You’re not the only one, and you certainly won’t be the last.

But what do you do about it? Do you brush it under the carpet and ignore the hiring manager’s emails and phone calls, or do you take a more direct and proactive approach?

Newsflash: it’s the latter.

The best way to go about it — if not for the sake of your professional reputation, then for the sake of common courtesy — is to reach out to the hiring manager and formally withdraw your job application from consideration.

So, how exactly do you let them know you’re just no longer interested in the opportunity and, most importantly, how do you do it without burning any bridges in the process?

Step 1: Make sure you really do want to drop out

First things first, are you certain you want to withdraw your job application or are you just afraid of change?

It’s not uncommon to be scared of changing jobs, but if that’s your main reason for deciding to withdraw your application, you might want to take a couple of days to mull things over.

Once you’ve thought about it — really thought about it — and you’re absolutely sure you want to drop out of the hiring process, then by all means: pull the plug. But if there’s even an ounce of doubt in you about withdrawing your job application, chances are your conscience is telling you to reconsider.

Remember: once you formally withdraw your application, there’s no going back. You could rescind your withdrawal, of course — there’s no rule against it — but you’ll appear indecisive, and a lack of confidence isn’t a personal quality that employers look for in potential hires.

Step 2: Let the hiring manager know ASAP

As soon as you’ve decided you no longer want to pursue the opportunity, reach out to the hiring manager and tell them so. This will enable them to focus on other candidates who’ve applied for the position, and it will also allow you to continue with your job search or, if you choose to stay put in your current job, focus on rising through the ranks. 

If you haven’t been through the interview process yet, a brief withdrawal email will suffice. But if you’ve decided to withdraw your application after an interview or a job offer, a phone call will be more courteous and respectful, followed by an email confirming your withdrawal.

Whatever you do, don’t let things drag out and wait for an interview invitation or a job offer to inform the hiring manager of your decision. You won’t only end up wasting their time, but you’ll also risk looking unprofessional and unreliable, especially if you fail to show up for your scheduled interview or, worse, what would’ve been your first day on the job. Needless to say, this can — and will — come back to haunt you if you apply for any future opportunities with the same company. After all, they’re still a prospective employer, so stay on their right side.