How To Accept A Job Offer
First of all, congratulations on receiving a job offer. That’s great news and you should be happy to be considered for the position. Now the question is, how do you accept a job offer? What steps should you take to make sure you have dotted all your I’s and crossed all your T’s? You are going to see a few steps you should follow to ensure a smooth acceptance process and to make sure you are getting what is/was promised during the interviews. Let’s have a look.
Show Your Appreciation
Whether you are talking with the recruiter via phone, video conference, or email, make sure you take a minute to send a thank you note to the recruiter and state how excited you are!
It is important to always show your gratitude! This goes a long way. Sometimes a job offer process can be long and drawn out, so when you set a positive tone from the get-go, you are off to a good start.
Receiving The Job Offer
After several interviews and conversations, you may receive an offer from the company. One thing to pay attention to is, if you receive the notice by phone, make sure to request the offer by email as well. It is always best to have a paper trail of what was discussed, and you know exactly what is typed in the contract.
It is fundamental that you get all the information in writing and know what are the expectations for you in the role, starting pay, benefits, starting date etc. If it is a remote position, will they be providing you with a work computer, headset, camera, desk etc? Will your own cellphone be used for business or will you be provided with a phone? You need to iron out these details in the contract. There should be no doubt in your mind of what to expect.
Responding To The Job Offer
Great news, you have just received the official offer. Now it is time to respond to accept a job offer. Let’s get into the nitty gritty here.
As mentioned above, show your appreciation and thank them. Next you should ask for a time-frame i.e. when should you get back to them with an official answer. The verbiage I would use is:
Thank you for the offer. I am very excited to have been considered for the (position name) role, and I look forward to reviewing the terms. When do you need an official decision?”
You will normally receive a few days to a week to look it over. Make sure you do your due diligence here to completely understand what is being offered. There have been cases where an employer offers an “exploding offer”, where at the end of the day you need to decide yes or no. Obviously, they are gauging how interested you are in the job and company. Regardless of the situation, state that you need at least 24 hours to review the terms.
Negotiating The Job Offer
Negotiating the offer is part of the process, and this is common. If you have all the details like salary, benefits, vacation, etc, it is best to negotiate them at this time before you receive the formal offer letter.
Sometimes there are items on the offer that you have not seen before because they were just added and / or there are some changes you’d like to propose. It is suggested that you contact the recruiter to set up a short time to talk instead of sending a counter proposal by email. First, it is much faster, and it is easier do this over the phone or in a live meeting. Second, you can gauge their reaction from their body language when you make a request. A short three liner that you could send to the recruiter is,
Thank you for sending the employment offer. I have reviewed it and would like to discuss a few details with you. Could we set up a time this week to speak?”
If you have proposed this talk, you better be prepared for it. You must know and have at your fingertips exactly what you want changed in the offer. If it is a higher salary, have that range in mind and mention that the segment and market in say The Bay Area is higher for that experience level.
One rule of thumb is never go into an interview (especially when you have reached the offer stage) without a salary range in mind. There are several websites out there that can give you a ball park figure on what a company pays for a particular position. Leverage information on Glassdoor and Indeed to get this info.
The employer may or may not accept your proposal for the higher salary or added benefit etc. If the answer is yes, and the rest of the terms look good to you, go ahead with the signing process. If the higher salary was declined, consider what your options are. Do not send another counter proposal and ask to speak with the recruiter again. Decide whether you want to and can accept the offer. See what is best for you! Is it acceptable or not?
Accepting The Job Offer
Once you have finished negotiating all the terms, have the official offer letter in hands, and are sure this is the right job for you, you need to submit an acceptance email.
Your acceptance email should show your enthusiasm for the position and include some of the main terms that were discussed such as salary, title, benefits etc. You need to also mention your starting date.
Once you have written and sent the job acceptance email, make sure you follow up with the employer and recruiter. Give them a call and tell them that you have sent them a job acceptance email. When you send the email, make sure you add a specific subject line like: Jr Analyst Position – Job Acceptance Email.
