How Smart Medtech Executives Turn Down Job Offers & Lay the Groundwork for Future Opportunities

As a strategic engagement advisor and someone who regularly hooks up medtech startups with consultants or C-suite stars through executive search I’ve had a front row seat to the best and the worst of executive rejection. Borrowing from each and mixing in a few engagement tactics, here are three do’s and three absolute don’ts to add to your repertoire to ensure you’re the belle of the ball.

Acknowledge the value of the opportunity and their time

If you were successful in receiving an offer, chances are good that at least a few people organized their schedules to interview and evaluate you, collect and validate your information, and develop (and get approval for) an offer to present to you. That investment of corporate time is all part and parcel of the recruitment process but if you’re keen on keeping that business interaction positive, you’re smart to begin your response to their offer with a phrase that recognizes and appreciates their efforts. This includes the recruiter!

Be specific and use names - for example, to the recruiter you might say:

“I appreciate the offer and the careful consideration you put into the selection process. Please accept my thanks for your help and convey my thanks to Brian, Jamal, and Renèe for taking time out of busy schedules to engage in the interview process. During our discussions I was consistently impressed with their knowledge of the market. I’m sure their launch of the Occublast5000 is going to be a great success.”

Bonus Points if you mention a specific item learned in the interviews that reflects positively on the company.

Provide a short, specific, and honest explanation as to why you are declining

It’s an awkward situation that everyone wants to conclude as quickly and painlessly as possible. Since they spent their valuable time on you with the implicit understanding that you were equally invested in the opportunity, you owe them an explanation as to why you are opting out. Let them know what has changed or what part of the offer is a deal breaker and above all be honest as the last thing you want is to provide a false reason for your rejection only to be found out through the industry grapevine.

If you received a better offer elsewhere, you can use something like this: “I respectfully decline your offer as I’ve received another offer that better fits my professional pursuits and requirements.”

If you are rejecting the offer because the title, responsibilities, or salary are not in line with your expectations, you can try this:

“The offer I received from you indicates that there is a significant misalignment between your perception of this opportunity and mine. The salary/title/responsibilities specified are outside my expectations and won’t contribute in a positively to my career trajectory, so I must decline.”

If you are rejecting the offer because you didn’t like the company/management/technology, a diplomatic response might be:

“I’ve come to the conclusion that my professional development and best corporate contributions will be better realized with a different type of environment/team/technology so I respectfully decline your offer.”

Ask if you can share the opportunity with your network & provide an introduction

While the employer might have a list of alternate candidates to contact, it’s also possible that finding the right candidate has proven difficult. They liked you and your professional profile enough to offer you the position and it stands to reason that you likely have similarly accomplished colleagues in your network. Offering to spread the word is both a vote of confidence for the opportunity and a favour that helps soften your rejection. It can also present an ideal way for you to retain and nurture that connection going forward if you phrase it properly.

Something like this would do the trick:

“I have a number of well qualified colleagues in my network who might be a great fit for this opportunity. Would you like me to reach out to them and, if they’re interested, make an introduction?”

Three Common Mistakes to Avoid At All Costs

Delaying your response or ghosting them

We all put off the unpleasant things in life, but much like deferring dental appointments and taxes, delaying your response to an offer can only end badly. The employer has a role to fill and they can’t move on to the next candidate until the interaction with you is complete. If you’re certain that you want to reject the offer, rip the band-aid off quickly so that both parties can move on.

Procrastinating on this one has the dangerous risk of compounding the problem as hours become days and then you’re faced with a truly dismal situation where you either have to bite the bullet and respond with an apology for being a schmuck or ghost them altogether and move to a different industry and country.

Belittling or criticizing the company, employees/management, or salary offered

Just because the recruitment process or offer doesn’t meet your expectations, you should think twice before offering unsolicited critiques of the offer, company, management, or technology. It’s surprising how often people do this. While it might feel good in the moment to offer the benefit of your wisdom, it will serve you better in the long run to remember that a couple of interviews don’t make you an expert on the company, its team, or its products, and that the last thing you want to do is leave a smug or sour final impression on those who took the time to get to know you as a potential new hire. It’s been my experience that hirers have long memories so those parting jabs could cost you.

Leaving no avenue to continue the relationship

Even if you’ve managed to restrain yourself from deploying a Shark Tank worthy takedown of your unsuccessful corporate suitor, don’t pat yourself on the back until you’ve thought up a few ways to continue the connection to the benefit of all. Obviously, the effort and tactics you employ will vary according to your personality, skillset, and your degree of interest in the company and it managers, but here are a few ideas to start you off:

• Connect on Linkedin, follow the company, and react, respond, and share their posts
• Send each of the interviewers a thoughtful note thanking them for their time and asking to keep in touch
• Make note of the hiring committee members’ interests discovered in your interviews and send them relevant news articles via email occasionally
• Connect them with potential partners, media opportunities, or KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders)
• Speak well of them at industry events (without revealing that they tried to hire you)Connect on Linkedin, follow the company, and react, respond, and share their posts