I'm sorry to say that your candidacy did not make it to the next round; we've had a very competitive pool for this position. Giving a timely response is the most polite.The quicker you respond, the quicker the employer can fill the role. Step 1: Show Your Appreciation First and foremost, it's important to thank the hiring manager for the offer and for and his or her time. Learn how to write a letter for declining a job offer that you have already accepted and use our template and example as a guide. This article explains the best ways to politely and respectfully reject a job offer. It also shares some templates and examples for not accepting a job offer. Waking up to so many rejections is starting to take its toll. In the last 8 months, I have applied to close to 500 jobs. Be direct and to the point.