Q:

Using "offered a promotion I don't want" as a selling point in looking for my next job

I've been offered a promotion that, for a large number of reasons, I have no interest in taking. I had actually already decided to leave my current company, and my rejection really only accelerates my departure.
The position does represent what should be the next step in my career, but I am not going to make that step with this employer. I would, however, still like to make it as soon as possible.
I want to do my best to use this promotion as leverage when seeking a new position over the next couple of months -- to help me find a position similar title- and responsibility-wise to the offer, rather than to my current job. 
"Offered a promotion" doesn't seem like an appropriate point to put on a résumé, or even in a cover letter, although I would like to make it known as early as possible in the application process -- I'm likely to have a lot of competition. (I should perhaps also note that I've previously held a position similar to the offered one, which does appear on my résumé.) I can certainly get into it during the interview, but I don't know how much detail to provide a potential employer about my reasons for refusing. 
How can I best use this offer, during any stage of my search, to get a more satisfactory offer somewhere else?

A:

A candidate mentioning a promotion that they didn't take in a cover letter, resume or an interview just doesn't sit right with me as an interviewer.  You would be effectively saying "Hey, you should hire me for this job because someone else wanted to, but I told them no."  As an interviewer, I can then either explore that topic and expect you to dodge the numerous interview land-mines about things like speaking negatively about passed employers which is boring and unnecessarily tricky, or I can ignore it and then it provides no real value.
I would focus on your actual experience and actual ability to do the position.  If you've held a similar position in the past and clearly can do the job based on that experience, then you should focus on that desire, experience and ability.

A:

The only way to use this as an advantage in an interview is to answer the question "Why are you looking to leave your current company?". People ask this question a lot.
I would suggest the following as an answer:
"They are attempting to give me more responsibility, and in fact trying to promote me. I feel that I could comfortabely stay there, and they do find me valuable.... BUT:"
And then you fill in the real reasons why you are leaving, such as

The remuneration is not rising in accordance with the increased responsibility
My career goals do not line up with the path that I'm on in this company

Whatever happens to be your situation.
The reason why this is a good selling point is that it demonstrates that you are not leaving out of necessity and that you are valuable. As an employer, wouldn't you rather hire people that have options and are making a choice to work for you rather than people who just need a job?

A:

Josh,
I see what you are getting at.
First, you want to point out that you are qualified for the position by the fact that you did it in the past and was also offered the position again. This shows you are most desirable for the position, relative to others. So, on the cover letter, could put something to the effect "experience with and other positions offered in the same title". 
For the interview, it is possible they may not even ask why you rejected or left, as your cover letter didn't state that either.
If you are asked, turn it around:
Keep it short, sweet, simple and canned. The canned response, in an already artificial interview process, is to state that you declined because "this is the company you want to work for". State how having the position here is better aligned with your skills, and that your skill will benefit them even more, vs. someone else they are going to interview - who did not get the opportunity to turn down a similar position. Show them you want to do this title their way and are willing to work harder because you are much more passionate to have the title here. It shows you have choices, are desired, are ready and qualified for the position here.

