How to keep in touch with developers after your job offer has been rejected

Hiring TipsDeveloper Recruiting

It's just frustrating when a suitable developer decides to do another job! You have presented the candidate with a job offer that you believe is highly competitive and provided the candidate with a first-class interview experience. Even if you have tried everything, there is no guarantee that the ideal candidate will sign the dotted line on the employment contract. It sure is a bitter pill to learn that a developer turned down your job opportunity. This article lists some ways to stay connected with tech pros, even if they've decided not to work for you

Accept the decision

After working so hard to find and recruit a developer, it's really hard not to be upset, especially when a position needs to be filled ASAP. But no matter what the candidate decides, it's incredibly important to respect the decision. Instead of expressing your frustration, offer your heartfelt congratulations and ask to stay in touch. That particular developer may have turned down your offer today, but if you respect their decision today, it will be easier to get them excited about future opportunities.

Keep in touch

Once the applicant informs you that they are rejecting your job offer, the best thing to do is leave them alone, right? Well, not always. Keep in mind that around 60% of developers are always open to new job opportunities. Maintaining good contact with candidates who have said “no thanks” should be an important part of your IT recruitment strategy. Why? It's just impossible to predict how the candidate will feel in their new job.

Do not be afraid to contact applicants who have rejected you from time to time via email or LinkedIn. At least they know that you are still looking for good programmers. A targeted comment on a blog post that's been made or a project you've just noticed can sure be flattering.

No spam

Building a meaningful relationship with developers often requires a lengthy process. While it's a good idea to keep in touch with a developer who turned down your job offer, the relationship you've built doesn't give you a license to perpetual harassment. Use the knowledge you gained from previous discussions to your advantage if you want to work with developers who have rejected your offer. But make sure to keep to at least a 6-month rhythm. Anything above that will turn out to be nuisance, which will eventually result in radio silence from the programmer.