What’s the Best Way to Decline an Interview If You’ve Received an Offer Elsewhere?

It’s good to be wanted. Being out of work can mess with your confidence, so receiving interest from multiple potential employers can help pump up your deflated ego.

However, it can also create complications. When you’re deep in the job-search process, you’ll send out applications to any position that seems remotely promising. And you’ll accept any invitation for an interview, even if the positions themselves seem like long shots and or involve potential opportunities outside your comfort zone.

But eventually, you find the perfect situation. You get a job offer…but you still have to unwind the mid-stream job search that you’ve spent so much time feeding. You’re left with scheduled job interviews and ongoing conversations with other potential employers. How do you handle those now that you’re about to move on?

Here are a few tips on how to decline a job interview when you’ve already received another offer somewhere else:

Make Sure the Other Job Is Solid

Don’t get too hasty in canceling the interview. Make sure you have a firm offer in hand from the other opportunity first. Don’t back out of your other interviews just because you received an upbeat response or you “got a good feeling.”

Job offers can fall through, even in the late stages of the process. If you have even a hint of doubt that the other gig will start as expected, go ahead with your other interviews.

Definitely Respond

It’s tempting to blow the whole thing off entirely. Even though it only takes a few minutes to write an email, what’s the point? You already got another job, right?

Well, that’s true for now. But you might be looking again in the future, and you want your options as open as possible. You don’t want to create a bad reputation at the company, or anger the specific hiring manager in charge of the interview.

Choose the Best Method

Email is usually sufficient for a cancellation. Typically, you can send the email to the main HR address. However, if you have a specific email address for someone you worked with for scheduling, send them the message. Even in that case, CC the main HR address just in case.

A phone call is rarely necessary, especially if you don’t have anyone’s direct number, There’s no need to navigate an automated system to find the right person. However, if you worked directly with someone and feel like you’ve built a rapport with them, it might make sense to call instead.

Be Polite and Upfront

Cancel the interview as soon as you make your decision. If possible, you want to give them as much time as possible to fill your slot with another candidate.

Take a few minutes to craft a real message. Don’t just drop a single clinical line along the lines of “I respectfully withdraw my contention for this position.” Instead, thank them for the consideration and let them know that you think highly of the organization.

Nothing feels better than securing that perfect opportunity. Using an industry-leading recruiting firm, like SmartTalent, makes that goal easier to accomplish.

Contact SmartTalent today to learn more.