Page 187 - James Caan - Get the Job you Really Want

turning a job down

If you are not happy with any aspect of the job, turn it down.
This could play into your hands. You may find that it is the hirer

who perseveres, because they have seen something in you
which matches exactly what they are looking for, and they are
prepared to address whatever it is that has been holding you

back from accepting the job.
I was headhunting somebody as chief executive for a
company, and o≠ered him the position. He turned it down.
I really, really wanted this guy, so I left it for a week, rang him
up and said, ‘Hi, Gavin. I understand you’ve turned the position

down. I totally understand the situation, and I am quite happy
to accept it. I suppose we’ve both moved on now, because
you’re going to stay where you are, and I’m interviewing other

people . . .’ I paused and then asked, ‘What was the key reason
you turned it down?’
He said it was all to do with share options.
I never saw that one coming. I asked him to expand on that.
He said, ‘Well, I’ve got some options in the company where

I am at the moment. I felt I couldn’t walk away from those.’
‘OK.’ I asked, ‘What are the options worth?’
‘If we do x over the next three years,’ he answered, ‘they’ll be

worth y.’
I said, ‘Fine. Do you have any certainty or guarantee that
in the next three years you will deliver x for the options to be
worth the figure you’ve just given me?’

175 perseverance