It’s Easier to Say No Before You Get the Offer

It seems counter-intuitive, but there are times when that can be your best move. The trick, as they say, is in noticing when you’re facing one of those times. The best clue is when start to think that a weakness in the opportunity can be balanced by the right salary offer.

It could be that you don’t see the upward mobility you’re looking for. Maybe you wish there was a different mix of work at the practice where you’re interviewing. Or, maybe you really don’t want to relocate to where the new job is.

It’s a mistake to tell yourself you’ll just “wait to see what they offer.” Even though you get the offer, you’re still going to struggle to decide whether the money is enough to balance the weakness. (Hint: It usually isn’t.) And once the offer is on the table, it’s much harder to change it than you might think.

This doesn’t mean that the things that motivate you to make a job change in the first place aren’t valid. It only means that maybe this particular opportunity isn’t the right one for you.

If you are interviewing and anticipate an offer, use us as a sounding board about whether it might be the smarter move to say no before you get the offer.