My First Job Offer in Germany: Declining It – A B1 Writing Perspective

Okay, so here I am, six months in Germany, and finally, finally, I’ve gotten a job offer. It’s a small marketing assistant role at a software company in Berlin – “Software Solutions GmbH” – and initially, I was over the moon. But then came the moment I had to write a formal email declining the offer, and honestly, it felt incredibly stressful. That’s why I want to share my experience, specifically focusing on how a B1 level of German can help you navigate this kind of situation.

The Offer Arrives – And the Initial Excitement

It all started with an email from Herr Schmidt, the Head of HR. He was really polite, thanking me for my interview and outlining the details of the job – salary, benefits, start date… everything. He ended by saying they were really hoping I’d accept. My German wasn’t perfect, but I managed to reply with a genuine, “Vielen Dank, Herr Schmidt! Ich bin sehr geehrt und freue mich über das Angebot.” (Thank you very much, Mr. Schmidt! I am very honored and delighted about the offer). I was so excited! I’d pictured myself building a career here, and this felt like a really important step.

The Reality Sets In – And the Doubt

Then, a few days later, I realised something. The job description wasn’t quite what I’d imagined. It involved a lot of data entry, which isn’t really my passion – I studied design and wanted to work with creative campaigns. Plus, the commute was going to be a nightmare – almost an hour each way on the U-Bahn. I started to feel a bit of doubt creep in. I needed to be honest with them, but how?

Crafting the Email – My First Attempt (And the Mess!)

I panicked and wrote a very rushed email. It was full of grammatical errors and sounded incredibly awkward. I used phrases I’d picked up from conversations, but put them together in a way that sounded…off.

Here’s a (slightly embarrassing) excerpt of what I wrote:

“Sehr geehrte Frau Schmidt,

Ich habe Ihre E-Mail erhalten und es war sehr… schön. Ich bin sehr… interessiert an der Arbeit. Aber ich muss sagen, dass ich es nicht… so machen kann. Ich muss abbrechen. Ich gehe. Das ist… schwierig.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen,

[My Name]”

I immediately regretted it! It sounded like I was giving up without a proper reason. I knew I needed to do better, especially considering the TELC B1 level goal.

Getting Feedback – From a Freund

Thankfully, I had my friend Lena, who’s a native German speaker, to help me. She read my email and said, ” Mein Gott, das ist ein Desaster!” (My God, that’s a disaster!). She explained that my phrasing was too informal, too blunt, and lacked any real explanation.

She suggested something like this:

“Sehr geehrte Frau Schmidt,

• vielen Dank für Ihr Angebot für die Position als Marketingassistentin. Ich habe Ihre E-Mail sorgfältig geprüft und bin sehr dankbar für die Gelegenheit, mich Ihr Unternehmen kennenzulernen. Nach reiflicher Überlegung muss ich Ihnen jedoch leider mitteilen, dass ich das Angebot derzeit nicht annehmen kann. Die Aufgabenbeschreibung entspricht nicht ganz meinen langfristigen Karriereplänen, und die tägliche Anreise stellt für mich eine erhebliche Herausforderung dar.”

(Dear Ms. Schmidt,

Thank you for your offer for the position of Marketing Assistant. I have carefully reviewed your email and I am very grateful for the opportunity to get to know your company. After careful consideration, I unfortunately must inform you that I cannot accept the offer at this time. The job description does not entirely match my long-term career plans, and the daily commute presents a significant challenge for me.)

Key Phrases & Vocabulary for Declining an Offer

Here are some useful phrases and vocabulary I learned:

• “Ich bedauere, Ihnen mitteilen zu müssen” – “I regret to inform you…” (Very formal)
• “Nach reiflicher Überlegung” – “After careful consideration” – Super important!
• “Die Aufgabenbeschreibung entspricht nicht ganz meinen Erwartungen” – “The job description does not entirely meet my expectations.”
• “Ich habe mich entschieden…” – “I have decided…”
• “Ich bin dir sehr dankbar für…” – “I am very grateful to you for…”
• “Es tut mir leid” – “I’m sorry” (Use sparingly – sounds a bit overly apologetic)
• “Die tägliche Anreise ist für mich eine Herausforderung” – “The daily commute is a challenge for me.” – A really common reason!

The Second Email – Much Better!

Using Lena’s advice, I drafted a much more polished email. I even managed to use the phrase “Ich bedauere, Ihnen mitteilen zu müssen” correctly! I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders.

I sent it off, and within a few hours, Herr Schmidt replied, thanking me for my honesty and wishing me the best in my job search.

My Takeaway for B1 Learners

Declining a job offer in German (or any language!) isn’t about perfection. It’s about being polite, clear, and giving a reason – even a simple one like the commute. Reaching B1 level allows you to express yourself more confidently and accurately. Focus on using phrases like the ones above, and don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. Honestly, this whole experience has been a huge learning curve, and I’m already feeling more confident in my ability to communicate in German. Viel Erfolg! (Good luck!)