How to Deal with a Rescinded Job Offer

How to deal with a rescinded job offer: while it is disappointing, you have options. Here is how to respond constructively and keep your search moving.

While it is common for an applicant to decline a job offer, sometimes an employer rescinds an offer. There are a number of reasons why this may happen:

• The company found a better-suited applicant for the role.
• The company had a change in financial situation or put a hiring freeze in effect.
• The company found something in the applicant’s references or background check that caused them to change their mind.

What steps can you take in this situation?

Request Feedback

Reach out to the company and find out why your job offer was rescinded. Ensure that you remain calm and take the feedback in stride. If the reason they provide was out of your control, for example a more suitable applicant or a hiring freeze, then move on. If the reason relates to your background check, references, or social media, take steps to address these issues before future offers.

Take Another Look at Other Job Offers

During your job search, other companies may have reached out to request an interview. It may be a good idea to take another look at those opportunities and see if any still appeal to you. If you received other job offers, consider whether one of them is a fit.

Contact Previous Employers

If you left your previous company on good terms, you have an opportunity to reach out and see if they would hire you back in a different role that could provide a promotion or a good career transition. For guidance on whether returning makes sense, read Should You Go Back? What to Consider Before Returning to a Former Employer?. While hiring back previous employees used to be somewhat frowned upon, recent years have seen an uptick in this trend.

Leverage Your Network

Review your network to see if there are openings at companies where you already know people. Many companies offer employee referral programs. Your network can also surface positions that are not being advertised on job boards.

Seek Out a Recruiter

Recruiting firms often work on searches that are not advertised on job boards, and their relationships with employers can get your resume into the right hands. Even if you secure new employment on your own, it is beneficial to have a good recruiter in your network.