How to decline a job offer you already accepted

Imagine that you just accepted a job offer, but then you get another offer from your dream company for a bigger salary and more opportunities for career growth. What do you do? Do you stick with the first offer, or go with the better opportunity? Is that even possible? 

The good news is that it is possible, but you will need to know how to decline a job offer you already accepted without burning any bridges or harming your career. We’ll show you how.

Top 10 reasons to decline a job offer you already accepted

There are myriad reasons you may change your mind after accepting a job. After all, getting a job offer can be quite flattering, causing you to make a decision before you’ve really had time to think about it. 

Here are the top 10 reasons why you may want to navigate how to turn down a job offer after accepting:

1. You got a better offer elsewhere

If you’re actively job searching, you know that companies often hire on their own timelines, and an offer might come out of the blue. If you get a better offer of employment at your dream company, with higher salary, benefits, or room to grow, you might want to consider rescinding your job acceptance from the first company.

2. The salary or benefits are inadequate (and non-negotiable)

It’s entirely possible that, upon reflection, you realize that the offered salary or benefits aren’t suitable for your needs. If the company isn’t willing to negotiate, this can be a legitimate reason to rescind a job acceptance. After all, you have to make ends meet and, if this company won’t help you do that, you have to find one that will.

3. The work hours or environment aren’t suitable

Maybe you forgot to ask exactly where you’d be working, or the company has decided to amend the hours you’d be working. While this isn’t necessarily a “bait and switch” situation, it can make a big difference in your career fulfillment. If it doesn’t work for you, you can decline the offer.

4. You have personal concerns

There are a variety of personal reasons why a job won’t be a good fit and you've decided to change your mind. These might include:

• Too long of a commute

• Family commitments

• An unacceptable work-life balance

• Concerns about relocation

• Health reasons

All of these are valid and could negatively impact your job performance, so you may decide to decline the job offer you already accepted for such personal reasons.

5. Your career goals won’t be met

It may be that the job, in reality, isn’t going to be what was conveyed in the job description, doesn’t align with your career goals, or won’t provide any opportunity to be promoted from within. You may also discover that the company’s values don’t actually align with yours. You may choose to decline the job offer and look elsewhere.

6. The company has negative online reviews

While it’s ideal to research this before your interview, sometimes things fall by the wayside during your interview prep and you may forget to thoroughly research the company. If you do some online sleuthing later and find that the company’s reviews aren’t what you hoped for, you can still choose not to work for them.

7. The company isn’t stable

If you discover that the company or industry isn’t stable right now, or you’re concerned about layoffs, that’s a good reason to decline a job acceptance. You may find yourself out of a job in the near future and have to start the job search all over again.

8. There’s no flexibility

Ask most employees what they like about their job or employer, and one answer you’ll likely hear is how flexible it is. If your new employer is too rigid in their scheduling or expectations, your work might suffer. Or, conversely, if you’re someone who does well with structure, and your new employer is more relaxed and unpredictable, it might not be a good fit.

9. You don’t like your manager

Of course, you don’t have to be besties with your boss. But if you don’t feel comfortable with your new manager, their expectations, or their work style, or if you simply get a bad vibe, it’s perfectly valid to turn down a job offer after accepting it. 

10. You have a bad feeling in your gut

Most people have pretty good instincts, so if something feels off to you, or you just can’t get excited about the opportunity, you may want to rescind your job acceptance. Trust yourself; if it doesn’t feel right, don’t take the job.

4 Tips to politely turn down a job offer after accepting

Once you decide to rescind a job acceptance, you might be wondering if that’s even okay and how to go about it. In fact, it’s a fairly common occurrence and can be successfully done, if you know how to decline a job offer you already accepted politely and respectfully. 

Here are four specific things to keep in mind:

• Be sincere when you thank them for the offer.

• Get right to the point and tell them that you have to decline the offer.

• Give them a brief reason for why you are declining.

• Thank them again, and wish both the hiring manager and the company well.

Make sure, however, that you’ve carefully reviewed the terms of giving notice before reaching out to the company.

Is it unprofessional to decline a job offer after accepting it?

It's natural to have some hesitation about declining a job offer you already accepted. You might be concerned about hurting your professional reputation or your chances of working for this company in the future. So you want to be sure that it’s really what you want. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• If it’s a salary issue, try negotiating first. Be mindful of your financial needs before you accept, as well as those of the company. Quitting after a short time, instead of declining now, will cost you and the company both time and money to resume the search.

• Don’t drag your feet. Let them know your decision as soon as you can. This way, they won’t lose out on other candidates on their list.

• Don’t repeatedly apologize. Instead, thank them for the opportunity, give them your reason, and leave it at that. Rambling can make you appear unprofessional or uncertain.

• Be clear that you’re declining the offer, not the company. Let them know that you’d like to stay in contact, which will help build your professional network. People move on to other companies and, if you leave the hiring manager with a positive impression, they may keep you in mind when they go elsewhere.

Do

• • Be certain that you truly do want to rescind your job acceptance—remember, you can’t take it back!
• • Let the new company know right away about your decision.
• • Decline politely to preserve your professional network and avoid burning bridges you may need later.

Don't

• • Attempt to leverage the rescinding of your job acceptance as a negotiation tactic.
• • Ghost the company that offered the position you originally accepted instead. It’s unprofessional and could hurt your reputation.
• • Contact the hiring company until you’ve committed to a decision.

