Last Updated on September 20, 2024
Be Direct With Your Answer
When thinking about telling recruiters that you’re not interested in the position, being direct is one of the best tactics for both you and the recruiter.
Suppose the position a recruiter offers is one that you don’t want to spend time on – don’t hesitate to let them know. You want the rejection to come off clearly, yet not harshly. Who knows where the potential relationship might lead you in the future.
Besides, by answering directly, you will avoid the follow-up questions or messages that you would get if your answer is vague.
Be Courteous (Don't Ghost)
One of the reasons why job seekers don’t like recruiters is ghosting (cutting all communication or ignoring). Recruiters feel the same way when you simply ignore them after they have spent time finding you, learning about your experiences, and taking time to message you.
At Hire Integrated, our promise to job seekers is that our recruiters will not ghost them because we value your time and want to build a mutually beneficial relationship that lasts.
Even if you’re currently not looking for a job, you don’t know how the table will turn in a year or two. The same recruiter might be a resource to you, and it will be so much harder to get help from them if you ghosted them before.
The bottom line is: a simple message will do the job. If you want to be respected, act respectfully, and it includes not ignoring people that reach out to help.
How to Tell Recruiter You Are Not Interested In a Position Over The Phone
If you receive a call with more information about the position, you might be caught off guard, not knowing how to quickly tell the recruiter that you are not interested in a job.
You want to convey the same information but in a short sentence or two. You shouldn’t feel like you have to provide excuses or reasons for turning them down. More often than not, when there is a difference in interests (like salary), recruiters will say that they can’t proceed with your application.
But if you receive a call that you didn’t expect or want, there is no need to wait until something comes up. The faster you tell the recruiter that you are not interested, the more time you and the recruiter will save.
To not come off rude or ungrateful, you can say something along these lines:
“I truly appreciate that you found time to call to see if I’d be interested, and to save more of your time, I want to say upfront, I am not looking for changes in my career at this time. May I save your number to call you if something changes?”
Would You Be Interested If They Change One Of the Conditions?
If the job caught your attention but a part of it didn’t satisfy your needs, try talking to a recruiter to see if there is a wiggle room that will make both parties satisfied.
Do you think that you need a more generous salary? Let them know what you bring to the table and why you deserve additional compensation. But keep in mind that recruiters are not setting prices; they relay the information from the hiring companies.
If you are standing out among other candidates – you might convince them to talk to the decision-makers about increasing the salary. This tactic, however, will be more effective during the interview process, not outreach.
What Can You Tell Recruiters When You Are Not Interested In a Position
While there are various reasons why you might not be interested in the position, we have put together a list of templates that you can use to turn down a recruiter.
Remember that recruiters are not trying to sell you the job; they simply want to extend you an opportunity they think might fit. So there is no need to be rude and burn bridges, but you can stand out for the future by responding politely.
Not Willing To Relocate
If a recruiter reaches out with an opportunity that requires relocation, you shouldn’t feel hesitant about responding “not interested.”
- “While I find the position attractive, I will not be willing to relocate at this point.”
- “I am very interested in the [position name] opportunity. However, I am not looking to relocate at this time.”
- “Given my current circumstances, relocation isn’t an option for me.”
If you are looking for similar positions without relocation, make sure to mention that in your response. Maybe the recruiter has an opportunity that you won’t turn down.
Happy Where I Am
Sometimes, our career paths require change. Other times, however, we are happy with our current positions, compensation levels, etc. Telling “no” to a recruiter should not take a whole lot of your time in this case.
- “Thank you for considering me for the [position] at [company], but I am happy with my current employer.”
- “Thanks for reaching out, but I am not looking for a change in my career at the time.”
- “After carefully considering this position, I decided to stay where I am at”
To keep the window of future opportunities open, ask them to keep an eye on your resume if you think you might need a change in the future.
Position Doesn’t Match Your Experience
If you notice that the position is not related to what you do, let the recruiter know about it to save time for both of you.
- “While it seems like a fascinating position, it is out of the area of my expertise.”
- “Thank you for talking to me about the [position], but it is not what I am currently doing.”
If you know of someone who will be a better match, consider referring that person to the recruiter. That way, you will kill two birds with one stone: help a friend find a potential gig, and help out a recruiter.
Not Interested in Travel
Some positions would require you to travel between locations for training, acquisitions, etc. If this is something that you are not interested in – you should mention that right away.
- “At the time, I am not interested in increasing the amount of travel required for this position.”
- “Thank you for sending me the details for this job, but travel isn’t something that interests me.”
If the position is ideal with the exception of travel, don’t turn down recruiter right away. Let them know of your interest with that tweak in the job description; it might work out!
Not Meeting Salary Expectations
This is the most common reason for rejecting a job and telling recruiters that you are not interested in a position. Don’t undervalue your skills and what you can bring to the company.
- “Thanks for the consideration, but the compensation is not something I can afford switching to.”
- “While I think the position is a great fit, the salary level is not meeting my expectations.”
- “I feel like this compensation is not reflecting the level of input I will be bringing in.”
If the job isn’t meeting your requirements, tell the recruiter why you are not interested. If you are strong-enough candidate, it might play out in your favor.
Won’t Be a Good Fit
Sometimes the company is just not what you had in mind. You might dislike the culture, values or simply feel that this is not a fit.
- “Thank you for considering me, but after thinking about it, I realize that this won’t be a good fit for me.”
- “Unfortunately, my values do not align with the values of the company.”
- “I don’t think that I will fit in nicely in this position.”
Internationally, about 75-95% of people dislike their jobs. Having different values or working it a toxic environment are two of the reasons for that. Don’t take the job, unless it fits you culturally and professionaly.
You Are Overqualified
A job where you don’t have room for professional growth wouldn’t make you happy either, so you want to avoid positions where you don’t progress or learn.
- “I have more experience than the job requires, and it feels like there will be no room for me to progress.”
- “With my skills in [area], I feel like I am overqualified for this job.”
Final Thoughts On Telling Recruiter That You Are Not Interested In a Position
Recruiters exist to help employers and job seekers meet. We do not always appreciate their direct approach… But we can respect the time they have put in to find you and offer an opportunity.
When thinking about how to tell recruiters that you are not interested in a position, think about the type of answer you would like to get.
And keep in mind that a recruiter that you turn down today, might be an asset to you in years to come. It’s only logical to finish your interaction on a good note.
Emily Rushton, Founder and CEO of Hire Integrated, has over a decade of experience in recruitment, helping companies solve high-volume hiring challenges. Her unique, storytelling approach has made her a trusted leader in the industry, helping both businesses and candidates succeed.
