5 (Good) Reasons to Decline a Job Offer
| August 10, 2010 | Posted by admin under DECIDE - Negotiate/Followup |
5 (Good) Reasons to Decline a Job Offer by Bobbi Dempsey, Investopedia.com
It now takes an average of more than 30 weeks to find a job. Does this mean it’s time to jump on whatever you can get?
Given the current state of the economy, it might seem ridiculous to even consider turning down a job offer, if you are lucky enough to get one at all. Indeed, most of the experts we contacted said they have become very reluctant to advise anyone to turn down a job these days. According to CNN, it now takes an average of more than 30 weeks to find a job, the highest ever since the Department of Labor began tracking this data in 1948. This makes it very tempting to jump at the first thing that comes along. However, even in today’s job climate, there are still some reasons to consider declining that offer.
1. The company may be financially shaky.
2. The interview process is extremely long or disorganized.
Often, the interview process can be a good indicator of how the company operates in general.
3. You have a bad “gut feeling.”
4. The money is below your absolute minimum.
5. It goes against your principles, moral values, or lifestyle choices.
The bottom line
Times are tough, and it is impractical (not to mention very risky) to hold out for the perfect job at the perfect company. But that doesn’t mean you should accept any job offer you get, no matter what. Set some basic ground rules and use common sense, and you should have an easier time deciding whether to accept an offer or keep looking.
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