- What should I say in a job acceptance email?
- How do you politely accept a job offer?
- What if I need to negotiate the terms of my job offer?
- What if I need to ask for more time to consider a job offer?
- What do I do if I have multiple job offers?
- Key takeaways
Once you’ve gone through the application and interview process and been chosen as the ideal candidate for the position, it’s time to write the perfect job acceptance email. In this blog, we will cover how you should go about tackling that task.
You’ve put in all the hard work and have landed that perfect job. Now, it’s time to craft a great job acceptance email. At first glance, that may seem like a simple process, but things can become complicated quickly once you start diving deeper into the offer itself. Crafting the best job acceptance email starts with careful consideration and planning.
In this blog, we will explore the best tips for writing an appropriate job acceptance email and ways you can negotiate a different offer. Here are a few of the items we will cover:
What should I say in a job acceptance email?
How do I negotiate the terms of my job offer?
How to ask for more time to consider a job offer?
What do I do when I have multiple job offers?
How do you politely accept a job offer?
What should I say in a job acceptance email?
If you’ve reached the decision that you want to accept a job offer, crafting a professional email is the next step in the process. To make the best first impression with your new employers, here are a few things you will want to focus on when crafting that email.
Subject line: The subject line of your job offer acceptance email should be one that clearly identifies you and gives a brief look at why you are sending the email.
Recipients: When sending your email, make sure you add any recipients who were attached to your original offer email. If replying to an offer email, be sure to select the ‘reply all’ option.
Gratitude: The first section of your email should express gratitude for the offer and display your excitement at the opportunity.
Confirm terms: One of the most important parts of your job acceptance email is the section where you confirm the terms of your employment. You should list out any details you’ve been given so there is no confusion regarding your expectations in the role. This includes salary, who you will report to, your job responsibilities, travel requirements, and vacation allotment.
Verify start date: After you’ve listed out the terms, verify the date you are expected to start your new position.
Write the formal acceptance: End the email with a formal acceptance of the position and reiterate your gratitude for the offer.
Expert Tip
While you want to be personable and pleasant to your new employers, it is a good idea to write your job acceptance email using formal wording and structure. Since your job offer acceptance email is essentially a formal agreement, you should be as professional and straight to the point as possible.
How do you politely accept a job offer?
Once you’ve received a job offer and decided to accept the terms, it’s time to formally accept the job. To do so, you will need to write a formal and polite email responding to the offer. This email should include several items, such as your confirmation of the terms of your employment, your start date, and your gratitude for the offer. The following is an example of the email you could send.
Example Dear [Hiring Manager] Thank you for your offer of employment with [company name] in the role of [position name]. I am excited to accept the offer for this role with the salary of [agreed upon salary]. As we discussed, I am available to begin work on [start date] and will arrive at [start time] for my orientation with [designated contact’s name]. I am excited about the opportunity and look forward to becoming a valuable part of the [company name] team. Thank you again for the offer. Sincerely, [Your Name] |
After you’ve completed your job offer acceptance email, be sure to proofread it and verify you have the correct information included. You should then send the email to the person or group of people who originally sent you the email and include a subject line that identifies you and your intent with the email.
What if I need to negotiate the terms of my job offer?
If the terms of your job offer email do not meet your expectations, there are ways to negotiate them before sending an offer acceptance email. With this type of email, you will also want to be professional and thorough when detailing your requests. Here is an example of what that email might look like.
Example I want to thank you for the job offer of [position name] at [company name]. The position and responsibilities fit well with my skills and experience. After considering your offer, I would like to chat about the proposed salary. Due to my experience in [industry] and especially my [list pertinent and valuable skills for the position] skills, I believe a salary of [salary amount] would be more appropriate for the position. Thank you again for the offer and I look forward to hearing your response regarding the proposed salary increase. Sincerely, [Your Name] |
When you do decide to negotiate your job offer, don’t sell yourself short. Know what value you bring to the table, and don’t be afraid to ask for salary and benefit accommodations that reflect that value.
However, it is a good idea to start with and focus on the most important factors you would like to change about your job offer. Saving some items for a later date could give you further opportunities for negotiation after you’ve been in the role for some time.
What if I need to ask for more time to consider a job offer?
It isn’t uncommon to receive a job offer and need a little more time to consider the details. If you find yourself in this position, here are the steps you can take to ensure you have the time you need to make the best decision.
Thank the business for their offer at the beginning of your email.
Explain you are excited to review the offer and will consider the terms and the position carefully.
Clarify any sections of the offer you are unsure of and ask any questions that will affect your decision.
Provide your potential employer with a date they can expect your response by. Be sure to be reasonable in your timing and be prepared to send a decision as soon as possible.
Conclude the email with another statement thanking the business for its offer.
Once you have requested more time to review the offer, stick to the timeframe you agreed to. If you asked for further information in your email, be sure to follow up promptly if you don’t hear back from the hiring manager as a delay in response could affect your ability to make a sound decision.
What do I do if I have multiple job offers?
Finding yourself in the position of having multiple job offers presents its own challenges when writing a job acceptance email. It’s easy to make mistakes, and unfortunately, many of those mistakes you can’t take back once they have been made. Use the tips below to handle multiple job offers appropriately.
- Request written job offers from all companies who have made an offer.
- Be respectful of your contact person’s time by communicating in a timely manner.
- Line out the benefits, compensation, and responsibilities you will have in each role.
- Regardless of the position you are most interested in, you can negotiate your offers and sign-on bonuses.
- Show hesitation or lack of enthusiasm for any job offer you are given.
- Delay asking for more time if you need it to make an informed decision regarding your options.
- Forget to consider your own future career goals and aspirations in your given industry.
- Fail to be grateful for the opportunities.
Key takeaways
When writing a job acceptance email, it is important that you keep things professional and formal.
Cover all important information in your email, such as your expected salary, any benefits you discussed, your start date, and your responsibilities in the new role.
If you need time to review your offer, ask for it as soon as possible and give a timeline regarding when the hiring manager can expect to hear back from you.
When negotiating the terms of your offer letter, stay professional and focus on the most important factors of the offer.
