Handling a Withdrawn Job Offer

  • On January 19, 2023

positions available near me

Every job seeker wants to hear these words: “We’re pleased to offer you a position with us.” Once you’ve received a job offer, it’s devasting to hear that the company has to withdraw its job offer. It’s important to be aware that, while uncommon, this can and does happen. While you may not ever know for sure why you’ve lost the opportunity, there are a number of plausible reasons why this may have happened.

  1. Budget Changes 

It’s possible that after telling you that you’re hired, the company or department had their hiring budget slashed. Some companies also reassess overall budgets and designate less than originally agreed upon to cover new goals and priorities for the quarter or year.

  1. Hiring Freeze

Even if there was a green light for the employer to hire you when you interviewed, the company’s circumstances may have changed after the offer was made, resulting in hiring being put on hold before you were formally brought on board. 

  1. Reference Check 

Reference checks are a crucial part of the hiring process. HR may have heard something they felt was concerning about you during that process, or seen something on the standard background check that scared them off. When providing references for your positions, make sure to follow our guide to ensure you are selecting the best points of contact.

  1. Second Thoughts

While your interview may have gone well, it’s possible that something that you did after the interview caused the hiring team to change their minds. A social media post that they felt was unprofessional or a text to the HR director at night to ask about the status of the position are two of many reasons why second thoughts might occur. 

  1. Poor Negotiation

After offering you the job, if your salary and benefits negotiation with the company turned them off, they may have decided not to move forward with your offer. Negotiations can be very tricky, which is why you should learn more from our article discussing the best methods for negotiating your salary and more.

  1. Another Candidate

While it’s not considerate and is ethically questionable, the employer may have found a candidate that they felt was a better fit after they’d already offered you the job. However, the practice of withdrawing a job offer isn’t common, but rarely occurs do to businesses adapting to a “bad-vibes” ideology. 

What to Do if a Job Offer Is Rescinded
It’s important to respond to the news of an offer being rescinded in a way that’s both positive and productive. While you likely feel upset and angry at this, it’s best to channel your energy into figuring out your next steps rather than doing or saying something you might regret.

If you had a job offer in hand and were already employed, it’s likely that you already gave notice to your current employer. See if it’s not too late to keep your job. Your boss may have already put out feelers to fill your position and may not be open to your request, but it’s worth a try. If the new job fell through partly because of fit and you legitimately weren’t sure you wanted it either, let your manager know that you realized that your current job is the right fit for you. Be careful if you do this, though, because if you plan to keep job hunting and expect to leave your job soon after, this strategy may backfire.

If your current position can’t be salvaged or it doesn’t make sense to do so, consider other options. Do you have hats in the ring with other companies? Were you interviewing at more than one organization? Did you have additional leads from your recruiter? If you had any viable opportunities when you received the job offer, see what can be resurrected. Let other employers you’ve spoken with know that you’re still interested, tell your recruiter about your change in plans, and keep your resume circulating with previous possibilities you’d been exploring or considering.

Moments of a career crisis like this call for help from your professional network. If you’ve already announced to your network on social media that you’ve taken a new position, send an update that you’re considering other options and ask for leads. If you have a mentor at your current company or in your industry, ask for guidance, advice and assistance. 

However, Staff Solve provides employers and job seekers with the assurance that we match the right people to the right positions. When utilizing Staff Solve’s services for your business, we implement your hard requirements as well as other preferred skills to find the best fit for you. And for job seekers, Staff Solve partners with companies that value their employees and offer the best opportunities to ensure your professional career is benefited from the position. 

Staff Solve continues to provide high-quality candidates and jobs in diverse markets for over 27 years. Let us take the stress off you so you can focus on your business by finding the perfect applicant for the position. If you are looking for employment, please visit our job seeker page and check out our job board for current positions. If you would like more information about the services we offer employers, visit our employer page or contact us today.

0 comments on Handling a Withdrawn Job Offer