Rejection letter to prospective employer? (apply, alternative, jobs, best)

[summers73]

Long story short: I've been given 4 offers during my job search and after an arduous decision process have selected the most appropriate offer. What is the proper way to reject the other offers? Another twist: the organizations I am rejecting offered academic jobs (PostDoc, Research Scientist, etc) as opposed to corporate private jobs. Anyone in this area have experience in crafting this? I figured either calling or e-mailing works best, but how formal should the rejection be?

[TRC2k11]

After I started my job last year I got a phone call with an offer a week later... I told him over the phone that I appreciated his time but I had already started a new job.

He wished me luck and that was that.

(If he had emailed me, he would have gotten an email response.)

For a cold contact I would most definitely email.

[summers73]

I figured calling was best in 2 of the 3 cases. I just didn't know if people have experience with this slightly different world of academic positions, and whether the procedure is more formal. One is for a faculty position also, and I've heard that a formal letter or e-mail is best for those situations.

Also, considering the position I'm accepting is a higher risk position (with more pay), what is the best way to keep the network open should the 1st choice not pan out well and I wanted to contact my 2nd choice in the future?

[joe from dayton]

Speaking from my experience, we want your declination in written form. It helps protect the university, and it formally allows the position to remain vacant so someone else can be offered the job.

A simple "thank you, but I've accepted another position" is more than acceptable. Don't expect the job you decline to be a back-up plan. The job will be offered to someone else and you will be out of the picture.

[summers73]

Originally Posted by joe from dayton

Speaking from my experience, we want your declination in written form. It helps protect the university, and it formally allows the position to remain vacant so someone else can be offered the job.

A simple "thank you, but I've accepted another position" is more than acceptable. Don't expect the job you decline to be a back-up plan. The job will be offered to someone else and you will be out of the picture.

Thanks very much for the advice. Written form it is. Probably do so in a pdf and send it off to the Oak Ridge labs representative.

I definitely expect the one position to close up, but since two other people are leaving the one in DC to pursue their doctorate and since my area is extremely niche with a high barrier of entry and very few qualified people (work can't be offshored and I know all the people in the academic community who would apply and none of them plan to), while I don't *expect* it to still be open, I see no alternative to it remaining unfilled. In short, there is no one else in the community to offer the position to.

[STT Resident]

I absolutely agree with a formal letter in this situation but don't make it too terse. Thank them very much for their time, tell them that their offer was very much appreciated and that the decision was difficult to make but that you've accepted a position elsewhere. Wish them all the very best in finding a suitable applicant and tell them that if at some time in the future your situation should change you'll look forward to meeting with them again. You get the idea I'm sure!

[summers73]

Silly question, but is there a template around anywhere? I don't mind crafting it myself, but it would help to use a guide of some sort. All I seem to find are rejection letter FROM universities or employers.

[STT Resident]

Don't use a template! You seem perfectly literate enough to be able to compose a simple letter and a template sticks out like a sore thumb (to me, anyway)!