vIdentify your reasons

If you are thinking about declining
a job interview, then you probably have one or more reasons that are
influencing you. Still, it is a good idea to identify those reasons and think
about whether or not you really want to decline the interview. Some common
reasons for wanting to decline a job interview include: Receiving a job offer
from a different company having concerns about the commute, pay, or management

vInform Early

If
you’re going to cancel an interview, you must give them ample time to make
alternative arrangements. No one likes being cancelled at the last minute, so
give the other party enough time to comfortably see your email.

vBe Courteous

Any
interview cancellation email must be written professionally and you must be
courteous and polite. As an employer, you must leave a good impression of your
company on the candidate and as a candidate, you must ensure that the employer
isn’t put off by your email.

vApologize

Conducting
an interview or appearing for an interview is a lot of work, so if you must
cancel the interview, make sure that you apologize to the other party. It’s
very likely that they took great pains to prepare for the interview and now
they’ll have to do it all over again.

vUse the most
appropriate channel of communication.

If the employer contacted you via email,
then you should send your message via email as well. If the employer has
contacted you by phone, then you should pick up the phone to deliver your
message. Don’t send a fax or letter via snail mail unless you have been
contacted by the employer using these methods.

vWrite out your message.

Be factual whether you will be
sending your message or delivering it over the phone, you should write out your
message. Ensure that you follow a good template when declining a job interview
offer: such as

• A greeting such as “Dear ____,”


• Gratitude for the offer, such
  as “Thank you for offering me the opportunity to learn more about the
  position at your organization.


• A brief explanation of why you
  are declining the interview, such as “At this time I regret that I must
  decline because I have accepted a position with a different