Decline a Job Offer, Promotion, or Transfer • Letter Examples and Guide

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Example Letter #1

Thank you for offering me the position of senior software engineer at Doe Corporation. After evaluating the offer, considering the team you assembled and the technical and financial opportunity, I turned down other job offers in anticipation of accepting yours. You presented a wonderful opportunity to work with talented people on a project destined to make a great impact on the market. Unfortunately, a sudden change in my family situation makes moving at this time very difficult. Given this reality, I feel I have little choice but to accept a position at Doe International here in Springfield.

My commitment here will be for a minimum of six months, so I hope we can keep in touch and perhaps a future opportunity will arise. I will send you my e-mail address as soon as they give me one. Good companies with spectacular opportunities are hard to find. I know I would enjoy working with you.

Example Letter #2

Thank you for considering me for the position of area manager at Doe Corporation. I am honored that you would choose me to fill the vacancy, but I must decline. My family is demanding an increasing amount of time, and I am reluctant to take a position that requires more traveling. Thank you again for your confidence in my abilities.

Example Letter #3

I am flattered by your offer to work as a safety specialist for Doe Construction. I have always wanted to join your firm, but when I signed on with Springfield Construction, I agreed to a one-year commitment. Six months remain of my contract, so I will stay with Springfield for the present. Thank you again for your generous offer. I hope to meet with you again in the future when my circumstances change.

Example Letter #4

Thank you for offering me a position in the international division at Doe. I have considered it carefully and must decline the offer because the position will require too much travel. I want to enjoy my children while they are young. I enjoyed meeting with you. Thanks again for considering me.

Letter-Writing Tips

A letter turning down a job offer, promotion, or transfer should decline the position graciously while still expressing appreciation for the offer.

Step-by-Step Guide

1 Express appreciation for the offer.

Example Sentences

Thank you for offering me the position of technical writer at Doe Software. I appreciate your recent letter offering me the position of assistant manager. Thank you for notifying me that I have been accepted for a position in your new international division. I appreciate your offer for a position in your marketing department. Thank you for your offer for a transfer to the New York City office. Thank you for your phone call to offer me the position of executive assistant.

Example Phrases

enjoyed talking with you about your opening for a flattered that you offered me the position as have decided to accept another have made the offer extremely attractive have received your kind letter offering honored to be the recipient of your generous offer honored that you selected me from among so many other qualified indeed a pleasure meeting with you and your staff to discuss interested in future employment with it is a prestigious position like to take this opportunity to thank you for the interview appreciated your letter thank you for considering me for the position thank you for your generous offer to join thank you for your offer to transfer me thank you for notifying me that I have been accepted for thank you for your phone call to offer me the position of the position you offered me sounds exciting time together was most enjoyable and informative want to express my appreciation for was gratified to receive your offer would like to thank you for such a show of confidence

2 Explain briefly your reason for declining the job offer.

Example Sentences

Upon hearing that I was planning to leave my current job, my employer offered me a promotion to the position of head of technical writing. Since this new position will be a management position, it will provide me with opportunities that I have not had as a staff writer. I am therefore choosing to remain with my current employer. Although the promotion would increase my hours and therefore my pay, it would not allow me to be a full-time student. Consequently, I must decline your offer. I have recently accepted a position with another firm where I will be sent on overseas assignments rather than just working with overseas customers. Since foreign travel is a priority for me and my family, I must decline your kind offer. My husband and I have considered your offer thoroughly, but because the position requires extensive travel, we agreed that it would be best for me to decline. I certainly enjoy New York City whenever I visit there. However, because my family and I value the small town atmosphere of Springfield, I have chosen to remain here at the main office. Since interviewing with you, I have decided to go to graduate school. Because I will be a full-time student, I have accepted a part-time position with another company. I was impressed with the opportunity the job would provide, but I must decline the offer because it does not meet my financial expectations.

Example Phrases

accepted an offer that would allow me to stay in the local area advancement opportunities that I want to have before me although I recognize the connection between the two fields although the prospect of joining your company is tempting although I have given your offer serious thought at this stage of my career I am seeking because the position requires extensive travel because of this preference, I have chosen to remain in choose to remain with my current employer choose to explore other opportunities cumulative impact of a number of considerations influenced greater challenges and advancement than the position is able to have decided to withdraw my application for the position have just accepted a position with a larger organization job I have chosen will provide a greater variety of duties leaving now would make me feel as if I were turning my back on must decline your offer my employer offered to promote me not appropriate for me to accept your offer at this time offers me a chance to do more than scope of the job and the size of the company seemed to promise considerable potential for advancement since foreign travel is a priority for me and my family since I will be leaving, I cannot ultimately my decision was based on several factors when I did not hear from you after my interview while I appreciate your offer for the position of would not allow me to attend school as I am now doing

3 Close on a positive note.

Example Sentences

Thank you again for your offer. I enjoyed meeting with you and touring your facilities. I appreciate your confidence in me, and I look forward to a continuing association with Doe's. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to meet with you and the other members of the international team. Again, I appreciate your generous offer. Best wishes to you and your firm. Thank you for thinking of me. I am sure there are others in the department who will jump at the chance to move to the Big Apple. Thank you for your offer. I hope to meet with you again after I have completed my degree.

Example Phrases

again, I appreciate your generous offer appreciate your confidence in me appreciate the time and effort you spent on my application appreciate your considering me for the position appreciate your thinking of me for the position appreciate your consideration and your time best wishes to you and your staff by the courtesy and interest everyone showed giving me the opportunity to learn more about your facility has been a personal privilege to meet you and your colleagues have a fine team and I would have enjoyed working with you know you have many fine candidates who can fill this look forward to our continued association most impressed by your organization others in the department who will jump at the chance to move to plan to stay in touch please keep me on your list of interested thank you for sharing your company goals with me thank you for this opportunity thank you again for considering me want to thank you for interviewing me wish you the very best in finding another manager suitable for would like to stay in touch in case

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