How to Decline a Job Interview Without Being the Worst

How to Decline a Job Interview Without Being the Worst

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When should you decline a job interview?

You’ve accepted another job offer. Yep, you’re a hot commodity and hiring managers know it. Someone else got to you first, with a sweet offer you gladly accepted. But you haven’t shared *some personal news* on social yet, so other companies may still trickle into your inbox. Below, we’ll share a template that conveys your current status in a respectful way.

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When should you decline a job interview?

You’ve turned up too many deal breakers. Could be that the recruiter goes months between emailing you, or you learn that employees are working around the clock.  “If you've come across [multiple] red flags in the application or initial interview process, trust your gut and decline,” says Muse career coach Heather Yurovsky,

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When should you decline a job interview?

founder of Shatter & Shine, whose coaching focuses on resumes and interview prep.

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When should you decline a job interview?

The org doesn’t align with your vision. Muse career coach Yolanda Owens often has clients who hear back about a job they applied to months ago—when they were “applying to anything and everything”—but who’ve since started weeding out lower-priority opps.  Perhaps you’ve realized you’re competitive for more senior-

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When should you decline a job interview?

level roles, or you’ve otherwise pivoted your search, says Owens, founder of CareerSensei Consulting and a former recruiter. It may make sense to have a conversation to keep the door open, but if you’re gaining traction elsewhere, keep moving forward.

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When should you decline a job interview?

Your plans have changed. Life happens, including in the time between submitting an application and hearing about an interview.  Maybe you need to scale back to part-time work while caring for a sick parent or your partner got a new role and you’re suddenly moving across the country. If you’re excited about the position, you can move 

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When should you decline a job interview?

forward and see if there’s any flexibility to accommodate these circumstances, but otherwise it’s completely fair to opt out.

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When should you decline a job interview?

Your work situation has changed. Work happens, too, and an unexpected promotion or other organizational shift can change how eager you are to find a new job. If you’re beyond thrilled with the new path and can no longer imagine leaving—or want to focus all your energy on your new role—by all means, turn down that interview.

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When should you decline a job interview?

You can’t (or don’t want to) put in the time to prepare. If you’re not actively looking or you're considering an interview for a position you feel lukewarm about at best, it’s OK to say no, especially if “you feel you don’t have the bandwidth to prepare because you’re overextended at the moment,” says Muse career coach Emily Liou, founder of Cultivitae and a former recruiter with 

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When should you decline a job interview?

experience hiring at Fortune 500 companies and startups.

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How should you decline a job interview?

Here’s your checklist: – Make sure you’re sure. You definitely don’t want this to be a practice round, right? – Aim to respond within a few days, so it looks like you’ve given this careful thought and consideration (even if you instantly thought, “Hell no”). – Start with gratitude. Thank them for thinking of you, etc.—you know what to do. – Keep your reasoning vague.

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How should you decline a job interview?

“You’re happy in your current role,” kinda thing. Hey, if you end up furloughed tomorrow, you may want to circle back. – Suggest someone else. It’s a class act, and will certainly leave them—and the person you refer—with a positive impression of you. (P.S., It's not a bad idea to give that person a heads up.)

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