Can rejecting a job offer actually elevate your career - TheJobNetwork

Can rejecting a job offer actually elevate your career - TheJobNetworkImagine going through the grueling process of creating your resume, optimizing your LinkedIn profile, applying to dozens of jobs, and going on a handful of interviews to finally be offered the job only to turn it down Are you insane? Why would anyone ever decline a job offer after going through all this? Maybe the salary wasnt up to par. Perhaps the vacation time didnt start for a year after you began. You may have found during the lengthy interview process that you just werent feeling the companys culture. You may have even accepted a better job offer. But is it bad to decline offers? Will this hurt your career? Not necessarily. Rejecting a job offer may actually help elevate your career. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Sharpens your negotiation skillsOne of the main reasons candidates turn down job offers is due to salary discrepancies. Unfortunately, you really can t discuss how much youll be paid during your first interview before any job offer was extended. You may have only seen a salary range from the job description or perhaps no salary was listed at all.You went on the companys multiple interview process expecting to make a certain amount but ended up being offered much less. Now is the perfect opportunity to negotiate your salary Negotiating your salary is something that can improve your career and forces you to know what youre worth in your industry. Knowing how to negotiate your salary during the interview will benefit you when youre up for a promotion and want to negotiate your raise.Improves your interview skillsTurning down a job offer opens you up to interview at other places. Regardless of the rapid expansion of technology today, interviewing is a skill that isnt going away anytime soon. Knowing how to effectively speak with different types of employers, who all have their own unique methods, will significantly increase your conf idence and make you comfortable with the process. As a bonus, the more interviewing you do will not only make you a better interviewee with other companies but will make you a better interviewer if youre a manager and need to recruit new talent.Leaves the door open for better opportunitiesIn todays digital world with companies and job boards regularly posting positions online, there are always opportunities out there, even during recessions. Its not uncommon for professionals and executives to routinely go on interviews just to get a feel for whats out there. They may initially have no intention of accepting the job offer if extended, but just seeking better opportunities and feeling the pulse of the current job market in their industry is invaluable.Makes you a more attractive candidateThe Chronicle of Higher Education published an article that showed interest from one company can serve as a leverage point or negotiation for another company. This is especially true when youre in a specialized field with a select number of qualified candidates. I once worked as an executive recruiter where there was a frenzy in search of plastic injection molding engineers. These specialists were very difficult to find, and many companies were competing with one another to try and hire them. The plastic injection molding engineers would routinely decline offers, which only made them more appealing. Talk about a specialized field with a small talent poolTeaches you how to say noLearning how to say no is an often-underrated but invaluable skill. Many CEOs and top-level executives attend leadership training sessions to learn how to strategically say no, which has shown to enhance their abilities to work more efficiently since theyre constantly bombarded with proposals.One thing thats essential when declining a job offer and saying no is to respond quickly to the job offer and be honest and polite. People will respect your honesty because it requires a lot of courage and takes res ponsibility. Learning to say no will sharpen your focus and keep you from making unnecessary mistakes because you may have been too polite to just say no.In the end, if you have any doubts about a position, then it clearly wasnt meant to be. Youll feel better knowing you made the right decision and that your gut was telling you the offer just wasnt right. This newfound attitude will allow you to go after the job youve always wanted and push you to elevate your career goals. Being decisive and not regretting your decisions are characteristics of success. Trust your judgment, and you just might be surprised where your career path will take you.About the Author Maria Gold is currently a Content Manager/Writer for Empire Resume. She is dedicated to helping educate people with the latest career articles and job search advice. When Maria is not working, she enjoys reading and spending quality time with her family.