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How do I gently refuse to do something for an interview?

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How do I gently refuse to do something for an interview?

An employer contacted me and I had my first interview with a recruiter. She told me I would hear back in 2-3 days but I waited just over a week for her to schedule the second round of interviews. But, instead of scheduling the interview, she asked me to do a test with a 48-hour turnaround time. That's a double red flag in my book because it seems like they're super disorganized. I also work full-time so the specific turnaround time feels like they have no regard for my time or respect for my current employer

Tests aren't unheard of in my field but are incredibly rare, especially for someone tenured. But a test before we've mutually decided if it might be a good fit never happens and I'm going to refuse it.

My question is about how to word my response.

I'm not super concerned about burning the bridge in the sense of them never contacting me again but I still don't want to be rude. It's a small world in my field. How would you word something like that without coming off as too harsh?

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  1. Anonymous

    I'd respond and let them know that this turnaround time isn't feasible given your current workload and that, based on the interview process, you've realized this isn't the right fit for you.

  2. Anonymous

    Tell them this isn't a good fit at this time.

  3. Anonymous

    Respectfully decline their ask at this time. You aren't able to control their ask. If it doesn't work for you then respectfully decline.

  4. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist

    I don't think you need to give them a reason - just say "after further consideration, I have decided not to move forward with this opportunity. Thank you for your time"

  5. Angela Blackmon

    Something similar happened to me. Completed a phone interview, and a Zoom interview, and went fairly well. I was told I would be contacted within a week... Never heard from them again. Then saw the same job posted online again, except with a different descrption of duties and who you'd report to if you landed the job. Maybe I dodged a bullet.

  6. Anonymous

    I'd politely let them know that you aren't available for testing at this time but thank them for their interest.

  7. Anonymous

    Here, it is totally common to be tested before the first interview with the company. Or directly after the first interview.

    Also, a timeframe of 24 to 48 hours is completely normal.
    First, several different language tests. And just last week I had a knowledge test about GDPR.

    For myself, I don't see the problem. As long as it is about knowledge.

    I wouldn't make certain kinds of things. Think about ideas a possible employer can benefit from. Without hiring you.

  8. Anonymous

    I recently - like yesterday - interviewed with a CoS and was asked to take some basic skill tests (sometime next week) and received an apology along with the request as they had hired an admin in past who was more talk than skill. I get it, I would not want to get deep into the interview process only to find out that the basic skill sets were aspirational.

  9. Michelle S.

    I think, outside of the testing, everything that you’ve said is completely accurate, and I would avoid myself. I think that place would be crazy. The HR is a great representation of the rest of the company. I would just send a note back and say I expected to hear from you last week to schedule an interview - so I’ve moved on to other opportunities. Thanks so much for your time, and I appreciated the opportunity to get to know you a little bit.

  10. Deb Allen

    I would inquire if this testing is asked of all applicants, and I think your opinion on how tests are rare in your field may not be a fair representation of every company/manager. If you are confident that it is not a fit, just word the response as "after further reflection I do not believe this is the right move for my at this time. Please keep my resume/credentials on file for future possibilities."

  11. Anonymous

    Sometimes there are extenuating circumstances why a call back isn’t immediate. Was the weekend included in the wait time? Someone could have dropped the ball, gotten sick and neglected to let co-workers know, company wide crisis, you never know. Or they could just be a hot mess. The question would be are you interested in working for the company or not?

    Perhaps the 48-hour turn around time is because they have discovered that some people wait a week or two, then get attitude because the company moved on thinking the applicant wasn’t interested. If you are interested in the job then ask the question about necessity of the test and then decide. If you really aren’t interested in the company then let them know you are pursuing other opportunities and thank them for their time and consideration. You never know who knows who in that company and your dream company.

  12. Dave Oberting

    Tell them you'd take the test after the first interview.

  13. Anonymous

    I think it depends on how difficult or time consuming the test is. At my company, it’s not uncommon at all to take a couple short tests after a recruiter interview. It gives us more information about the candidate going into the interview with the hiring manager. We also request a 48 hour turnaround because if we didn’t, people would take weeks to complete them. And it takes less than 20 minutes to complete both, which I don’t think is a big ask.

  14. Anonymous

    I'm calling BS here, a good interview should be crafted by pre-planning consistent questions that align with the skillset an incumbent is expected to have by the hiring team after they write the job description, period. Unless you run a school testing in an interview is not warranted, ever.

