The Candidate Said No. Now What?

You’ve found the right candidate. They’ve interviewed well, they’re a great fit for the team and you make the offer.

Then they say no.

It’s frustrating, but before assuming it was all about salary, there are often a few other factors at play.

It’s not always about the money

Salary matters, but candidates are also considering flexibility, culture, career progression, location, job security and the people they’ll be working with.

Sometimes they’re not saying no to the job. They’re saying no to the overall package.

The recruitment process matters

Good candidates are often considering more than one opportunity.

A slow process, long gaps between communication or unclear next steps can quickly see a candidate lose interest or accept another offer.

You don’t need to rush the process, but you do need to keep candidates informed and engaged.

And then there’s the counteroffer

A candidate resigns and suddenly their current employer offers them more money, a promotion or promises that things will change.

It can be tempting to stay.

But if the reason they started looking was career progression, flexibility, culture or simply wanting a change, a pay rise may not fix the underlying issue.

This is worth discussing with candidates before they reach the resignation stage.

Ask the right questions

Before making an offer, find out what really matters to your candidate.

Ask:

• What are you looking for in your next role?

• What would make this the right move for you?

• Is there anything that could stop you accepting an offer?

These conversations can tell you far more than a CV alone.

And if they still say no? Ask why, take the feedback on board and keep the relationship.

Because in recruitment, today’s “no” doesn’t necessarily mean “never”.

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ASR Recruitment is a boutique recruitment agency specialising in Technology & Digital, Marketing and Communications, Accounting & Finance, Construction, Human Resources, Engineering, Safety, Procurement, Transport & Logistics, Manufacturing, Legal & Risk, Administration & Customer Service.

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