How Retirees Should Turn Down a Job Offer

Sometimes we retirees will get through what we thought was an interview for our perfect encore career or stepped-down retirement gig only to have second thoughts. If a job offer comes then know How Retirees Should Turn Down a Job Offer.

That may sound crazy to many people. But as a retiree we aren’t looking for any old job. We want to do something aligned with our interest and passions. Whether a full-time career type gig or a less stressful part-time job. A part-time gig that still allows us time to do what we want to do in our retirement.

The issue is we applied for and interviewed for a job we thought was a good fit. But it has fallen out of our favor because of something said at the interview or a vibe we got that our gut warns us about. Perhaps a better opportunity is in the works. Or we have found out some more information about the company or job. For example, finding negative information at GlassDoor and realize it’s no longer aligned with our vision of working in retirement.

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Whatever the reason, knowing How Retirees Should Turn Down a Job Offer is crucial so you don’t burn bridges. Or end up looking like a big self-centered and ungrateful Jack-Hole. It is just smart to have diplomacy and good manners as part of your response.

Reasons Why the Job Isn’t Right

As early retirees we have given up on trading our time for meaningless work. Being picky is just part of making sure we don’t fall into a position where we regret returning to work. If it was only about meaningless work and money we could have just stayed at the job we retired from.

Second Thoughts

After we apply for that perfect retirement job and hit a home-run during the interview the excitement slips away and we begin to see some things that has made us have second thoughts. Second thoughts that you just can’t ignore. Perhaps you now rethink about how they seemed unorganized and had trouble keeping your interview appointment and making you change it once or twice. Perhaps the interviewers couldn’t answer all of your smart questions about the job. Did you have to go in for additional interviews because some of their key hiring members couldn’t make the meeting when you were there?

Follow Your Gut

As a retiree you have the luxury of staying tuned into your instincts and what your gut is telling you. Maybe all of that went fine but you are getting a strange vibe about the company itself. You are looking to join a company that is doing more than just winging-it. As retirees we are looking to enhance our working experience in a way different from the long career we retired from.

Life is short and we don’t need to put up with a lot BS. Here are some other signs that would trigger your gut reaction toward rejecting a job offer.

Insecurity Complex

Did they talk about all the things they were doing at the company to grow and be a leader in their industry or did they talk more about their competitors? You want to work for a company that confidently leads. It’s one thing for a company to be aware of their competition but not to the point of obsessing about them and having them dominate a job interview.

Rudderless Boat with no charted course

Did you find that they seem to kill and start projects on a whim or based on the latest trend? If the company leadership has no strategy to align the business to then you may be looking at a company with reckless business practices.

Just looking to Hire a Savior

Unless you are applying for an executive position, you don’t want to hear about how they will be counting on you to fix them. They may be excited about all of your experience but to expect you to make big positive changes when you are joining the existing personnel and culture to work in means you have an impossible task. One that will end after a lot of stress and most likely the label scapegoat.

Unsatisfactory Job Offer

The company HR rep just laid down the conditions of the job and it isn’t good enough. Don’t accept an offer that leaves you hating going to work. Whether it’s the shifts or hours expected, heavy on-call responsibility, or the lack of time off or flexibility in the schedule. If the money is good it will still kill your enthusiasm if everything else goes against what you want in a retirement job.

Using Manners and Diplomacy Is How Retirees Should Turn Down a Job Offer

Let them know ASAP

Companies really stink in the way they drag their feet in their hiring process but as early retirees we are better than that. Let the hiring manager, interviewer, or HR manager know once you have made the decision and know that you do not want the job for whatever reason. This way they have a chance to contact their next choice who is probably waiting for the call. Companies should not take your rejection personal. This is also a good way to stay in good graces in the case that your paths cross again.

Show your manners with appreciation

As a retiree always thank the hiring manager or interviewer for the offer when rejecting a job offer. Being nasty or passive aggressive by leaving them hanging will be remembered. You never want to burn bridges because the world is small and paths cross when you least expect them to. Never leave the impression that the job wasn’t good enough for you. Make sure you know that they know you gave it a lot of serious thought and consideration.

Be honest when pressed for the reason

No need to lie. If you accepted another offer, there was an issue with the lack of schedule flexibility, the shift or salary being offered, just tell them. Always lean toward diplomacy when delivering the truth. If your gut gave you negative signals about the company, management, or employees then just diplomatically say the culture-fit wasn’t right for you.

Try to verbally reject the offer

Part of the interview “do’s” is take names, email addresses and numbers if you can of the hiring manager and other key interviewers. If you went through a series of interviews and have a rapport with a manager then call them and let them know why you are rejecting the offer. It could be that you have no rapport and your interaction other than the interview has been with their HR manager making them the logical contact choice. In any case never send a text message to reject a job offer. Being anti-confrontational may make sending an email you first choice. Try to limit using email to only when you have no way to contact them directly by phone.

In Closing

The last thing to know about How Retirees Should Turn Down a Job Offer is to just be confident and certain before doing so. If you find later it was a mistake to have turned it down then feel free to contact then again. However, no matter how many manners and the amount of diplomacy you have shown them in your rejection they do not have to re-offer you the position. Nobody likes to be rejected as a first choice and feel like the rebound. Avoid being in this situation by knowing exactly what you want before rejecting an offer in the first place.