How To Accept A Job Offer (With Examples)

How to accept a job offer with examples

While receiving a job offer is exciting, you shouldn’t immediately just say yes. Doing so means that you agree with all the terms of the job offer. It’s important to understand the job offer and make sure that it says what the salary and benefits are — and that they match what was in the job ad and what was discussed in the interview.

Some things to check when looking over a job offer:

  1. Pay. This is arguably the most important aspect. You want to make sure that the pay they offer you is what you expect and what was discussed.
  2. Benefits. Your benefits package is part of your compensation. It’s important to know what is included in the benefits package and make sure that it meets your needs and expectations.
  3. Paid time off. If you’re a full-time employee, you should be offered PTO. The exact nature of it can vary — some employers split vacation time and sick time, others don’t. Some will offer other types of PTO, like volunteer hours or bereavement.
  4. Schedule and work hours. What your schedule and expected hours are is paramount to know. Most full-time jobs are 9 to 5 on weekdays, but if the job has an unusual schedule then it’s especially important that’s laid out.
  5. Responsibilities and expectations. You want to know what you’ll be expected to be doing, and what will be expected of you. For instance, will you go through a training program?
  6. Start date. Both you and your employer want to be sure of the day that you start. This should reflect you giving your current employer two weeks’ notice.
  7. Whether to negotiate. If the job offer isn’t to your liking or you think you can get more, you can always negotiate. It’s possible that the hiring manager won’t be willing to or will be constrained by the budget, but you should be able to accept the original offer if that’s the case.

How to accept a job offer

Once you’ve looked over the job offer and made any negations, it’s time to formally accept the offer. It’s to do this by writing up an acceptance letter so that there isn’t any room for misunderstandings or confusion in the terms you’re accepting. That way there will also be a written record of their offer and your acceptance.

Here are some things to include in your acceptance letter:

  1. Proper business letter formatting. Acceptance letters are generally sent as emails, so you don’t need to include your contact information and your employer’s contact information at the top. However, the other rules still apply. Make sure to maintain a professional tone, keep the letter brief, and use a standard font.
  2. A clear subject line. If you’re emailing your job offer acceptance, make sure that the subject line clearly indicates the email’s contents. For example, “[Your Name – Accepting [Job Title] Role.” Of course, you can also simply respond to the email with the job offer’s details.
  3. The hiring manager or recruiter’s information. Make sure to address your acceptance letter to the person who has been handling your application. While they may have invited you to use their first name when you’re talking to them, it’s best to address the acceptance letter to either their full name or use Mr./Ms. and their last name.
  4. Thank the letter’s recipient.Thank them for taking the time to interview and consider you as an applicant. From the get-go of your letter, you should be gracious and let them know you’re accepting the offer immediately. Even though you should be appreciative, there’s no need for gratitude overload. Keep it short and straight to the point.
  5. Acceptance of the offer. Early on, you need to state that you accept the terms laid out in the job offer the company sent you. On the other hand, if there are parts of the contract that you need clarification on, be sure to ask. And if one of those clarifications might change your mind about accepting the offer, then be careful not to accept it outright. If you need to ask for changes to your start date, this is an appropriate place for it. Briefly explain why you need more time to wrap things up at your current job.
  6. Confirmation of the terms. In addition to professionally accepting the offer, a written acceptance letter serves as verification of the job offer details. Part of this includes briefly outlining the discussed terms of your employment. This is not a space for negotiation. That should be discussed before accepting a job offer. It’s simply restating the terms that you and your new job have agreed on. This information should include:
  7. Enthusiastic appreciation. The general tone of accepting a job offer should be gracious and eager. At the end of your acceptance letter, you should reiterate this sentiment by letting them know you’re excited to start your new position. Include your contact details and let them know you’re available if they need anything else.
  8. Sign-off and signature. Stick with the basic email sign-offs and finish with your name. If you’re sending a physical letter, also sign your name. In an email, you can include your professional email signature.

Job offer acceptance examples

  1. Job Offer Acceptance Email Sample

Subject Line: Acceptance of Teller Position – Jack Kingston Dear Mr.Gold, I appreciate the offer for the position of teller at United Credit Union. It is with great pleasure that I accept this job offer. As mentioned in our previous phone conversations, my starting salary will be $65,000 annually, with the possibility of a raise after my first year with the company. In addition, this position will include two weeks of paid vacation per year and health insurance benefits. I am eagerly awaiting my start date on September 18th, 2023. Please confirm the details of this email, and let me know if there’s any additional information you need from me. Thanks again! Sincerely, Jack Kingston JackKingston@gmail.com
(616)-706-2388

Subject Line: Acceptance of Fitness Instructor Offer — Elinor MacDowell Dear Randy Orlando, I’m excited to accept your offer for the position of fitness instructor at Bell’s Gym and I wanted you to know how grateful I am that you considered me for this position. As discussed in the interview, my starting salary will be $37,000 with commissions if I hit the quota for my fitness classes. In addition, I’ll get two weeks of paid vacation per year, health insurance benefits, and free use of the gym. I’m looking forward to my start date of December 15th, 2023. Please let me know if you need any further information from me, or if I’ve misunderstood any of the details of the offer. Sincerely, Elinor MacDowell emacdowell@email.com
(555) 257-5424

