Finding the ideal candidate feels like a major win. While every hiring manager hopes their perfect candidate will become their next new hire, that isn’t always the case. If your top choice rejects your job offer, that positive feeling can take a quick turn, leaving you disheartened, frustrated and even confused.

Luckily, even if your top candidate rejects your offer, not all is lost. There are things you can do to move forward. Here’s how to get started.

Be Gracious and Request More Information

First and foremost, it is important to set any negative feelings aside before you respond to the candidate’s rejection. Remaining polite and professional ensures you don’t say anything you may later regret, and increases the odds you can find out critical information.

After expressing your appreciation for their consideration in the matter, see if you can find out why they declined. If the issue is something correctable, like an issue with the salary and you have room to negotiate, you can discuss the matter with the job seeker and see if they would reconsider.

While you don’t want to try and strong arm the candidate into saying yes, asking why they declined does allow you to explore the topic further. At a minimum, it also provides you with valuable insights that can help you make a more attractive offer next time.

Look at the Second-Place Finisher

If your top candidate rejects your offer, take another look at the second-place finisher. In some cases, the person who caught your eye initially isn’t the only strong candidate, so someone who was a close runner-up might also excel in the role.

If you have another job seeker on your list who could thrive in the position, use what you learned about the first candidate’s reason for declining and craft a new job offer for that second-place candidate. Then, present the offer without alluding to the fact that they weren’t your first choice, as letting them know that they weren’t selected initially could decrease the likelihood that they will accept.

You can continue this process with any viable candidates in your talent pool, suggesting there are others who could fulfill the duties of the position and provide value to the organization.

Partner With a Recruitment Agency

In cases where no other candidate was a strong contender, you may need to seek out new job seekers who could excel in the position. Often, partnering with a staffing firm can be a smart move, especially since they usually have large candidate databases filled with highly skilled professionals who are seeking new opportunities.

By working with a recruitment agency, you can accelerate your candidate search. Typically, you’ll be able to locate a great match in less time, allowing you to fill the vacant role quickly and efficiently.

If you are looking for strong candidates who are ready to work quickly, the team at TempStaff can help. Contact us to find out more about our unique and comprehensive recruitment services today and see how our hiring expertise can benefit you.