Receiving a job offer is an exciting milestone in one’s career journey, and knowing how to respond to it in an appropriate and professional way can be crucial for the success of the job process. A thoughtfully crafted response will demonstrate your enthusiasm for the position and express your appreciation for the offer. Replying to a job offer should be a considered process, as you will be setting the tone for what is to come— a professional relationship between employer and employee. In this blog post, we will discuss the top tips you should consider when responding to a job offer and how to make sure your reply is effective and professional. Whether you’re a recent college graduate or a seasoned professional, these tips can help you as you negotiate a job offer.
- Make the acceptance obvious (i.e. use the words, “I am pleased to accept your offer…”)
- Repeat the position title and relevant terms.
- Give your expected start date.
- Express your thanks.
- Clarify anything that needs to be clarified.
- Inquire about additional paperwork or information to provide.
How to respond to a job offer
To respond to a job offer professionally, follow these steps:
1. Consider your response
Your response to a job offer must be determined after receiving it. The three typical responses to a job offer are acceptance, agreement on terms of employment, or rejection. If you need time to consider your options, you can ask the employer for 24 hours or a few days to respond. However, you should respond as soon as possible.
2. Negotiate (optional)
Before accepting or rejecting a job offer, you have the option of negotiating the terms of employment. To determine what your pay should be, you can do research on the position’s market average salary and take into account your location, experience, education, and skills. Prepare your talking points in advance and think about practicing with a friend if you plan to negotiate in person. Indicate your interest in the position and your desire for a higher salary in a written response. Use your research and private information to respectfully and clearly argue why you should receive different treatment.
3. Accept or decline the offer
After negotiations are over and you’ve made your choice, you must officially accept or reject the job offer. You can respond in writing, but if you were given the job via email, you should also do so.
At the outset of your email, expressly state that you accept the job’s terms. In your statement, mention the name of the company and the role’s title. You might say, “I am happy to accept the project manager position at Bold Solutions. ” .
Along with your acceptance, remember to express your gratitude for the offer. Showing your gratitude for this opportunity demonstrates courtesy and professionalism. You can also demonstrate enthusiasm by expressing your eagerness to start or how you hope to benefit the group.
After the opening paragraph, verify important employment information. By outlining these specifics, you can prevent misunderstandings regarding the conditions of your job offer. Verify any details that were discussed with the employer or were part of the job offer, including your start date, salary, work schedule, benefits package, and other information.
Consider requesting any additional information or advice in the final paragraph of your response before your first day of work. You can offer to come into the office before your start date to complete any paperwork or request any necessary materials, such as an employee handbook. You could also ask for orientation details. Your letter should conclude with a formal closing phrase, your name, and your contact information after mentioning any further actions.
First, at the very beginning of your email, state unequivocally that you are rejecting the offer. You can be direct and courteous by saying something like, “I’m sorry to let you know that I will not be accepting your job offer at this time. ”.
Although you are not required to explain your decision to the employer, doing so is polite and could foster a lasting relationship. Simply stating that you have accepted a job offer elsewhere or that the position isn’t a good fit for you is an effective way to be succinct and upbeat.
Despite the fact that you are declining, you should still express your gratitude for the offer. You can express gratitude to the recruiter or hiring manager for their time and effort.
Your job offer response should be formatted professionally, just like any other document used in the hiring process. Use your name and a simple phrase in the subject line of any emails you send, such as “Job Offer Acceptance.” Start the email with a formal salutation to the person who made the job offer, and type it in a commonly used business font in size 11 or 12. Finish with a salutation like “Sincerely” before adding your signature and contact details.
Make sure to carefully edit and proofread your response before sending it to ensure there are no mistakes. Verify specific items, such as names, dates, and figures, one more time to ensure their accuracy. Take a break or have a friend review the email for you before you proofread.
What is a job offer?
A formal invitation from an employer to work for them is known as a job offer. A job can be offered informally by an employer over the phone or in person, but a formal offer is made in writing and includes information about the proposed employment. The conditions listed in a job offer frequently consist of:
Example acceptance email
You can create your own by using this sample email to accept a job offer:
Subject: Michael Ayuko, Job Offer Acceptance
Dear Ms. Cortez,
I’m ecstatic to take the Marketing Associate position at Bold Solutions. I appreciate the chance and look forward to working with the team.
I want to reiterate what we talked about: my starting pay will be $40,000 with two weeks of paid vacation, and health and dental benefits will start after 90 days. I am excited to start orientation on Aug. 1. Please let me know if there are any last-minute requirements I need to fulfill before that date, such as signing onboarding paperwork. Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Michael Ayuko
123-456-7890
[email protected]
Example declination email
Using the following example as a guide, write an email to the employer declining the job offer:
Subject: Job Offer—Michael Ayuko
Dear Ms. Cortez,
I am grateful for your offer to hire me as a marketing associate at Bold Solutions. I’m sorry to let you know, though, that I must decline because I’ve accepted a job at a different company.
It was a pleasure to meet you. I appreciate you taking the time to read this, and I wish you and the marketing team the best of luck.
Sincerely,
Michael Ayuko
123-456-7890
[email protected]
How to Respond to a Job Offer — 4 Must Do’s
FAQ
How do you respond to a job offer nicely?
Thank you for your time on the phone yesterday. I was thrilled to get your official offer for the position of [Job Title] at [XYZ company] today. I am happy to officially accept your offer of employment. I look forward to joining your team.
How do you respond to an email job offer?
Keep your email succinct and direct if you decide to accept a job offer. You should first thank the employer for the job offer before making it clear that you accept it. Include the confirmation of the agreed-upon job title and start date as well. Then, ask what will happen next.
What do you say when you get accept a job offer?
A thank-you for the opportunity. Verbiage that says you accept the company’s offer of employment. Your title. Describe the compensation and benefits as you understand them.
How do you respond to a job offer before accepting?
When presented with a job offer, we have the option of temporarily rejecting it and requesting a two- to seven-day grace period before making a decision. This can be accomplished by expressing gratitude, making clear how much time is required, and concluding the message in a positive manner.
