Have you ever turned down a job offer?

[Anonymous]

What was the reason? Did you regret it later? Or were you glad you trusted your gut?

[Anonymous]

Yes I turned down an offer for a plum job in Maui. It meant going single and it didn't look like a good place to be single. Maui may sound cool but there is high turnover among professionals because it's so remote. Also verrrry expensive. Anyway, I was mostly after a counter offer...and I goT it

[Anonymous]

Yes, I did twice.

First time, I was applying to different places and got offers at two almost at same time. I liked the projects at the second place so refused the offer 1.

Second time, I just couldn't explain it, you can call it gut feeling. I loved the projects, the pay, everything but I just couldn't get myself to sign the offer and I couldn't decline it. I was miserable. It was embarrassing. At the end I mastered up the courage and declined.

I don't know how my life would have turned had I accepted. May be different, may be the same so I don't regret because I just don't know what the alternative would have been. I know for sure that a lot of things would have been different had I taken a different path the second time around.

[Anonymous]

yes, turned down a job offer after grad school--really, on paper a good job in a field where it's very hard to find a job (art history majors, unite!) but I just didn't want it--it was in a state I didn't want to live in and I didn't have a good feeling. Turned it down, got an internship and was in the end a much better decision ,leading to much better opportunities.

turned down an offer a few years ago because dh got an offer at the same time that precluded a move--and he needed a new job more than I did (and brings in more of the family income). I regret not being able to take it, but it was the right decision for our family.

Up for a few jobs now, but employer may counter offer. Worried that i might get a reputation if I pursue jobs and turn them down, but I am genuinely interested, just not sure. entails moving the whole family, etc.

[Anonymous]

Yup.

First time was for pay -- I was not willing to do the work for the money that was offered.

Second time was for the pay/benefits combo; I would have been giving up a reasonably decent set of benefits (including 20 days annual leave/10 days sick) for really lousy benefits (11 days PTO). But I used the offer as leverage in the job I was staying at. There was also ... something about the other job that didn't sit right with me.

It was most definitely the right decision both times.

[Anonymous]

I have turned down a job offer from a company, and I have also turned down an internal job offer at the company I have worked for for 10 years and very much love.

Turned out great in both situations. Felt a little unsure at the time, but things have a way of working themselves out.

[Anonymous]

I've turned down many- one in the last week. When I'm interviewing, I try not to talk to more than two companies at a time, but even so you can end up with two job offers at the same time. some companies just don't want to offer enough, or it's just not a good fit, or there is an unexplained bad feeling in my gut.

Though, I've never turned down a job offer when unemployed.

[Anonymous]

Many times

[Anonymous]

multiple times here. Most recently, I was recruited for a job, talked to them, and they offered me 20% more money. It was tempting, but the contract they had was only 1 year, and I really enjoy what I am doing. Plus, my company has been extremely flexible with me regarding health issues. So, I turned them down.

I have probably turned down 20 jobs in my career. Sometimes, by the time they make a decision, my situation changed.

[Anonymous]

Yes. They called my current supervisor and asked for a reference. She said they kept digging for negatives and even insisted that "She can't be that good, there must be something bad that you are not telling us." I felt that it would be a toxic environment.

[Anonymous]

I've turned down tons of them. Almost always it was because we couldn't reach an agreement on pay and/or benefits. I've turned down a few that had oppressive policies or clear inflexibility. And I usually (nicely) tell them that.

Had one that would not allow you to participate in their 403b program for 2 years. Not only was there no employer match, but I couldn't invest my own money for 2 years. Told them to go fly a kite. What a stupid policy.

I turned down one that had a ridiculous dress code and zero flex time. It was archaic and stupid.

I've learned to always ask for a copy of the employee handbook before accepting any job. Don't just get their glossy list of benefits. Get the whole handbook. That can be telling.

[Anonymous]

Yes, just recently. The reason was having to relocate up north to the area with a higher cost of living. This would pretty much eliminate the raise in pay. Plus dealing with snow again did not seem appealing. There were also compelling personal reasons, so overall there is not much to regret. DH can't thank me enough for pulling the plug on the move LOL

[Anonymous]

Yes, once for pay and once the job just didn't seem like the best fit.

[Anonymous]

Not exactly a job offer since I had the job already, but my company offered me the option to telework basically 100% when I had to move across country to take care of a terminally ill parent. I knew I wouldn't have been focused on the job, and I didn't feel that the job lended itself to teleworking. I also don't like teleworking ALL of the time (I like it some of the time, for certain types of work and situations). In hindsight, I regretted it, because it took me a year to get my head back on straight and find another job, which was for less pay. We burned through all of the meager life insurance proceeds after covering funeral/estate costs, but it could have been a good down payment on a house.

Oh well...you live, you learn. That company isn't doing well now and I could have been RIF'ed shortly thereafter anyway. Out of sight, out of mind.

[Anonymous]

Yep - too much travel.