4 Steps for how to decline a job offer you already accepted

Now that you’ve decided that you are indeed certain and ready to rescind your job acceptance, let’s break down the steps for how to actually decline the job offer you already accepted.

1. Review your contract & legal implications

Most states in the US (except Montana) utilize at-will employment, meaning employers can terminate employment without reason or warning. Employees can likewise resign at any time without explanation, even if there’s a signed contract. 

However, if you have signed an employment contract, it’s important to understand the terms and conditions of that contract (which is usually written, but may be verbal) before rescinding your job acceptance.

Carefully review your signed contract. You may only be given a narrow window in which you can decline an offer you’ve accepted, or may be required to work for a certain length of time or give a certain amount of notice before leaving, and you will be expected to abide by these terms. 

There may also be a clause that requires you to pay a certain dollar amount if you fail to give appropriate notice. This is because hiring can be expensive, and may cost a company as much as $4,700 to hire someone else!

2. Choose the right communication channel: email or phone call

The best means to communicate your decision really depends on you and how you were offered the job in the first place. A phone call would suffice if you can do it without getting flustered. According to the Harvard Business Review, if you want to know how to rescind a job acceptance, “it’s best to call the recruiter from the company you planned to join as soon as possible and inform them you changed your mind.” The hiring manager will likely appreciate you taking the time to reach out and speak to them personally.

However, when in doubt, a good rule of thumb is to use the same method of communication that was used to make the offer. If they called to offer you the job, then call them to rescind it. If they emailed you, then email back. 

Below are examples of how to handle both an email and phone call. Of course, you will need to tailor them to your specific situation:

3. Negotiate alternatives before declining a job offer

If the offered salary or benefits are not quite what you were hoping for, you don’t have to automatically rescind your job acceptance. You can try negotiating for a better offer first. You don’t have to limit this negotiation to salary either; if an adjustment in other aspects of the job would make it worth accepting, give those a try. 

Here are some alternatives to explore:

• Salary negotiation. Do some research and determine the going rate for those in your position and geographic locations. Prepare a counteroffer, and be prepared to give your reasons for that number.

• Additional benefits. If they won’t budge on salary, try asking for other benefits such as additional PTO, a more flexible schedule, relocation reimbursement, or even a signing bonus.

• Adjusted start date. If the proposed start date doesn’t work for you, see if there is some wiggle room to adjust it.

• Career development opportunities. Ask for tuition reimbursement or other training and development opportunities to enhance your career growth.

• Remote work options. If your position allows for it, see if you can negotiate for a fully remote or hybrid work situation.

4. Preserve your professional network & bridges

Declining a job offer, even after you’ve accepted it, may not be the end of your career, but you still want to handle it in the right way. This means acting professionally, and taking the concerns of the employer into consideration. 

To help maintain your professional reputation, expand your network, and foster positive career bridges, consider the following five tips:

• Call instead of sending an email. A phone call is more personal and allows you to answer any questions they may have in the moment.

• Remember that you’re dealing with human beings. Be gracious and respectful at all times. Take a moment to look at the situation from their point of view, and respond accordingly.

• Offer to keep in touch. Not only does this help grow your professional network, it also allows you to add value to the relationship by sharing industry news or introducing them to others in your network.

• Send a follow-up message. Following up on LinkedIn is another way to express your appreciation for the opportunity and keep the door open for future opportunities.

• Offer candidate referrals. If you’re no longer interested in the position, but know someone who would be a great fit, this could help shorten the company’s timeline for  finding someone else and foster further goodwill.

FAQs about declining a job offer you already accepted

Can I decline the job offer after starting?

Yes, you can. However, it’s important to make sure that this is something you really want to do and, if you signed a contract, be clear on the terms of leaving that job so that you’re not in breach of contract.

How do you handle contractual penalties?

Read your employment contract carefully. Look for any clauses that define how you can or should handle rescinding your job acceptance, or if there is any sort of notice that you have to give. 

You probably won’t face any repercussions unless you’re at an executive level or your departure would cost the company business, but it might be best to consult with an employment lawyer if you’re in doubt.

Is it professional to rescind a job acceptance via email?

It can be as long as it’s done politely and promptly (see the example and tips above). However, if you are able to, consider doing it via a phone call, as it’s more respectful and allows for a personal touch.

What is the ideal timing to rescind a job acceptance?

If you’ve decided that you don’t want the job after all, let the employer know ASAP, ideally within 24–48 hours of acceptance. Waiting longer than that is unprofessional and may seriously inconvenience the employer, as they’ll have to start the costly and time-consuming search process all over again.

If you need a more targeted approach to finding the right job for you, check out career.io’s Job Search tool. You can apply for jobs, keep track of applications, and follow up all in one convenient, easy-to-navigate site.

Key takeaways

1. It is possible to turn down a job offer after accepting. Valid reasons include insufficient salary, unsuitable work environment, or a family emergency.

2. In terms of how to decline a job offer you already accepted professionally and politely, be sincere when you thank them for the offer, get right to the point, give them a brief reason for declining, and thank them again, wishing both the hiring manager and the company well.

3. Be aware of any contractual or legal implications of declining a job offer you already accepted. Consult with an employment attorney if you have any concerns.

4. Do your best to maintain professional relationships and build career bridges to maintain your reputation and keep your options open for the future.