Congratulations, you have finally received that job offer you have been waiting for! Whether it’s for your dream company or one that offers slightly less than what you would like, it’s now time to make up your mind. If you have received the offer verbally, such as via phone, you will need to send in an official acceptance letter or e-mail to seal the deal.

You may be wondering how to accept a job offer, and we are here to provide you with the step-by-step answers you need.

Review the Details

Whether you have received the offer verbally or via e-mail, take some time to review the details and clear up any uncertainties you may have. For instance, are the benefits the same as what was discussed during the interview? Was there a promise that training hours will be paid, but it does not say so in the offer letter? These are all things to clarify before you accept.

It’s important to understand that a verbal agreement is not legally binding. Make sure that you have no doubt as to where you stand before accepting. Here is also the time to negotiate if you would like to take up the job but feel that there are one or two aspects that can be improved.

Negotiate

If you have received the good news via phone, you do not have to wait until you receive the offer letter to start negotiating. That way, you and your future employer will be completely aligned on your expectations before they send over the letter. It’s important to be realistic when negotiating. While there may be room for a slight increase in your starting pay, you should not be asking for something that’s too far above industry standard or what you have asked for during your interview.

Remember that the point of negotiation is to come to an agreement that works for both sides. When deciding on what to negotiate for, go back to your target job requirements and think about why you wanted this position in the first place. Always be polite and respectful during the negotiation process, and you cannot go wrong.

Ask for Time to Think

If this isn’t the only job offer you have received, you may need some time to weigh up your options. Or if this company wasn’t your first choice, you may be hesitant about whether to accept. When that’s the case, it can help to ask for some time to think. You don’t want to rush into making a decision you end up unhappy with, however, you will need to give the company a timeframe of how long it will take you to get back to them.

Keep in mind that an acceptable timeframe is usually no longer than one or two days. After all, if you end up not accepting the offer, the hiring manager will need to get in touch with their next choice of candidate. Once you have thanked the company for the offer and confirmed your interest in the role, stick to the timeframe you have suggested. Regardless of what you end up deciding, be sure to get back in touch and let them know.

Exceeding this time frame can leave a bad impression on your future employer, especially if you decide to take up the job.

Get an Offer in Writing

Once both parties have agreed on the terms, you should receive a formal offer letter. In this letter, the terms of your employment should be stated out clearly. Once you have received it, be sure to look through it thoroughly and check that everything is as you have agreed upon.

If the job offer was made verbally and the employer has not sent you a formal letter, ask for one. Remember that anything that’s not down on paper is not legally binding, so you should always ask for one to protect your rights and avoid any disputes later on. You can be sure that if the employer is keen for you to start as soon as possible, the offer letter should arrive promptly.

Craft an Acceptance Letter

An acceptance letter does not have to be overly long, but keep in mind that it’s still a formal business correspondence and should be crafted for this purpose. The first thing to include in this letter or e-mail is your thanks and pleasure at receiving the good news. Next, express your intention to accept the offer. You may wish to clarify the salary and benefits that you are being offered in the next line so that there can be no doubt.

 

From there, confirm the date you can start, which should have been agreed upon during the interview and again when you received the offer. In the case where you have yet to confirm your notice period with your current employer, let your new employer know that you will be notifying them as soon as possible. To sign off, end on a positive note. You can do this by saying that you are looking forward to starting your new role.

Look Forward to Your New Job

You have formally accepted the offer, the details are finalized, and you can now start looking forward to your new job. This is the next step in your career, so don’t forget to take some time to celebrate your achievement!

Find Your Next Job at ColorComm Search

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