This is a great way to make sure they will open the email and not just cruise over it. Now for some practical templates you can use.
Template 1 – How To Accept A Job Offer
Dear (First Name),
I am excited to accept the offer as (position name) for (company name). This is an amazing opportunity and I am honored to have been considered for it.
As we discussed, my starting salary will be $35,000 USD/Year and health insurance benefits will be available after 30 days of employment.
The start date will be (date). If there are any additional documents that I need to bring on my first day or sign prior, please let me know.
I look forward to working with you and the rest of your team.
Thanks again for this amazing opportunity!
(Signature)
Template 2 – How To Accept A Job Offer
Dear (Name),
I am excited to inform you that I officially accept your offer for the (job name) position with (company name). I am eager to put my skills to the test and do great things at your company!
As we agreed, my starting salary will be $50,000 USD/Year and my health insurance benefits will kick in after 30 days. I look forward to starting my employment on (date).
If there is anything else you need me to do or sign prior to the start date, just let me know. Once again, thank you for this great opportunity!
Kind regards,
(Name)
Template 3 – How To Accept A Job Offer
Dear (Name),
I am thrilled to accept the offer (position name) with (company name). I am looking forward to working with you and the rest of the team and continuing to create great customer experiences for our clients.
As we discussed, my start date will be (date), with an annual salary of $40,000, three weeks of vacation, and health insurance that starts on my first day of work.
I look forward to getting started and meeting the rest of the team next Monday! Please let me know if there are any additional files I need to sign or any documents I should bring on my first day.
Kind regards,
(Name),
Do’s and Don’ts To Consider!
- Do: Do your homework on the company. Read reviews, blogs, sites, talk with colleagues and other Linkedin connections. Get the inside scoop on what it is like there.
- Don’t: Some recruiters will try to pressure you to make a quick decision. Don’t feel pressured!
- Do: Take at least 24 hours to review the offer, see if it is right for you and make your decision.
- Do: Show enthusiasm for the position. Even if you don’t want it, you could be considered for another position. You never know!
- Do: Ask the employer questions. Discover if this is the right job and move for you.
- Do: Ask yourself questions. Is this the right job for me?
- Do: Ask for the offer in writing! Never put this to chance. Have a paper trail.
- Don’t: Don’t finalize the acceptance only over phone. Get it in writing as well.
- Do: Research salaries on Glassdoor for company, role, and market segment. Present the range you want!
- Do: Companies can’t always meet desired salaries, so negotiate benefits and other perks.
- Don’t: Do not, I mean, do not hand in your notice of leave before you have signed the contract at the new company.
List of Questions to Ask in an Interview
- What do you think are the most important qualities for someone to excel in this position?
- Could you walk me through what a typical day is like in this position.? What can be expected?
- What will be expected of me in the first 30/60/90 days?
- Could you tell me about your experience at the company? What is it like to work at your company? Could you talk about your company culture and what it is like to work there?
- Is there a career path for this position? What is the growth potential for this position?
- What do you like best about your company? Could you tell me one pro, one con, and one thing you would change with the snap of your finger?
- What are some challenges the company is facing?
- What makes you better than your competitors? Why?
- Do you have any hesitations about my qualifications?
- What are the next steps?
For the specifics on each of these questions, check out the article on Questions to Ask in an Interview.
Wrap Up
Accepting a job offer can be a tough process and cause a bit of anxiety. Make sure you follow these steps and never leave anything to chance. Get everything being offered in writing and weigh the pros and cons of accepting the job. Make sure you ask the recruiters enough questions about the company to ensure it is the right move for you. Do your homework as well.
Have you had a situation where you received a job offer? What did you do? Did you accept or decline? What made you decide? Please share with the community in the comments section below how you would accept a job offer.
For more tips on Job-search and interview tips, check out the CareerPrep blog and for instruction videos, check out the English Interviews and CareerPrep Youtube channels.
