How to turn down interview offers when there are too many of them?

Question

I'm currently in the situation where I'm about to graduate, and I'm constantly getting contacted by recruiters and companies alike reaching out to me offering me an interview.

At this point I've accepted 4 interviews so far to at least have a choice when it comes to having a first job, but of course I can't accept all of the interviews, even though they offer positions which perfectly suit me. But then again, so do all the positions I already have an interview for.

100% of the companies I've talked to want to do the interview as soon as possible (which I completely understand). This has lead to me having 4 interviews in a very short period.

How do I turn down an interview offer, even though it's perfect for me, so I don't have too many interviews to deal with in the same period?

Answer 1

Before replying to any further interviews, it would be worthwhile doing some homework on the companies involved and put together a shortlist. If for example ten companies wanted to interview you, I would imagine you have a preference on which ones you would most enjoy and which ones you are more confident you could secure a role in.

If you are getting too many interviews that it is becoming overwhelming, you may have to start making requests of those that don't make the shortlist. Simply put, if you think it might be worthwhile, you will have to arrange later times. If they ask why you are postponing the interview, it would be unwise to say "I've got ten others this week". But maybe you have a family obligation to attend to, or you're ill, or there are some non-academic things you have to wrap up at your college / university. Spread them out as best as can be managed, but do more to accommodate the ones on your shortlist.

Answer 2

Prioritize.

@Kozaky's answer is excellent. Research companies. Figure out before accepting or turning down an offer of interview which companies that are offering you interviews are the most likely to fit.

However, to specifically answer your question:

How do I turn down an interview offer, even though it's perfect for me, so I don't have too many interviews to deal with in the same period?

...since even when you have done the research, there may be too many options to choose from, I would recommend keeping three things in mind:

1. Be open and honest

You don't have to shy away from the facts. Honestly tell the potential interviewer that you are swamped with interviews and really can't handle them all. Explain that you have already committed to other interviews, and that you simply can't handle all the possibilities.

Though I don't recommend this approach, I know someone in IT who actually used the fact that he had multiple interviews offered to bargain his salary up before the actual interview.

2. Be appreciative

Emphasize the fact that while you cannot take the interview, it really is a good fit for you, and you appreciate the prospective employer taking the time to make the offer. Express gratitude for his taking the time to make the offer.

3. Leave the door open as much as possible

Offer to call him / her back if ever the other interviews fall through. It might not work with all employers, but some would be just as glad to have the possibility of having you call back later, and it leaves the door open if ever the other companies don't end up being a good fit.

Answer 3

Even though you have an accepted answer, I'd like to elaborate on an alternative process, on how you might rank those companies, a little, when doing the suggested homework.

Instead of picking your favored list of companies from general impressions, create two lists, prior to and independent of looking at any of the opportunities, in depth -

1. Create a list of characteristics you want in your first job, along with your minimum compensation expectation. For a first job, if you're making what you need to pay the bills, valuable experience will pay more handsomely for you in the long run than a few more dollars up front. If your qualifications are remarkable enough that you have a lot of companies knocking at your door, finding acceptable compensation will probably not be a major obstacle.

2. Create a list of characteristics you want from your company - culture, work schedule, short-term and long-term features, training and or educational emphasis and reimbursement, leadership, if there are specific work related philosophies or competencies you want or want to learn (Agile/Scrum, Six-Sigma, "no jerks" philosophy, "jerks okay if you are a rock star," etc).

Prioritize those lists by what is most important to you. Also identify the "must-haves" that will automatically disqualify opportunities, even if they check all the other boxes. Now apply the top couple criteria to each of the interviews offered. Does it narrow your list at all? If not, apply the next couple of criteria. Applying that criteria will also help you to prioritize the ones that remain standing.

There will probably be some criteria where, even asking questions of recruiters and company representatives up front, you can't get answers to. That's fine. Keep those characteristics in mind when you go to interview, evaluate the give and take, and get to the part of the interview where they inevitably ask "is there anything you want to ask us?"

Congratulations on being in the enviable and rare position where you have more opportunities than you can manage, before graduating. May the rest of your professional career continue on the same track. Just don't take it for granted.

Answer 4

In the past I had a similar spell of a period of too many interviews, and I was getting already stressed out by the situation.

Learn when to say "no", and ask the job description beforehand just to cut the profiles which are not a fit for you. I reached a point where I included in my linked.in profile "I do not accept job contacts without a job description".

