Declining a project or job offer might not be your first preference, but sometimes it can be considered the best option. Similarly, if you are starting your professional path it is inevitable to accept as many opportunities as possible since with every project you assume, your sales volume grows, and ultimately, your portfolio will be reinforced. But, despite this reality, you will eventually understand that not every opportunity is right for you, and later you will start declining offers that won't add up to your growth. In this article, we will talk about how to know when to turn down a job.
Not every project is right for you
Although sometimes you can find a project that is like one size fits all, you might also receive an offer that is not in your field of expertise, and this is a great hint that this project is not the best for you. If you are specialized in a certain area or have a set of skills, try to offer your expertise within that domain, otherwise, you will be unable to find a project that you enjoy developing while being good at it.
Related: Stop Being Afraid To Say No At Work
Turning down a job or project isn’t easy
Turning down a job or a project is not an easy thing to do, but sometimes it is necessary as you won’t be able to suit some opportunities and grow through it. We, as professionals, are not passive in a selection process or negotiation; therefore, we must ask questions, pay attention, and, if we find red flags, reject the offer.
How to know when to turn down a job or project
But in a pool of opportunities, how can we know which one is right for us or which one is not. We created a list of red flags you need to recognize in the face of a decision:
- The project is out of your expertise
If someone is offering you good money and you are delighted with the deal, think twice before you commit to it, as sometimes you might only focus on the earnings rather than the task requirements. Thus, if the tasks are out of your expertise, you can reject them with free consent as you might not have the proficiency enough to carry them out successfully. By rejecting this type of offer you will save yourself many headaches and maintain your image and reputation. However, if you are having fewer projects and need new gigs, you can accept some requests and outsource them to someone with expertise in this area.
- The Client is Hard to Work With
Finding a perfect client is not only hard but probably impossible, and it’s not personal, having disagreements and differences is normal in our human relationships, and it can rise or decrease depending upon the scenario. However, there comes a time when all sorts of mediations and settlements fail, and you can eventually figure out that this client is hard to work with due to differences in values, approaches, or vision. Also, if a client creates stress or harms your mental peace, the best viable solution is to cut off the ties with them to retain your peace of mind.
At last, even though most of the time it would be best to put aside your personal preferences for the sake of your business, this cannot come at the cost of your self-respect, values, or peace.
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- If your intuition says no
We can be partial by optimistic blindness while closing the deal of any business, especially when we are eager to assume a new venture. So trust your instincts, and don’t ignore the signs that caught your attention or tell you that the client will be difficult. Keep an open eye for signs that show you if they are disrespectful or overly demanding. Once they start paying you, these characteristics are likely to multiply. Sometimes your sixth sense does its work, and the signals you receive from your mind can save you from dumping into the wrong project.
- The client won’t pay what you’re worth
If you know that the assigned task demands more time and effort than any other regular task or that it requires specific skills, and you feel that the reward is not worth the task, you should say no to it. The reason is that it would make you sacrifice your time on projects where the income does not correspond with what you´re offering; in other words: you will be wasting your time. Moreover, you need to keep your standards and priorities and not downgrade your value and time by accepting every project you receive. So, it will be a constant struggle for you to keep the client happy if they do not agree to pay you what you are worth.
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Furthermore, in this scenario, negotiation indicates a willingness to reconcile. If, at last, they refuse to pay a reasonable price, walk away, and spend the time looking for someone who will.
Our time is a finite resource that we need to take care of! If you´re seeking to work on projects with people that share the same vision and purpose as you, contact us! We will be glad to connect you with new projects.