How to Accept a Job Offer

You have just been offered a new job and have decided to accept the position. Congratulations! All the time and energy you have invested in finding a new job has finally paid off, and you deserve to take a step back and celebrate your accomplishment.

Now you’re ready to accept the position, you may be wondering: how do I actually accept a job offer? It can be tempting to rush into this process and try to close the deal as soon as possible, but this is not the best approach to use.

Before you accept a job offer, you should make sure both you and the employer are on the same page about the offer. This will ensure that, in the end, you move to a job with the right expectations and a clear understanding of its requirements.

In this article, we’re going to discuss five steps you should take when you are accepting a job offer to make sure you get a good deal.

What Does the Offer Process Look Like?

Before we can discuss how to accept a job offer, it’s important you understand what stages there are in the job offer process.

Once a company has decided to hire you, it’s likely that you will receive an email or a phone call notifying you that you have the job. Following this notification, you should receive a formal letter outlining the terms the company has in mind. If the terms are agreeable for you, then you will be ready to advance to the acceptance stage.

Stage 1: Informal Notification

Companies often send candidates an informal notification informing you that you should be expecting an offer in the coming hours or days.

This communication is used by companies to make sure that you are still looking for a job, and will begin the process of closing you as the candidate to hire.

Often, companies will ask you what you need in order to accept an offer. For instance, you may be asked “Suppose we were to offer you this position. What do you expect from us in order to accept this position?” This is not an official offer, but it does help get the discussion going about next steps, and will help the employer evaluate what they need to do.

In response to this notification, you should thank the hiring manager for their time in interviewing you. Then, you should briefly discuss what you are looking for in the job offer. Do you have any specific vacation expectations? Or do you want there to be a bonus available based on retention and good work? After you mention these points, the employer will consider whether they can accommodate them, and send over an official offer.

Stage 2: The Official Offer

After you have had an informal discussion about the job, you should receive an official offer letter from the employer. This will outline your job title, expectations, responsibilities, start date, and other crucial details about the job that you have been offered.

You should make sure that, if this is expressed on a phone call, a written letter is sent over. This will allow you to double-check that the job you are being offered does in fact come with all the expectations, responsibilities, and amenities that you have discussed, and will help reduce the prospects of confusion when you accept an offer.

How to Accept a Job Offer

Now that you have decided to accept an offer, you are ready to submit an acceptance. Here are a few steps to guide you as you accept a job offer.

Step #1: Set clear expectations

When you are first notified that you have been offered a job, make sure you inform the employer of your expectations for the role, and what they can expect from you. If you need three days to evaluate an offer, tell them; if you are looking for a higher salary, ask if there is a possibility that you can negotiate on that term.

Step #2: Review the offer

Review the offer you have received and think about each term in depth. Does the salary meet your expectations? Do you think the day-to-day job responsibilities are in line with your personal goals? You may want to bring some friends or family into this process to help you get another perspective on the offer.

Step 3: Coordinate a response

Your next step should be to coordinate a response to the employer. If you have received an official offer letter, you may want to send a letter to the employer; if your offer was sent through an email, you should respond to them via email.

If you decide to send a letter to the business, you may also want to send them an email to ensure they receive your acceptance. Or, you could drop off a physical letter of the email to the business, which ensures they receive your letter within any given timeframe.

Step 4: Write a job acceptance letter

A job acceptance letter is used to officially accept a job offer. While you may be able to get away with accepting a job through a phone call or an email, it is always best to write a letter to ensure you maintain a professional tone throughout the acceptance process.

Step 5: Review your letter

Before you send your acceptance letter, make sure you review it for content, clarify, and any grammatical errors. You may also want to ask a friend or a family member to review the letter, which will help you spot any mistakes before you send the letter.

How to Write a Job Acceptance Letter

So, you may be wondering: how do I write a job acceptance letter? That’s a great question. Let’s discuss the main points you should consider when writing a job acceptance letter.

Formatting

Your job acceptance letter can be sent through either email or mail, depending on your preference. Your letter should be formatted as a professional letter, like you would with any business communication.

Make sure that your letter includes your contact information, even if the employer already has your contact details on file, so it is easy for the employer to follow up.

What to Include

The following points should be included in your job offer acceptance letter:

• Written acceptance of the offer
• A summary of the terms and conditions of your employment (such as your salary)
• Clarification on the starting date

The purpose of the job acceptance letter is to accept a job, which does not necessitate a long response. Make sure that your letter is short and concise, and includes all the necessary information about your expectations and the offer itself.

Express Your Gratitude

In your job acceptance letter, you should take a moment to describe your gratitude for being offered the job. Indeed, being offered a new job is a big deal, and the company is taking a chance on you. That’s why it’s always polite to say thank you to the employer for their time, and for extending you the offer.

Job Acceptance Letter Sample

To help you write your job acceptance letter, we have prepared an example letter that you can use as a template.

Dear Mr. Carlisle,

"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"

Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot

Find Your Bootcamp Match

I appreciate your sending over a written offer. I am writing to you to formally accept the offer sent for the position of Administrative Assistant at the Carlisle Paper Company.

As we discussed, my starting salary will be $30,000 per year, accompanied by three weeks of paid vacation. I also understand that I shall be given health, dental, and vision insurance upon starting this position.

I look forward to joining the team on Monday, May 11th. If you need any further information from me, or have any documents that I need to review, please do not hesitate to contact me. I sincerely appreciate your extending this favorable offer. I am excited to start working.

Thanks,

Pamela

This acceptance letter is short, but clearly communicates the terms of the offer, and the fact that you are accepting the terms outlined in the offer letter sent to you.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve written and sent your job acceptance letter, you will be ready to start preparing for your first day.

Before you submit your notice to your current employer (if appropriate), you should make sure that you have formally accepted a written offer, and have signed any documents that formalize the offer you have been extended. Then, at this stage, you will be ready to start winding down your employment relationship with your current employer.

Upon notifying your current employer of your leaving the business, you are ready to start preparing for your first day!