Another possible strategy that I have successfully used is trying to negotiate a screening call via phone or better yet, skype. "Look I am too busy the coming two weeks, however if we could do it via skype..."; this strategy can well shave two hours of an otherwise physical interview and going around the city, and is a good way (both for yourself and the interviewer) to get a feel of the opportunity.

A good filter besides the skype strategy, is asking for changes on the hour of the interview. The bad ones will stand out, as they wont be accommodating/changing schedule for your convenience, and you would not to work with those kind of persons anyway. I can often have a busy schedule two or three days in a row, and from my personal experience, the nicest places to work are the ones that often are very flexible in the time to interview you.

Another one of the possible filters is also asking for a salary range beforehand. Whilst that can be off hand for someone entering the industry, it has saved me (and the interviewer) the trouble in the past of investing time in pursuing positions that were not paying enough to attract my attention.

I hope these tips help you. As a last tip, most of the email contacts are automated nowadays, and as such it is important to get some strategy to filter them out. Some of them are just a way for some RH agencies to have CVs on the back burner just in case. With time you will even distinguish pure spam - "we have a job offer for you, you just have to create an user in our professional social plataform to see it...." yeah, right (not made up)...

Answer 5

Firstly it's absurd not to go to as many interviews as possible, as everyone has said.

Go to every possible interview.

Secondly the answer to your literal question couldn't be simpler: quite simply,

in the first instance, just wait a couple of days before replying anyway - you've already delayed a few days in that way -

and then when you reply, very simply type "Yes, that's wonderful, thank you very much, I am delighted to accept you offer of an interview. What dates would be possible from the { insert date here about 5 to 6 days in the future } for your convenience?"

Note that you do not in anyway, at all, have to state anything, whatsoever, about "why" you have mentioned a certain date (5 or 6 days in the future). Just state that date. That's all there is to it.

(If, incredibly, someone replies with "can you come earlier?" or "why can't you come until the Nth?", which won't happen, simply ignore it and say "I'm available in Cityname from Dayname, what is most convenient for your company" and leave it at that.)

Note that even after you absolutely secure a job, even after you are onboarding!, you must go to every possible interview.

Thus, your question in bold,

"How do I turn down an interview offer, even though it's perfect for me, so I don't have too many interviews to deal with in the same period?"

The extremely simple answer is

Don't.

The simple answer is

Never, ever ----- ever ----- turn down an interview, for any reason.

No more than you would throw away a lottery ticket.

It might be a winner.

If you literally just don't know the most business-like phrasing in English, it's just "certainly, what dates would be best for you from the Nth"

(You do not, in any way, whatsoever, for any reason at all, state or mention in any way, whatsoever, why you've stated the date of the Nth. In business English to organize meetings (of any type) each side just states the dates available.)

---

I note Daxxor that you mention

"I'm not a guy who can easily speak his mind to other people asking new stuff like an interview"

Now that the school part of your life is over, nobody much cares any more about your academic (or even in a way technical) skills. You'll either be wealthy or not in 10 years due to, in a word, your "business skills" or perhaps "business sense". The primary ingredient in that is: communication skills. I'd encourage you, particularly, to go to as many interviews as possible, each one of which will vastly improve your skills and experience in that area.

Answer 6

It is possible you have cast your net too wide and have caught some sharks.

Many "recruiters" are only trying to fill a quota, and will waste your time with meaningless interviews. Often they are just trying to satisfy H1-B and other foreign worker visa requirements and just need to prove they interviewed local candidates.

Beware especially of those who will not reveal the identity of their "clients", and/or take too long to respond - this is called "fluffing" (baiting).

You might be able to trim down your list by simply not responding to those who do not respond promptly. This is called "reverse-fluffing" (cutting bait).

Never pass your resume unless you know exactly where it is going. Restrict it's distribution to specific companies. Put a disclaimer to that effect on it, and in your email signature (see comments below).

Also walk away from any interview that involves any negative commentary. Do not engage in "reverse-negging", just walk away. It is a sign of a toxic environment, usually the result of overpromising to secure funding.

You should do careful research when job hunting, and ensure you are speaking directly to employees within the companies you are targeting.

A bonafide professional offer usually proceeds quickly, politely, and often is decided after the first interview.

Maintain your short-list afterward rather than potentially having to start all over from scratch in the future.