How to Renege on An Accepted Job Offer (and Still Protect Your Reputation)

You just accepted a job offer and realized it’s just not the right move – it happens.

Maybe you received a better offer from your current employer, or got an offer from the dream company you hadn’t heard back from yet, or maybe the more you thought about it… the more you realized it just isn’t the job for you.

Whatever the reason may be for declining a job offer you already accepted, you need to handle it professionally. You want to protect your reputation and maintain a positive relationship rather burning any bridges  – you never know where someone will end up in the future.

It may not be an easy conversation to have, but when it becomes necessary, here’s how to do it the right way.

First, make sure there are no legal consequences. Most employment is ‘at-will’ meaning you’re not legally obligated to a company, however there are some companies and situations where legal documents must be signed in order to accept and start a job. Just be sure you’ve covered all your bases and aren’t legally tied to any type of contract before reneging on an accepted offer.

Next, notify the recruiter or company immediately. If you’ve accepted a position, the company believes it’s been filled and will stop looking for candidates. Even if you need to decline after accepting, the company still needs to fill that position, so the sooner you let them know you won’t be accepting after all, the better.

Prompt communication gives them more time to restart their search and minimize disruption to their team, making the disappointment of losing you easier to manage. And remember: a phone call is always better than an email to allow for a direct, honest conversation.

Regardless of the amount of notice you give, it’s always better to decline the offer rather than working for a week and then leaving. It’s expensive to onboard and train a new employee, and it’s expensive to recruit and hire candidates – both monetarily and from a time perspective.

Then, give an honest but tactful explanation. You don’t need to share every detail of your decision making process, but be honest about the reason behind your decision. Succinctly let them know you received a better offer from another company you can’t pass up, or that something came up in your personal life that takes priority.

Keep your language positive and be careful to not insult the hiring manager, company, or culture. If you’re declining because you don’t think you’ll get along with your manager, or your interviewer made a poor impression, simply let them know you feel it won’t be a good fit in the long run rather than framing it as someone’s fault.

Finally, express gratitude. Let the recruiter or hiring manager know you sincerely appreciate their time and consideration, and what you liked or appreciated most about the process or the company as a whole. They spent valuable time interviewing and creating a job offer (that you accepted!), so the least you can do when reneging is express your gratitude.

Also, be prepared for the possibility of a counteroffer. It’s always a possibility the company you’re declining will make a counter offer or try to negotiate based on your reason for declining – they wanted you to join their team after all.

Be prepared for this possibility by knowing your boundaries ahead of time, or what you’re willing to concede. If it’s all about the money, have a number in mind they need to meet or beat. If it’s a culture fit issue, be prepared to decline any negotiation attempt and reiterate respectfully and firmly that it’s just not a good fit.

Walking back on an offer you accepted is never enjoyable, but it does happen. The hiring manager will ultimately understand and wants you to do what’s best for you in the long run, even if it’s a disappointing development. There’s no reason to burn any bridges as long as you decline the accepted offer graciously and in good faith without insulting the company.