You’ve made it through the interview process, and have received an offer from a company. Congratulations! Now, what are the next steps you should take? Before you send over your acceptance, we have some best practices for how to accept a job offer.
Respond promptly — even if you’re not ready to accept yet
When a company makes a job offer, you won’t want to leave them waiting for days without any reply. If you need time to think things over, simply respond that you’ve received their message and set with them a time frame in which you’ll give them your decision (if you’re not sure how long you’ll need, you can ask the hiring manager when they’ll need an answer). Then, be sure to stay within that timeline.
If the offer is made over the phone, ask for it in writing
In some cases, a company may make a verbal offer before sending their official one. This is when the offer — which includes only general information — is made in person or over the phone. Then, the formal offer will follow in writing, with much more details about the job and the offer. In either case, you can either accept the offer, negotiate, or ask for time to think it over. However, even if you’re ready to accept the verbal offer, you’ll still want to get a formal offer in writing, so that you can review all aspects and make sure they align with your goals and what had been previously discussed.
Express appreciation
Both in your initial reply and in your official acceptance, it’s also important to express your appreciation for the job offer. Thank whoever has reached out to you for the opportunity to work at the company, and reiterate your excitement at joining their team.
Take time to evaluate the offer
Before you send an official acceptance letter, though, take time to thoroughly evaluate the role — look at salary and benefits, company culture and values, growth opportunities, and potential costs such as commutes or self-provided equipment. Consider what you’ve seen both online and in person during interviews to determine if this is the right place for you. And if there’s anything you’d like to know more about, feel free to reach out to your contact and ask.
Don’t shy away from negotiating
While it can be intimidating, negotiating terms is common. If you’re receiving an offer over the phone, and it doesn’t quite meet your expectations, you can make a counter offer then and there. If it’s made in writing, ask for an opportunity to speak over the phone in order to adjust certain terms. If you’re looking for guidance on how to negotiate, you can find some helpful advice on our post here!
Write an email officially accepting the offer
Finally, once you’ve reviewed the offer, and completed any negotiations, it’s time to officially accept it in writing. In this letter, you should:
- Use clear subject line that’s easy to find and interpret
- Example: “[Your Name] Job Offer Acceptance”
- Express gratitude for the offer
- Example: “Thank you for the opportunity to join [Company Name].”
- State clearly that you are officially accepting the job offer
- Example: “I am writing to formally accept your offer for the [Job Title] position.”
- Restate details of the offer, such as job title, salary, benefits, and start date, in order to confirm what you’ve agreed to — these can be confirmed separately, or worked in throughout the letter
- Example: “As discussed, my starting salary will be $75,000, with three weeks of paid vacation, health and dental insurance, and a 401(k).”
- Conclude with your excitement about joining the company and a request for next steps
- Example: “I look forward to joining the team on [Start Date]. If there’s anything else you need from me before that start date, please let me know!”