  15. Anonymous

    If you applied for the job and are not a recruit you might just have to do the test if you want the job. As a tenured person as well I can relate to what you are saying here. Word the note in return if you decide not to do it to say, while I am truly interested in being considered for this role, my preference is a deeper conversation about true alignment to determine if I want to continue in your interview process as I am being very selective about where I go next. Additionally, being employed full-time does not allow me to take the time during my work week to complete any other tasks beyond my current workload and out of respect for my current employer I cannot address any outside projects with time constraints due to this. Ask them for a rescheduling of the time boxed test and if they don't give that to you then walk away.

  16. Janet Parkhurst

    Dear Anonymous,

    While I respect your advice, I will only say this. NO ONE should have to do any kind of test for a position unless they are either just starting out in the job or they are new (completely!) to an industry. For all others, that's what a resume and work portfolio are for. One's Linkedin profile should also give a good snapshot of one's experience and abilities, especially if there are "live endorsements" in it. My two rules? NEVER WORK FOR FREE and IT SHOULDN'T COST YOU $$$ TO DO A JOB.

  17. Anonymous

    Well thanks to Google, Facebook, Amazon, and others testing is a way that companies have decided to go into the hiring process these days. While I completely agree with you on your commentary here this is becoming the norm and unless the entire community does a major uprising this is going to be the thing in some companies. I just went through this myself just a few weeks ago, and as a tenured person after a 30 minute conversation with the person who would have been my direct manager was told by him that the next conversation would be with one of the 2 founders. And that after that I would be asked to do some kind of assignment. Ugh...Then I got this personality test in the mail (a surprise - which was not the assignment) which had 5 people cc'ed on it including a vendor that could have put my search at risk because at my current employer I manage vendor relationships and this could have "outed" my job search if I was doing business with them. Then I got a separate email from the vendor with the wrong first name in it. I looked at this debacle and while the role was an ideal one for what I want next simply walked away. I did not ghost them but I sent a note to the hiring manager and it took him a week and my sending it twice for him to respond. My plan was to tell him how offputting it was to get that after asking him direct specifics on their process. Oh and did I mention I was applying for their VP Talent role....If this is what they felt high quality hiring would be like, bullet dodged. IMHO an interview should be a conversation, not a pressure cooker, not schoolwork, not testing. Unless it is to see if you know a technology or how to use something which they have no other way to assess.

  18. Melissa McHugh

    I secretly love personality tests and am always thrilled when I get one.

    but I also think there's some bias and companies looking to hire people with the same traits and mindsets are, to a degree, limiting themselves. B Lab expanded upon this much more elegantly than I ever could. This is what their website says:

    "B Lab believes an equitable and inclusive work environment and a diverse, empowered team are key to achieving our mission. We’re not looking for candidates who are “culture fits.” We’re looking for candidates who can expand our perspective and challenge business as usual. We strive to foster an environment where all staff can bring their whole selves to work, by their own definition."

  19. Anonymous

    I've had a number of candidates for technical roles, with experience, who can't do a trivial test during an interview situation. There's no way someone with the experience they claim can't do this work, but there we are.

  20. Anonymous

    I understand that perspective from the employer's side. But if you have a resume in front of you and a job to be done internally, there's no reason you can't walk through scenarios (past and hypothetical) as part of the interview process. You'll get a better picture of my capabilities that way vs having me do a test. but it would also weed out someone who knows how to sound good on paper but doesn't really have the skills.

  21. Anonymous

    "I've decided not to move ahead with the interview process. Wishing you the best of luck in your search."

  22. tiffany birch

    I agree with stating your reasons and letting them know you appreciate being considered for the role. Having a "deeper" conversation as mentioned by another, helps them to understand your hesitation. Sometimes, tests can happen out of the blue. It's best to communicate and keep moving forward.

    Recruiters are being overwhelmed right now, and a delay doesn't mean they don't respect your time, they are doing the best they can.

  23. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist

    I'm not sure why you feel you have to "gently" refuse to do something you don't want to do.

    No is a complete sentence.

  24. Jen Frischen

    Maybe she doesn't want to shut down her chances with the company, but has a legitimate time conflict or previous obligation that prevents completing the test at this time.

  25. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist

    Saying "after further consideration, I have decided not to move forward with this opportunity. Thank you for your time" shouldn't burn any bridges.

    I don't know why one would have to be "gentle". Are we worried about hurting someone's feelings?

