Have you ever declined a job offer?

I had an interview a couple weeks ago, got an offer, but I had to decline because the salary was too low.
It would have been my first full time job (after several internships).

I'm not completely sure if I made the right choice. The team was really small, and it felt like I would have had to handle too much other than the responsibilities of my role.

And I have another interview tomorrow. I hope it goes well.

Meanwhile, I'm working as a developer consultant for a client. I'm learning a lot doing that, so that's going well. :)

I've turned some down. The one that springs to mind was a pretty big company that low balled me, offering about 200 more per year than I was already on (I was dim enough to answer when they asked what I was currently on).

I asked if there was wiggle room and they seemed offended that I'd even ask and not be happy with just the chance to work there. They vaguely referenced some increases tied to company earnings and performance after a year.

Every time that I drive past that place I'm thankful I said no. A week later I was offered a job that was remote and with about $20k/yr more, and I have heard nothing about the place I'd turned down but horror stories of forced overtime during nights and weekends, low pay, abusive managers and no prospects.

Trust your gut

I've turned down many offers during years. If it doesn't feel right, and I can't find good angle for myself out of it, then it is decline. Did it while I was full time employed, and done it many times now in past six months when looking for new thing, without h current position.

Yes. While in talks with my current employer, I was offered a position at a large corporation for substantially more money (to go along with their resume-building name). Turning it down felt crazy. But it reunited me with former colleagues and gave me the freedom to work from home. I have never regretted it.

And to top it off, < 1.5 yrs later, I'm making a comparable salary.

So, yes, go with your gut feel -- both about the company as a whole, and the team you met during the interview process.

A few other notes:
- Small teams are good. And they're a great place to foster career-long relationships.
- Don't expect your first full time position to have a focused workload. Superfluous responsibilities are character building.
- Don't expect your first full time position to have a good salary. At all.

All that said -- good luck with the interview and consulting!

@zourtney

Thanks.

I'm not expecting a good salary, but it should at least be honorable, right?

Considering the seeming amount of responsibilities and that the team lead was about to leave the company, the salary was lower than the stipend at my last internship and so I didn't feel like it was acceptable.

@sweetWetBurger oh certainly. If even the offer is insulting, you're likely to encounter a whole company culture of similar disappointments.

Do you know why the team lead was leaving?

@zourtney

No, he did not tell me why he was leaving.

I've been turning down 1 offer/month more or less lately. There are lots of offers in my country, and even in my company are looking for devs nonstop. We have many projects we can't do because we have no one available.

Like, 10?
Shit team, shit workspace or work techniques, lies on used technologies and of course shit salary :)