To calculate it, divide accepted offers by offers made over the same period, then multiply by 100. If a team makes 25 offers in a quarter and 20 are accepted, the rate is 80%. Breaking it down by role, location, hiring manager and source of hire shows where problems sit, and recording the reason for each decline, such as pay, a counter-offer or a slow process, makes the number actionable.
A declined offer usually means repeating late stages of the process, which costs time and sometimes the second-choice candidate as well. Many declines can be predicted earlier: pay expectations not confirmed at screening, long gaps between interviews or a candidate who never heard clearly why the role suits them. Checking expectations early and keeping candidates informed throughout tends to lift the rate.