    I highly doubt a man would ever ask how to "gently" refuse to do something they didn't want to do.

    Just say no!

  26. Anonymous

    I wasn't trying to remove myself from consideration. I was trying to find a gentle way to decline taking the test while still moving forward.

  27. Anonymous

    It is. But it's a small world and I always try to be gracious in case that person knows someone who I may speak to down the road.

  28. Katherine Metres Akbar, Interview Coach & Resume Expert

    "Thank you for your interest in working with me. Unfortunately, this request seems like a lot to ask at this stage, and I'm going to decline. I hope you find the candidate you are looking for."

    For what it's worth, I've been the employer in this scenario (except that I don't say the next step is one thing and then do another). I provide a video explaining the process for qualifying for the role at the outset. The last lady said she watched the video and had no questions and then objected when I sent her the audition assignment and asked if she were going to be paid for it! (I have also been asked by a candidate if I were going to pay him to interview.) I was flabbergasted and annoyed that I had shared my proprietary methods with someone who doesn't seem to have actually paid attention to a process I thought she had agreed to. I guess my point for you is that employers are cautious these days. We spend a lot of time evaluating and training new people, so we want to make sure we get the right ones. Anyway, I hope you find your dream job!

  29. Anonymous

    I don't disagree with what you're saying. But when a candidate has already done most of the things you would ask them to do in the test, you can accomplish the same thing by pulling a bullet from their resume and saying "tell me how you did <the thing>".

    I believe that it's technically illegal to ask interviewees to do tests without compensation because it counts as free work. That may have changed but I know that was a law at one point. So I understand why the candidate would have asked for compensation. I've also seen things I've recommended in tests get implemented on the website even if I don't get the job and that's super frustrating because they got a free consult and tactics they could implement right away.

    I hope I find it too! I'm hiring a career coach to hold my hand because the whole process has been frustrating and I need a hype person lol

  30. Katherine Metres Akbar, Interview Coach & Resume Expert

    You make an interesting point about the legality of asking interviewees to do tests or make recommendations without compensation. This article explains the answer: https://gtm.com/business/pay-for-working-interviews-and-skill-assessments/ If the work benefits the organization, it needs to be compensated, which means that a lot of consulting companies are abusing candidates by having them come up with proposals for their company, etc.—as you mentioned. My evaluation does not benefit the organization.

    Yes, the job search can be frustrating, and you are wise to get a career coach to guide you. If you aren't settled on one, feel free to reach out for a free consultation about working with us if that appeals. The website is YES writing dot com Here's some free hype for you: An employer is out there hoping and praying to find someone like you. Now all you need to do is connect to them. You've got this!

  31. Anonymous

    Question: What type of test? Is it a personality test to see if you are a good fit for the team/company culture? If yes, I am not certain that you will move on in the process of you do not complete it.

    As far as disorganization - I agree that it could indicate that about the company, however the recruiter may not have understood that to be required of everyone to at made it to round 2 or the company could have just recently adopted that practice (Especially if it’s a start-up).

    That said, your question is about wording your response, which you might start by stating something like,

    “Ms./Mr. Recruiter. Could you tell me a bit more about the purpose of this test and it’s role in the interview process? I would like to glean a bit more information about it before I commit to a 48 hour turn around time.”

    In using this approach you are not saying “no” immediately, are focusing on turn around time (versus anything else), and can determine, from the recruiter’s response, whether this is something you would like to commit to. It’s overall gentle as a lead in for “no” should you decide to say that.

    Best of luck!

  32. Jen Frischen

    I believe they are likely more interested in your response and your timeline for response than they are in whether you take the test.

  33. Anonymous

    I would just simply say you're unable to complete the test in the requested timeframe and thank them for their time. Not rude, just honest!

  34. Anonymous

    If you really want this position, I suggest you call the hiring manager to have a conversation regarding their hiring process and your comfort level with that process. The conversation will show you are confident as a candidate and you know what you want.

  35. Anonymous

    If they seem disorganized, just walk away.

  36. Jennifer Tanner

    Thank you so much for your interest and reaching out to interview me. I enjoyed my discussion with <hiring manager>. I appreciate the follow-up, however at this time I do not have the availability to complete the requested testing. I wish <organization> every success in finding a candidate for <role>.

