I was contacted by a recruiter for a large, well-known electronics manufacturer today about a job they are looking to fill.

Trouble is, I have no affection for this company, nor many of the products they make. It would require relocation, as the job would be in the Silicon Valley area...namely Cupertino.

I’d like to compose a reply, politely refusing any further contact. No way in hell that I’m moving to California. Granted, the weather may be a huge improvement over the northern Midwest, but more importantly, I value my freedoms, and the fact that I can afford a home here.

So, if you could, I’m asking for some suggestions on what I can reply with to politely refuse the offer, but to also stress the importance that California rates only a nanometer higher in my esteem than the DC area as far as where I’d like to live and work.

Here a couple responses, you could modify.

quote:

I appreciate being considered for this position but am looking at other opportunities at this point and would prefer not to receive any future communication from your company regarding employment.

quote:

Thanks for considering me for this position but I'm not looking to move right now. I would appreciate not receiving any future communications about employment from your company.

Headhunters Ive spoken to would be happy to hear something honest and upfront, saves them from wasting their time. So telling them you're not relocating to CA or you aren't interested in the company could be very easy.

No need to insult Cal. Thank them for the offer but you are happy where you are at. Everybody's happy and you aren't branded an arrogant smartass.

I would be polite, as recruiters tend to have broad networks and this may come back in the future.

Something along these lines:

"Thanks for reaching out, and I do appreciate your consideration. I am not open to relocation to California, and am not looking for new opportunities at this time."


That lets them know that you are off the market. You will still probably get another message, which you can ignore and they will not be offended.

Apple?

My typical response is I am not exploringadditional opportunities at this time. That, or I delete the email and completely ignore it. I ignore several head hunter requests per month.

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:
My typical response is I am not exploringadditional opportunities at this time. That, or I delete the email and completely ignore it. I ignore several head hunter requests per month.

Yup, same here. Ignored/deleted emails, voicemails too many to count.

Some good ideas so far.

I agree about not burning a bridge with a recruiter, as they do tend to network with many others in their profession.

But I'm happy where I'm at, happy what I'm doing, and I'm damn good at it. Job security is not a worry of mine at all.

I like not being forced to refer to some ever changing roster of firearms in case I want to find something new, and damn it, I like being able to use a straw for a soft drink if I feel like it.

quote:

Originally posted by GWbiker:
Apple?

Thank you for your interest. While flattered by your consideration, I am not considering new employment and not able to relocate. If I do find myself in a position to accept an opportunity, I will certainly contact your office.

Fuck you and your liberal hippy douchebag state of Commiefornia, your policies, your way of life, your beliefs and your BS job offer. I would rather mop up a peep show in 24 inches of snowy ass midwest shit weather than spend a minute working for your America hating clients. Do not pass go, do not collect $200 (which the Peoples Repubic would just tax the shit out of anyway) and never call me again. Then mail a box of scorpions to his office.


Or just, I am currently not looking for any new opportunities, but thank you for your interest.

quote:

Originally posted by Lord Vaalic:
Fuck you and your liberal hippy douchebag state of Commiefornia, your policies, your way of life, your beliefs and your BS job offer. I would rather mop up a peep show in 24 inches of snowy ass midwest shit weather than spend a minute working for your America hating clients. Do not pass go, do not collect $200 (which the Peoples Repubic would just tax the shit out of anyway) and never call me again. Then mail a box of scorpions to his office...

Thanks for that! That gave me a chuckle.

I also wanted to add a bit about the daily earthquakes.

Still laughing at Lord Vaalic's suggestion.

You're a number on a list that an algorithm raised to their work queue. Just a quick sentence or two will get you off the list.

"Thank you for contacting me regarding the position for Sr. Computer Person. At this time I am not entertaining other opportunities as I am engaged in several significant and exciting projects that are excellent learning and growth opportunities and quite professionally gratifying.

I will reach out if my situation changes to update my profile with Grapefruit."

MEANING: Not interested. I'll be getting even better in the time until/if I reach back out to you. If I ever do contact you in the future, you should hire me.

quote:

Originally posted by reloader-1:
I would be polite, as recruiters tend to have broad networks and this may come back in the future.

Something along these lines:

"Thanks for reaching out, and I do appreciate your consideration. I am not open to relocation to California, and am not looking for new opportunities at this time."


That lets them know that you are off the market. You will still probably get another message, which you can ignore and they will not be offended.

+1 Recruiters and sales people tend to move around, no need to burn bridges. In my 40+ year career in IT I have seen the unintended consequences of bridge burning.

Yes, tell them you're happy where you are. Don't insult them or CA. Many tech companies are relocating anyway, or will soon. Be a bitch to piss them off over Cupertino when in two years they've moved to San Angelo, TX.

I just ignore headhunters. Someday if I’m not happy, maybe I’ll call one back.

These people often will call when no real job opening exists. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if this Apple job is a fishing scam by them. When you call them back, they say, oh dang, the job at Apple just filled, but if your interested in leaving your current job, we would be happy to look for one for you!

They get paid to put people in jobs. They don’t care if it’s a better job or situation for you, they just need you to move from one job to another so they can make a buck. In fact, if you hate the new job they find for you, it’s actually better for them because they will get paid again to move you to another job.

They are worse than used car salesmen imo. They do serve a legitimate purpose, but they are also leeches.

Don't reply.

I normally don't reply to the headhunter inquiries I receive through LinkedIn. Only time that I ever replied and went to the 2nd step was with a company in the Chattanooga area.

This time, with it coming from a Fortune 50 company (actually Fortune 5), I figured I would at least leave a short reply.

Several suggestions here that I like. Pretty confident that I can piece together a polite refufusal from the replies listed above.

All of you are far more gracious than I am.
I came to hate headhunters at my last two employers. They had the nerve to call me at work, on the company land line while I was on the clock. To me, this spoke of no ethics, no moral compass. I am sure they would fuck me over in a minute, and probably represented organizations that would do the same.