Recipient Address:
Mrs. Kimberly Bennett
Melbourne Marketing Company
824 Rosemary St.
Knoxville, TN, 45477 Return Address:
Mr. James Taylor
92 Blake Ave.
Knoxville, TN, 45422 September 13, 2023 Dear Mrs. Bennett, Thank you for your offer and for taking the time to consider me as a candidate. After further review of the position and company culture, I’m thrilled to accept your job offer as a marketing specialist for Melbourne Marketing Company. As per our previous discussion, my starting annual salary will be $50,000 with health benefits and paid vacation time after a probationary period of two months. My start date for employment will be September 20, 2023. I’m looking forward to starting this new position and I am honored to be a part of your team. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need anything else. I can be reached at (404)-322-7163. Sincerely, James Taylor

Job offer acceptance email template

Subject Line: Acceptance of [Job Title] Position – [Your Full Name]

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I appreciate the offer for the position of [Job Title] at [Company]. It is with great pleasure that I accept this job offer.

As mentioned in our previous phone conversations, my starting salary will be [Starting Salary] annually, and [more details from job offer]. In addition, this position will include [more details from the job offer].

I am eagerly awaiting my start date on [start date]. Please confirm the details of this email, and let me know if there’s any additional information you need from me.

Thanks again!

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]

[Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number]

How to negotiate a job offer

Remember that there is a third option besides accepting a job offer outright or declining the offer; you can negotiate. Initiating negotiations may seem intimidating, but remember that it’s a standard tactic. Also, you’ve been given a job offer. You have a place to start your negations from, and you have some power — the recruiter wants to hire you.

When drafting a job offer negotiation, keep the following in mind:

  1. Be friendly. Negotiation doesn’t mean demanding you’re worth more, but rather, politely suggesting some room for improvement based on the qualities and experience you bring to the table. Nobody wants to accommodate someone rude or difficult. Think of your negotiation letter as a conversation starter that will hopefully lead to a place where you and your boss are happy with the terms. An effective way to do this is to frame your negotiations in the form of questions instead of commands.
  2. Be thankful. Even if a company’s first salary offer wasn’t up to par, a letter of negotiation should still be overwhelmingly thankful for the offer and consideration. Convey the tone you had when sending a follow-up email after an interview. Hiring teams spend a lot of time sifting through applications, conducting backdoor reference checks, and meeting for interviews before they choose you. Don’t forget to be appreciative of this effort and the opportunity.
  3. Consider why you are an asset. You were offered a position because the company believes you’d be a valuable asset to their team. You made it past reference checks, interviews, and eliminations. Remember why that is, and utilize it in your negotiations. Remind them of the relevant qualifications you have that fit the requirements for their ideal candidate. Show the hiring manager that negotiating on salary is an investment in a valuable employee.
  4. Be open to compromise. Part of successful negotiating is being willing to hear the other side out and take their needs into account. You may not come out of a job offer negotiation getting exactly what you wanted in terms of salary, job title, and benefits. However, with a little flexibility, you can comfortably accept an offer that satisfies the majority of your requirements.

Example job offer negotiation email

Subject Line: Amanda Evergreen-Job Offer

Dear Mrs. Mackenzie,

I was very happy to receive your email offering me the position of Gallery Support Associate at Sedona Art Gallery. I’m thrilled by the opportunity to be a part of your team.

Given my ten years of experience in a gallery setting, I am certain that I will exceed your expectations as a gallery associate. Before accepting your offer, I’d like to discuss the starting salary. While your offer was generous, I am seeking an annual salary of $40,000 given my previous work experience.

Thank you again for your job offer and for this opportunity. It would be an honor to be a part of the Sedona Gallery team.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Sincerely,

Amanda Evergreen
AmandaEvergreen@gmail.com
(723)-569-2638

Acceptance email for a job offer FAQ

  1. Should you accept a job offer immediately?No, you shouldn’t accept a job offer immediately. Take time to negotiate salary and benefits and carefully think through whether or not this job would be a good fit for you. Once you’ve negotiated and decided that you do want the offer, though, it’s polite to accept it as quickly as possible.
  2. How do you respond to a job offer over the phone?Respond to a job offer over the phone by expressing your enthusiasm and clearly stating that you accept. If you haven’t received a written offer yet or want to negotiate the one you did receive, you can instead express your thanks and your interest and then clarify that you’d like to look over or discuss the terms a little more before giving a firm answer.
  3. How many days do you have to accept a job offer?You typically have two to three days to accept a job offer. Just consider sending a quick response expressing your gratitude and interest and asking for a little more time to think it over. This way, hiring managers won’t think you aren’t interested and move on to someone else.
  4. How will you receive a job offer?The majority of job offers are sent via email. However, some recruiters will also call to offer a job, and if you really impressed them in the interview you may receive a job offer at the end. Written job offers are generally preferable because they don’t put you in a position where you feel you have to answer right then. No matter how you get your initial offer, you should receive one in writing, even if it’s via email. That makes the offer and your acceptance official.

References

  1. Cornell University Graduate School – Respond to an Offer
  2. MasterClass — How to Accept a Job Offer: Email Template

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