How to Accept a Job Offer
How to Accept a Job Offer
After the interview, you are thrilled to get the good news and kick off the new job. However, it is too early to get carried away. Before the offer is confirmed, there are still steps you have to take. To avoid confusion and hesitation, knowing how to accept a job offer is helpful. Here is the guide for those who want to be successful in the hiring process.
The job offer process
After your last interview, employers will decide which candidates are the most suitable and contact them. It means that you have to wait for some time. The wait times usually vary. To indicate that, some employers hand out a timeline in the first place.
How do they notify candidates?
There are two ways.
Informal verbal form
Many employers use a phone call or email to notify their offer to candidates. At this point, they want to confirm that you will agree with salary, hourly rate, working time and hours, location, benefits and other things you may need for a new job.
Formal written form
After the first notification, you will receive an official offer in writing. It comes in your mailbox or inbox. If employers do not send you a letter, you should ask them, which is later helpful to review details before posting a job acceptance letter. In general, it includes your salary or wages, the desired start date, acceptance deadline and benefits packages.
How to respond to a job offer
Official job offers confirm verbal offers. After receiving the letter, you should express your appreciation to the employer. If the acceptance deadline is not written in the letter, do not hesitate to ask them. Many employers usually want to know whether the candidate accepts the conditions they offered or not. You should respond as soon as possible.
How to look for a job offer
Before accepting the official job offer, you should evaluate and consider everything. The letter may contain contractual rights or amended conditions you agreed in the hiring process in terms of work responsibilities and salary or wages. Keep in mind that this is the last opportunity to negotiate the terms and conditions. Therefore, you should carefully check every detail. Here is a checklist.
Job title and responsibilities
You have to evaluate whether you are happy with your title and responsibilities or not.
Salary or wages, bonus, and employee benefits
Most people's priority is salary or wages. However, other working conditions take a large part of job satisfaction. With this in mind, evaluate employee benefits, such as health insurance, retirement plan, holidays, sick leaves and others.
Travel requirement
To start a new job, how long will you need to travel every day? Make sure if your employer covers all travel fares. If you need childcare, check the availability of the closest childcare centre.
Relocation
If relocation is required, make sure if the employer pays all or a part of your expenses.
Paid time off, sick days, family leave
Do the company offer the paid time off or days off when you are ill or come across an urgent matter?
Work environment and dress code
The work environment has a significant influence on work efficacy and employees' wellbeing. For example, where to sit in a new office, the number of windows or how many people work in a single room. Another thing is the company's dress code and corporate culture. The best way is asking the employer to take you on a tour of your new workplace.
Professional development
Many companies provide employees with professional development opportunities. Sometimes even part-time workers can attend it as it is a great chance to learn new skills and get a certification.
Remote work
Nowadays, many more companies offer opportunities for remote work. Your employer may accept such a flexible working style. All in all, people enjoy work from home. Did everything tick your boxes? If not, you need to negotiate with the employer to get a much better deal.
How to accept a job offer
When you have decided to accept the offer, it is a good idea to notify your acceptance in writing. However, depending on the job type, the employer may prefer phone acceptance. Whatever the form you use, they are always interested in how the candidate replies to the job offer. To give them a good impression, you should show your professionalism by expressing gratitude and passion for the new job promptly.
Don't leave the offer without responding. Your employer may take the offer back. You should contact them upon receiving it and say that you need time to consider it. With this, you will get enough time to create the best acceptance letter.
As a next step, you have to decide which form you should use, email, physical letter or phone. The best is to use the same method your employer did.
The third step is to draw up a reply. If it is a letter, you should follow the same tone as your employer writes.
What you should include in an acceptance letter is
- Appreciation for the opportunity and particular condition
- The terms and conditions of employment
- Your proposed start date of work
- Your contact information
- Your phone number
Here are tips for writing an acceptance letter
- Keep it simple and polite
- Express your gratitude and enthusiasm for a new role
- Proofread your response several times to spot spelling and grammar errors
A spelling error for others' name is taken as impolite. To avoid it, double-check the receiver's name. After you have sent a written acceptance letter, you should call or email the person who has a part in the recruiting process, such as a hiring manager or HR department, to let them know that your letter has been posted.
If you send an acceptance message via email, write "Your name and a job acceptance" in the subject line. Put your email address using "CC" to make sure that your email was sent. Don't forget to use a professional-looking email address.
How to write a job acceptance letter
Here is an example of an acceptance letter for a job offer.
Mr Green White
Director of Human Resources
Golden Peach Company
123 ABC Lane
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
445-678
Dear Mr White
I appreciate your call and giving me the opportunity.
I am delighted to accept the position of Marketing Assistant at Golden Peach Company.
My starting salary will be ￥350,000 per month with two weeks of paid annual leave. Additionally, you will provide travelling expenses every month.
I look forward to joining the sales department on the 1st of April. I am eager to contribute to the company and work with the staff in the EFG department store. If there are any documents or other additional information you need before then, or that I should bring along on my first day, please let me know.
Again, thank you very much for this opportunity.
Handwritten signature
Takashi Yoshida
If you received a phone call from the employer when you decided to accept the offer, you would say "Thank you very much for the offer. I want to accept it and will send an acceptance letter soon via email or a letter. If I have any question, I will contact you."
Summary
The key to success is to respond politely in a professional manner. With the tips mentioned, you will be coasting through the hiring process. Get good news and have a great start!