is immoral for recruiters to edit your resume with false information. They may also do this to close on a lucrative contract with their client. Otherwise, if you accept having your information falsely modified, then you better make sure you live up to the potential job expectations.
I must admit, at the beginning of my career, I allowed a few modifications. Nevertheless, when it came time for the actual interview, the drilling was brutal. I was unable to answer the questions and the truth was revealed (or lack thereof)… One scenario was so terrible, they ended the phone interview abruptly. The only benefit was having 45 minutes left to continue my lunch break. Learn from my experience, save yourself the embarrassment – Just say NO!!!
5. Location and relocation
If you are an active job seeker, the calls and emails will come through for and duration and rate that will be tempting. Yet, say you take interest in a position that was so ideal it seemed to have been created just for you. Yet there is just one catch.- – the location is out of town, or worst out of state. If you are like me, I would first think “Can I handle the drive, train, or bus ride? Is the pay worth it? Can my car handle the additional mileage? I’m sure it will prompt 101 other questions, but in the end, if any answers are more “No’s than Yes,” then you need to reconsider.
6. Meeting your requirements
In the hiring process, there are many steps, and how they progress may depend on how you feel and operate. For me, it starts with the job description (skill requirement, location, and rate). The next stage is the conversation with the recruiter (further understanding of the job description and priorities). Afterward, even with concern and apprehension, I will follow my thoughts in tacked but keep pushing through the process and interview. Post-interviews are when I get to my final state of judgment and I give myself some time to think and make a rational decision on whether to continue.
The point of all this is, does this opportunity actually meet my requirements? Will I be satisfied with my decision, and can I accept this new role? It could be something totally different from what I actually want to do. If you are not pressured to accept the position due to financial challenges, don’t accept a job if it truly does not please you. The ending results would be you leave the job or even worse, your employer will notice your lack of endurance and effort to meet their expectations. So just remember, when it comes to a job interview, they are not only examining you but you also need to examine them.
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