When and how to say no

With the job market remaining buoyant candidates often find themselves in the fortunate position of being offered more than one position. Daniel Hyland, Senior Engineering Consultant at Carlton Resource Solutions (Carlton) points out that with several offers on the table candidates should take time to consider both the jobs and the offers before making a final decision.

Well qualified and experienced candidates remain in demand, comments Daniel.

In a candidate led market it is not unusual for such people to find themselves considering several job offers at the same time. If this happens it is vital to take the time to consider the options and decide which one represents the best career move.

The most obvious thing about any job offer is the remuneration package. And in a competitive job market, salaries and associated benefits can be very attractive but it is important to consider the job offer as a whole and make the right decision.

According to Daniel most employers will allow candidates betweens seven and ten days to review their offer; he recommends that this period should be used wisely.

Anyone in this position should take their time, collect their thoughts and, if necessary, clarify the details of the offer and then evaluate it in terms of their priorities. If the current offer is not market value then consider negotiating with the prospective employer. It will then be necessary to determine whether or not the final offer is acceptable.

He adds, Having several job offers to choose from can make these negotiations slightly easier however this approach can backfire so it is necessary to understand your own worth and that of the post that you have been offered.

Daniels suggests considering the following points when evaluating a job offer:

Starting salary
An idea of market rates can be provided by a good employment agency or researched on jobsites on the internet.

Relocation allowance
Most companies will have an allowance for this as part of their resourcing budget, so if this is relevant don't forget to ask, or you may not receive!

Holiday entitlement
This is normally a minimum of 20 days. However some companies do offer more, so be sure to clarify.

Future prospects
Career development is important to the ambitious; if this is you then make sure you enquire about advancement opportunities.

Once you have made your decision you will need to decide how to communicate it.

According to Daniel this may well be determined by your previous contact with the company.

If the job offer is from a large company and/or has been made in writing then it is appropriate to send them a letter to let them know your decision. However if the offer has been made verbally or is from a contact then it is probably best to call to inform them of your decision.

He continues, In either case it is advisable to thank them for considering you for the role and where possible provide a brief explanation of the factors that have led to your decision. This information may be useful to the employer when they recruit in the future.

Deciding whether or not to accept a job offer is an important decision and should not be taken lightly. If after careful consideration you determine that the job isn't for you then you should turn it down.

Daniel adds a word of warning, You should be careful of turning jobs down too often, if you regularly find yourself in the situation of being offered positions that are not right for you then it is probably time to review your career aspirations and refocus your search.

Established in Aberdeen in 1981, Carlton Resource Solutions (Carlton) has grown and developed to cover all geographic regions through its operational hubs in Aberdeen and London. Recruiting for a wide range of technical and non-technical opportunities, Carlton matches candidates to employers across the full spectrum of occupations in the accountancy and finance, commercial, HR and training, industrial, information technology, technical and engineering disciplines, in both public sector and other corporate environments. Carlton recruits for permanent, contract or temporary placements. For more information call 01224 650500 or visit: