When to Say No to a Job Offer

Let’s be honest. It’s not easy to decline a job offer. Often when we are hunting for a job it is out of necessity: we’ve recently graduated, we are unemployed, or we’ve learned we’ll be part of an upcoming layoff at work. Under these conditions it can feel irresponsible or even impossible to turn down a job offer. We can feel like we need to accept any job that comes along.

But if you’re not feeling desperate, and you have an opportunity to make a fair evaluation of a prospective employer, there are times when it makes sense to turn down an offer of employment.

Those times might include:

Reputation of the employer. Sometimes an employer, company, or a boss is just bad news and has rightfully earned a reputation for being a bad place to work. It’s important to do your research (on Glassdoor and elsewhere) in order to gauge the reputation of a prospective workplace. You might not want to accept a job at a place you’ll (sooner rather than) later hate.

Bad fit. Is the position you’ve been offered a good fit for your experience-level, skills, and interests? If not, you can be left feeling frustrated and struggle in the job, particularly if the training or supervision you receive is insufficient (or nonexistent).

Pay is not right. When you consider the pay a job offers you also need to pay attention to other factors you might not have considered, including company benefits such as insurance and 401k plan, the distance you’ll have to travel to get to work, time spent commuting to the job, and opportunities for career advancement and salary increases. If the pay is low, the commute is long, and there are few chances to advance you might need to make a pass.

Unethical or shady practices. Some businesses and companies like to operate on the lines and attempt to get away with as much as possible, even occasionally practicing in ways that might appear unethical, illegal, or shady. It’s best to avoid these companies and work at a place that proudly touts its commitment to authentically ethical work.

Does not match your values. Other companies operate legally but work in a field that does not match your values. If you’re a vegan concerned with the ethical treatment of animals, you might find it difficult to work at some restaurants or fast-food providers. If you’re concerned about climate change, you might decide not to work for a company in the fossil-fuel industry.

Choosing to pursue and accept a job at a specific company or in a particular field is a personal matter and it’s important to make decisions that are best for you at the time and for your future.