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What to do if…
an accepted job offer appears withdrawn or your onboarding system says you were not hired

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Do not treat the portal status as final until a named recruiter, hiring manager or HR contact confirms what has happened. Save the evidence, then ask in writing whether your accepted offer remains active and whether your start date or pre-employment checks have changed.

Do not do these things

  • Do not resign from another job or make further non-refundable commitments based only on an unexplained portal status.
  • Do not click options that say withdraw, decline or close your application while trying to correct the problem.
  • Do not submit a new application or repeat identity, right-to-work or background checks unless the employer asks you to.
  • Do not delete offer documents, acceptance messages, portal notices or onboarding emails.
  • Do not assume an automated rejection message or temporary loss of access is a complete explanation.
  • Do not begin with threats, accusations or public posts.
  • Do not sign a cancellation, release or revised agreement before you understand what it changes.

What to do now

  1. Take screenshots of the exact message, including the vacancy title, candidate reference, page address, date and time. Download any available documents before your access changes.

  2. Save the original offer, your acceptance, any proposed contract, the confirmed start date and all onboarding messages somewhere outside the employer’s system.

  3. Check whether the offer was described as conditional, provisional or unconditional. List any conditions, such as references, right-to-work evidence, qualifications or background checks, and note which ones you completed.

  4. Check your email, spam folder and portal messages for an outstanding task, changed start date, duplicate application, cancelled vacancy or request for more information.

  5. Email the named recruiter, hiring manager or HR contact. State when you accepted, the agreed start date and the exact portal wording. Ask whether the message is a system error and whether your accepted offer is still active.

  6. If your start date is close, make one telephone call using a verified contact number. Follow it with an email recording who you spoke to and what they said.

  7. If the employer says the portal message was an error, ask them to confirm your offer and start date in writing and to correct or restore your onboarding access.

  8. If the employer confirms that the offer was withdrawn, ask for written confirmation of the withdrawal date, the reason and any condition they believe was not met. Compare their response with the terms of the offer.

  9. Make a brief timeline of the offer, acceptance, completed checks, any resignation from another job, the portal change and your attempts to contact the employer. Keep records of immediate costs or commitments caused by relying on the offer.

  10. Seek prompt employment-rights advice if the withdrawal is confirmed, especially if the offer was unconditional, all stated conditions were met, you had already resigned or you suspect discrimination. Contact Acas for England, Scotland or Wales, or the Labour Relations Agency for Northern Ireland.

What can wait

You do not need to decide now whether to make a formal claim, demand compensation, accept a revised offer or discuss the situation publicly. First confirm what happened, preserve your records and get advice based on the wording of your offer.

Important reassurance

A status such as “not hired” can result from an administrative change, duplicate record or onboarding error, so the message alone may not explain your position. An accepted unconditional offer, or a conditional offer whose conditions were met, may create contractual rights.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate steps for confirming the situation and preserving relevant records. Later decisions may require help from Acas, the Labour Relations Agency, a trade union, an employment adviser or a solicitor.

Important note

This is general information, not legal or professional advice. Your position depends on the offer terms, how it was accepted, whether any conditions were met and where in the UK the employment was based.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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