In an economy that’s still struggling with a high unemployment rate, it’s hard to imagine that a candidate would turn down a good offer. But, as one of Northern California’s top staffing firms, Pacific Staffing knows this is certainly the case for many hiring managers.

And when a candidate says “thanks, but no thanks” it can be an extremely frustrating situation. After all, you’ve likely spent countless hours in the hiring process. The last thing you want to hear is “no” just when you think your search is finally over.

So why did your candidate reject your offer? And could it actually be a positive for you? Here’s the scoop:

Your candidate got a counteroffer.

This is one of the most common reasons a candidate will reject your job offer. Their current employer found out about the job hunt and has made them a counteroffer that is too good to resist. But if this happens, then it goes to show that the candidate may be more interested in money than in job satisfaction…and you might have just dodged a bullet as a result.

The salary is too low.

The job offer may sound great, except the salary you’re offering is barely enough to make ends meet, or perhaps it’s far lower than the average market rate for professionals with similar experience. Whatever the case, if your salary offer is low, then you may lose out on the best candidates, unless they’re entry level or career changers.

The job or organization is not a good fit.

A candidate may sound gung ho about the job during the interview, but after thinking about the details later, they could have had a change of heart. After letting what they’ve learned about the company and the position percolate in their heads for a bit, perhaps they came to the realization that either the job opening or the culture just isn’t a good fit for them. And if that’s the case, then it’s really not a loss for you. After all, you don’t want to hire someone…only to realize a few months later that you’ve made the wrong choice.

You have a bad hiring process.

If a candidate has a bad experience with your company during the hiring process (i.e. interviewers are late without an apology or explanation and vague answers are offered when the candidate asks questions), then that could certainly be a good reason for turning down the job. In their mind, they’re probably wondering what it would actually be like to work for your company if the hiring process was challenging.

At the end of the day, a candidate turning down a job offer is not always a bad thing. If they’re not a good fit – and realize it before you – then count yourself lucky…and keep on searching.

Need Help Finding Top Talent?

Let Pacific Staffing know. As one of Northern California’s top staffing firms, we have the experience you need to recruit today’s top talent! Contact Pacific Staffing to learn more about how we can help you.