  37. Anonymous

    Several years ago I interviewed for an accounting position with a locally owned company that had deep roots in my city. First interview went tremendously well and I was promptly called in for a second “interview”. When I arrived for the second “ interview” I was told that there would be no interview but rather I was given a computer to work on and asked to develop an excel spreadsheet that was intended to demonstrate my competency with the product. I was a 20 something year old a couple years out of undergrad and had no idea that this was unusual for an interview

    After I completed the task I met with a senior manager for 10 or 15 minutes and was told that I was one of three applicants that was a finalist for the position and the final hiring decision was going to based on the spreadsheet created.

    After I departed the interview I began to feel somewhat misled and and developed serious doubts about my desire to work for this organization.

    Promptly went home and typed up a thanks but no thanks letter.

    Dont just walk away….run

  38. Anonymous

    I think you’re reading too much into it and honestly maybe you have too high of expectations or are looking for something to be wrong. Waiting a week to hear back after an interview is not that long. I understand the recruiter said 2-3 days and maybe they had the best intentions to deliver on that but sometimes things happen that delay the process. And without hearing more about the test and how extensive it is, it’s hard to make a judgement call on whether 48 hours is not long enough. I’m just saying I think there are a lot of assumptions being made that may not be true and you could be missing out on an opportunity based on it. So far I don’t hear any true red flags based on the information you provided. At some companies, this is just how the interview process goes. In a perfect world maybe it wouldn’t, but we don’t live in that world and companies rarely are perfect.

  39. Brigette Wilds

    Just say you are no longer interested in the position. Not everything needs an explanation.

  40. Anonymous

    I wasn't interested in removing myself from consideration yet when I posted. I was looking for suggestions on how to decline the test.

  41. Austen

    Been there! It could be the recruiter jumping the gun and not the hiring manager or the organization process being well known - if you don’t have enough info to feel comfortable to move forward, tell them you will consider it at a later date when applicable. People forget you have options and assume every person will do anything for a job. And, These days, recruiters are so busy, they don’t seem to consider experienced candidates can tell when the recruiter isn’t skilled or knowledgeable about standard organizational processes in hiring. Ii would send a message about the typical timing for testing being after more ‘discovery’ and this kind of communication is absolutely acceptable! Keep a copy to make sure you can share it later with the hiring manager. They may not know the reason they didn’t ‘get’ a great candidate starts with the recruiter’s lack of skilled timing. I and so many colleagues get calls from recruiters that don’t even understand the jobs they are hiring for…I’m going to assume iyour recruiter isn’t as experienced as they could be.

  42. Anonymous

    Try asking ChatGPT to write an email for you! I've done that and it's helped me with some touchy situations.

  43. Erika

    For giggles I did this because I haven't used ChatGPT very often. I got a pretty good response!

    Here's what the response was when I asked...

    When refusing to take a test for an interview, it's important to be polite and professional to maintain a positive impression. Here's a polite way to decline taking a test:

    Subject: Regarding the Interview Test

    Dear [Interviewer's Name],

    I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to express my gratitude for the opportunity to interview for the [position] at [company]. I appreciate the time and consideration you have given to my application.

    After carefully reviewing the details of the interview process, including the test component, I would like to respectfully decline taking the test. While I understand its relevance in assessing candidates' skills and abilities, I believe that my experience, qualifications, and prior achievements adequately reflect my capabilities in the [field/industry].

    I am confident that my background and achievements speak to my ability to contribute effectively to the [company] team, and I am more than willing to discuss my experience and skills further during the interview process. I would be delighted to answer any questions or provide additional information that may assist you in evaluating my suitability for the role.

    Thank you once again for considering my application. I remain sincerely interested in the opportunity to join [company] and contribute to its continued success. I look forward to the opportunity to further discuss my qualifications with you during the interview.

    Wishing you all the best.

    Sincerely,

    [Your Name]

  44. Anonymous

    Oh, that's actually a decent response! Thanks, AI! haha

  45. Bradford McCormick

    What is sounds lik eto me and I may be all wrong. I reachedthe point in life where I consider "tests" tobe degrading and disrespectful. Ther may be exceptions, of course. I owuld politely explain that I do the work and can present supportin information for my qualifications but tht "test" are not respectful. I would be strictly polite, bu talso draw a red line at being poked at. The last interview I had in reality (computre programming) they gave me two tests and I failed them both. What did it prove? In the one case that I had bee away from the work fo rseveral months, and in the other ase that I wasn't good a solving puzzles. In h second case the person presenting the puszzle w a young smarty who probably never had to do production work for anybody. I hope he enjoyed his nite life. he irony of it all is taht the company wa a spin off of the company where I had previously worked for almos 2 decades, so the people in charge knew who I was so what was the point?

