Aviation for Women is the flagship member publication of Women in Aviation International. Articles feature women who have made aviation history, professional development ideas, and current-topic articles.
Issue link: https://afwdigital.epubxp.com/i/694422
For example, if you're a vegetarian, you don't want to work for a meat packing com- pany. If you're an atheist, you shouldn't be a missionary pilot. This may sound trivial, and it's easy to say, "But it's just a job. I can still be a vegetarian." However the reason for a company's existence will present it- self to you daily, and you'll be part of it. It will make you miserable. Working for a company that is in direct opposition to what you believe will make you ineffective in your job and unhappy in your life. Just say no. Just say no if your gut tells you so. One applicant realized her ex-husband, with whom she was not on good terms, worked for the hiring company. She felt foolish, but she didn't want to worry about seeing him every day. Sometimes there's no good and valid reason for turning down a job offer other than your inner voice tell- ing you, "Danger, danger." This feeling may be as insignifcant as your future boss texting you at 2 a.m., a future co-worker being snippy to you, or someone making an offhand remark about all the politics in your prospective workplace. That feel- ing of discomfort might be how you feel when you walk in the hangar or the of- fce—slightly unwelcome, but you can't re- ally say why. Few people regret listening to their gut, but many people regret not lis- tening to it. Even if it's irrational, even if it makes no sense, even if it seems like a dream job, if your gut is telling you this isn't a good match for you, just say no. When you are aware that your résumé is one of a thousand a company is evaluating, it's diffcult to not be grateful you were the one chosen for the job. But consider that it's your life and your career path and you are well within your rights to turn down a job that is not a good match for you. Wheth- er you have an entirely valid reason or you are just turning the job down on a hunch, just say no if it's not the right job for you. ✈ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patricia Luebke, WAI 1954, is a New York City-based freelance writer, editor, and mar- keting consultant. True story: I was working with a company who had a tough choice between Candidate A and Candidate B. The company chose Candidate A, but Candidate B remained a very close second choice. Upon hearing she didn't get the job, Candidate B wrote a scathing letter to the company, trashing Candidate A and saying what a big mistake they were making by not hiring her. Guess what happened next? Candidate A immediately didn't work out and the company would have called Candidate B if it weren't for the letter she had sent. Lesson: Don't burn any bridge. Just say no in the most professional and gracious way. Here's how: When turning down a job offer—as with many other situations—it's best to keep it simple. Do the turn-down by telephone rather than in an email. Simply sending an email looks like you lack the courage to talk to the com- pany directly. Don't drag your feet. As soon as you know the job is not for you, stop the interviewing process. Consider that there may be someone else for whom this is a dream job. And don't feel guilty about turning down a job offer—believe me, the company wouldn't feel guilty about not hiring you. Once you've told them no, it's a nice gesture to follow up with a letter that positions you head and shoul- ders above other candidates. Your letter should cover three points: Point No. 1: Thank those hiring for their time and attention. You might say, "Thank you so much for the opportunity to interview for the avionics tech position. I appreciate the time you and your staff took to acquaint me with the company." Point No. 2: Give one reason you are turning down the job. For example, "At this time, I have decided my best course of action is to remain with my current company." Don't give multiple reasons. Don't mention their bad reputation. Don't mention your future boss gives you the creeps. Just give one simple reason in a simple way. Point No. 3: Keep the door open. You might say, "I enjoyed meeting you and I hope our paths will cross in the future." Even if you would rather hold any job in the world than the one you were offered, it's crucial to not burn a bridge. Companies and circumstances can change overnight. Plus, you always want to be viewed as the consummate professional. Saying no with grace adds this hiring company to your professional network. In some cases, you might say no to a manager-level job today, only to be considered down the road for a vice president-level job. Do it right, keep the door open, and you'll turn an uncomfortable situation into another career triumph. ✈ NO The Best Way to Just Say 38 Aviation forWomen J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6