Turning down an offer several times

Quick question to those who've been in the industry for a few years - have you had experience with turning down people who you have a good relationship with who keep trying to hire you? A guy I've known for about 5 years at a mid-cap place has approached me with an offer to work in their IBD team, but I'm not too sure about the firm / deal flow at this moment in time. Problem is this guy has tried to hire me twice previously and each time I've had a good reason for declining.

Any good ideas on how to delicately avoid the situation without damaging the relationship? I'm clearly not going to be straight up with him and tell him I have my doubts about his firm. Thinking something along the lines of "I have a couple of other irons in the fire (which is true) and I want to see how those pan out as I imagine they'll be fairly quick processes and I can get it over and done with". Not entirely happy with this approach as it's basically insinuating that I'd prefer to work at a competitor firm to his!

 

This is not a bad problem to have. I would be open about having other prospective employers (I would not name them). Inquire about compensation and see who gives you the best bid. Do not burn the offer yet just in case things do not pan out.

Only two sources I trust, Glenn Beck and singing woodland creatures.
 

Why not agree to have a conversation with the team to see if it's a fit? You can ask about deal flow then. If it's not a fit, tell him that after. You're working with an incomplete set of data.

 

You know what, Ricky? You already lost it. It's gone, bud. Whatever it is, whatever you are... Gone. He who looks into the abyss realizes that there's nothin' looking back at him and the only thing he sees is his own character. You understand, bud? The abyss? The shit abyss?

I AM THE LIQUOR
 
Jim_Lahey:

You know what, Ricky? You already lost it. It's gone, bud. Whatever it is, whatever you are... Gone. He who looks into the abyss realizes that there's nothin' looking back at him and the only thing he sees is his own character. You understand, bud? The abyss? The shit abyss?

I love when Lahey trolls the boards. 130 Proof bud, straight up, im fuckin wasted

 

I'd say the best way to handle this would be to tack a recommendation (reasonable quality) on the end of your 'no thanks'. Of course, depending on how serious your concerns are about the firm, that may not be possible.

Life's is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
 

Ducimus perferendis reprehenderit et excepturi et voluptates et. Vitae inventore consectetur rerum aut optio fugit cupiditate. Et qui aut tenetur accusamus.

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