    "We hold these truthes to be self-evident, that all men [read that in a non-genderists way] are created equal...." Right?

  46. Anonymous

    At my company we use Predictive Index, which is a short behavioral assessment and a 12 minute timed cognitive assessment. It probably takes 15-20 minutes to complete both and we require them for employment of most roles. The reason is not to necessarily “test” someone but to gather more information that helps us determine if that person may be a good fit on one team versus another. So not all “tests” are nefarious or degrading. Some are actually quite positive and useful.

  47. Ayian

    Anonymous person, these tests are incredibly ableist and often filter out neurodiverse people. It is dehumanizing and a lazy recruiting tactic designed so HR and hiring managers don't have to learn much about the behaviors and psychology of employees they already have or new applicants.

  48. Anonymous

    I’m sorry you feel that way. I can only say from my experience we’ve never used ours to filter out candidates, only to learn more about them and how they best work and tailor our interview questions to the individual based on their strengths.

  49. Ayian

    The only companies I've had tests for prior to hiring have been very derogatory towards their employees, incredibly demanding, and didn't pay on par with the work being performed. I walked out of the last test I was given, which was written like a final exam. No one needs that kind of looking-down-their-nose-at-you energy in their lives or paychecks.

  50. Anonymous

    That's sort of where I'm at too. I'm in SEO and a good interviewer goes through real-world scenarios and drilling into previous experiences during the interview process. This accomplishes the same, or more, than an unpaid test. I'm terrible at taking tests and always struggle because I often need more c context than the test scenario gives to make any recommendations.

  51. Kristie White

    At the end of the day, it's a filter. And it doesn't really matter if you want to take the test or not, if you feel it is disrespectful, or if you are confident in your skills. The delay in the recruiter's response is also irrelevant because they are the gatekeeper. So various scenarios are: the recruiter is overloaded, the hiring boss has two good candidates of which you are one and needs a method to make a selection, the recruiter is not too familiar with the needs of the job and is tasked with filtering candidates, they are looking for a way to eliminate some of the candidates and those that do not want to take the test will be eliminated. This is a gate and if you are not interested in the job, turn it down respectfully. If you are interested, know that this is a company who used this method and even if you get in - there is something a little disrespectful here. But my instinct says this is coming from the hiring manager.

  52. Changemaker911887

    Here is my response to a similar request below. I hope this helps you gather your thoughts and respond.

    At this stage of my career, I have learned that there are certain things that materialize during the interview process that tell me I will not be a good fit for an organization. Some of those things have revealed themselves to me.

    As a manager, I have evolved over the last decade in how I interview, hire, and terminate employees and my philosophy and approach must be in line with the organization that employs me.

    There are things I will no longer ask candidates or require them to do because those things do not provide insight into how well they will perform their job or what they will be like to work with on a regular basis.

    Companies are living breathing manifestations of the people who create and lead them. You need to find someone who agrees with how you chose to create and lead your team.

    Thank you for the privilege of your time. I sincerely wish everyone at (Company Name) continued success

  53. Glenport Life

    If it doesn't feel right for you don't proceed

  54. Anonymous

    Not knowing what field you are in, what the test is, or whether you are applying for a remote position or an in-house position, my experience is that more and more hiring managers are looking for an evaluation of some kind - whether it's to evaluate fit with the rest of the team or determine whether the accomplishments on someone's resume are in alignment with their skills. Many people have been changing jobs in the last few years. Employers have been forced to make quick decisions, which may not have resulted in the best hiring decisions. I also have a feeling that evaluations are a trend right now. You could take the test and have that experience behind you. The employer could look at your results and decide that you are better qualified for a different position that hasn't been posted yet.

    In my experience, hiring managers are super busy and while 2-3 days for a response is ideal, a week isn't that long. If you have gotten to the point where they are asking you to complete this task, I'd like to think they are interested in you. Are you still interested in this company? Is this a place where you would like to work? Do they appear to have a philosophy that aligns with your values? Could you see yourself still working there in two years...five years?

    If you really do feel slighted by the request, then bow out gracefully. However, don't be surprised if you encounter employment evaluations again.

  55. Farah Bajwa

    You have the power power position. Maybe just inquire by saying your curious why the cart is being put before the horse and see what they say. could be that the recruiter is new, didn't pay attention, and mixed up the steps

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