Listen, in executive search, nothing stings more than a candidate rejecting an offer. Nothing.
Think of the journey. Hundreds of phone calls. Countless hours of interviewing on our end. Then, all the client interviews—scheduling, debriefing, back and forth. Reference checks. Salary negotiations. We’re literally guiding a massive life decision.
All that work to get to The Offer. If they say no? It’s often back to square one.
It’s completely frustrating. But sometimes… it’s exactly the right move.
The Gut Check That Matters
We had a case recently. A perfect candidate! He loved the company, the position, and the products. He liked all the stakeholders he’d met. The numbers were right. The package was better. A big carrot to make him move.
He got to the final stage, and he met one last significant stakeholder. This wasn’t his direct boss, but someone he’d work with constantly.
And that’s where the red flags went up.
This gentleman was pushy. He seemed arrogant. More importantly, he showed a real lack of knowledge about Japanese processes and legalities. He seemed out of his depth.
Why “No” Was the Best Yes
This one final meeting was enough. The candidate paused. He asked himself: “Can I deal with this person every week?”
He was comfortable where he was. He didn’t have to move. So, he trusted his gut. He turned off the offer.
From a recruiter’s view? Annoying! But looking back, it was the best outcome for everyone.
If he had ignored that feeling and taken the job, he probably would have been unhappy. He wouldn’t have performed well. The client would have been stuck with a bad hire.
Instead? We took a breath. We found an exceptional candidate who was a better fit for the whole team. The client was happy.
And the initial pushy stakeholder? He got a great learning experience. He realized his knowledge gap.
Every cloud has a silver lining. Sometimes, a frustrating “no” is just the universe protecting the candidate, the client, and the role. The wrong fit, no matter how good the money is, is never worth it.
Have you ever trusted your gut on a job offer, even when the money was great?
The right match matters—because the wrong hire costs more than just money. At Morunda, we take a people-first approach to hiring, ensuring alignment from the first conversation to the final offer. Let’s connect – book a discovery call and hire with confidence.
