{"id":"wri-job-decline-offer-gracefully","audience":"job-seekers","category":"writing-emails","technique":"tone","title":"Decline a job offer without burning the bridge","free":false,"task":"You're turning down a job offer. Reply to the recruiter in at most 4 sentences. The first sentence declines the offer, give only the reason that you've accepted a role that's a closer fit, never mention money or the other company, and never use 'unfortunately' or 'sorry'. End by saying you'd like to stay in touch with the hiring manager by name. Write a prompt that gets that reply.","materialLabel":"The offer email and your notes (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"EMAIL from Kevin Marsh (Recruiter, Alderbrook Health Systems), Mon:\nHi Priya, just checking in on our offer for the Patient Experience Coordinator role ($61,000, start Jan 12). Rachel Owens (hiring manager) is really hoping you'll join the team. Can you let me know by Wednesday?\n\nMY NOTES\n- Accepting the offer from Cobalt Senior Living instead: $68,000, fully remote, and closer to the community programs work I want.\n- Alderbrook's team was lovely. Rachel was the best interviewer I met all search.\n- Kevin was very responsive. He also tried to match salary on Friday, but only to $63,000.\n- I'd love to work with Rachel someday. She's moving to a new outpatient center next year.\n- Today is Tuesday, so I'm inside the Wednesday deadline.\n- I always feel guilty doing this and over-explain.","rules":[{"type":"maxSentences","max":4}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Not limiting the length","why":"The AI writes a long, guilty letter explaining the whole decision.","fix":"Be exact: \"At most 4 sentences.\"","checks":["maxSentences"]},{"title":"Burying the no","why":"AI declines open with two sentences of thanks, so Kevin has to hunt for the answer.","fix":"Say it: \"Sentence 1 declines the offer.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Explaining too much","why":"The AI mentions the higher salary or the other company, which can sour the relationship.","fix":"Add: \"Only reason: I accepted a role that's a closer fit. No money, no company names.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Guilty tone, vague ending","why":"AI uses \"Unfortunately\" and \"I'm so sorry\" and ends with a generic \"best of luck\".","fix":"Add: \"No 'unfortunately' or 'sorry'. End by saying I'd like to stay in touch with Rachel.\"","checks":["r2"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Limits the sentences","patterns":["\\b(\\d|one|two|three|four|five|six)\\b.{0,12}sentences?","sentences?"]},{"label":"Gives the no first","patterns":["first sentence","lead with","start with","decline"]},{"label":"Keeps the reason simple","patterns":["closer fit","only reason","no (salary|money)","don'?t mention"]},{"label":"Bans guilt words","patterns":["unfortunately","sorry","no apolog"]},{"label":"Names the hiring manager","patterns":["rachel","stay in touch"]}],"hint":"A good decline is short, clear and warm. Tell the AI the order, the one reason to give, what to keep private, and how to end.","rubricLabels":["The first sentence (after a greeting like 'Hi Kevin,') declines the Patient Experience Coordinator offer, with no thank-you or praise before it","Gives only the reason that she accepted a role that's a closer fit, and never mentions salary, the $63,000 counteroffer, remote work or Cobalt Senior Living","Never uses 'unfortunately' or 'sorry', and the final sentence before the sign-off is about staying in touch with Rachel (named)"]}