Not accepting nanny job

[Anonymous]

What is the best way to decline a nanny job when offered? I've interviewed with families before that I could tell just wouldn't be a good fit for me. However the pay is what I want, and they've all lived very close to where I live so I can't use pay or location as an excuse. Usually I've said I've accepted another offer even when I haven't, but I feel so dishonest in doing so. So what do you say when you don't like a family and they offer you a nanny position. I don't want to put them down by saying I wouldn't want to work for them. I'm at a loss on how to decline a nanny offer when the reason is you wouldn't want to work for the family.

[Anonymous]

"Thank you for your offer, but I have decided to go with a family that is a better fit".

[Anonymous]

May be, "Thanks so much for the offer, but I'm not going to be able to take it. I have some other things lined up." Just be vague.

[Anonymous]

I'd stick with "I've accepted another offer." Or "I've decided to pursue other options." I hate the "fit" excuse. It's hard not to take that as a personal rejection and really doesn't give you anything to work with as far as self-improvement to increase your chances at getting a job later. It's just a stupid non-answer. 16:21 is clumsy sounding.

[Anonymous]

But the OP isn't looking for any sort of feedback and doesn't owe it to the family. "Pursuing other options" doesn't sound any better or worse.

[Anonymous]

Troll. You don't want to tell the truth and you don't want to lie either. Tell them whatever you want and stop wasting our time.

[Anonymous]

You don't need to give a reason for not taking the job.

I usually say something like : "I'm sorry but it will not work out. Good luck" .

[Anonymous]

MB here. Just say thank you so much for the offer but you've accepted another position.

If they ask why that one and not theirs (I would ask) then you can say that the other job felt like a better fit for you. I have no problem with the fit answer - I think that can be really true for all kinds of jobs and I respect someone experienced enough to know what the best "fit" for them is.

If there is helpful feedback you can/want to offer them, and that they seem to want to hear, you can consider doing that, but otherwise just be pleasant, brief, and professional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MB here. Just say thank you so much for the offer but you've accepted another position.

If they ask why that one and not theirs (I would ask) then you can say that the other job felt like a better fit for you. I have no problem with the fit answer - I think that can be really true for all kinds of jobs and I respect someone experienced enough to know what the best "fit" for them is.

If there is helpful feedback you can/want to offer them, and that they seem to want to hear, you can consider doing that, but otherwise just be pleasant, brief, and professional.

It's NONE of your business to ask the candidate WHY she did not pick your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MB here. Just say thank you so much for the offer but you've accepted another position.

If they ask why that one and not theirs (I would ask) then you can say that the other job felt like a better fit for you. I have no problem with the fit answer - I think that can be really true for all kinds of jobs and I respect someone experienced enough to know what the best "fit" for them is.

If there is helpful feedback you can/want to offer them, and that they seem to want to hear, you can consider doing that, but otherwise just be pleasant, brief, and professional.

It's NONE of your business to ask the candidate WHY she did not pick your family.

Jeez. Hostile much? If I make an offer of a job to someone and they turn me down I always try to understand why. Was my offer not competitive? Was the job not interesting? Was it an issue of a better offer/fit somewhere else that we can't help or is there something I can do to make us more attractive, assuming you're the person I really want to hire of course.

I have been interviewing and hiring people for the past 15 years. This is just good business practice - sometimes I learn something valuable when a candidate turns me down. Of course they are under zero obligation to tell me anything, nor am I under any obligation to give feedback on how someone interviews. But sometimes it's useful and worth a conversation.

As a first time parent hiring a nanny my learning curve was steep - I learned a lot from the nannies I interviewed. And if I had been turned down by someone I really liked I would have wanted to know if there was something I needed to do to be more competitive or attractive.

Calm down.

[Anonymous]

"Thank you for your kind offer, however I am unable to accept it at this time. I wish you only the best in your nanny search!"

Honestly, you do not have to state a reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Thank you for your kind offer, however I am unable to accept it at this time. I wish you only the best in your nanny search!"

Honestly, you do not have to state a reason.

This is the best response. Polite, professional, and honest.