- Career Advice
- Finding a job
- How to follow up on a pending job offer. With samples!
How to follow up on a pending job offer. With samples!
Artwork by: Kate October
- How long to wait before following up on a pending job offer
- Tips for politely asking for your formal, written job offer
- 1. Polite greeting
- 2. Ask about next steps
- 3. Gracious closing
- Best ways to update a recruiter or hiring manager regarding your availability
- Pending job offer follow-up email examples
- Key takeaways
Receiving a pending job offer only to wait days or weeks for the official paperwork to come through is frustrating. While patience is key, you will still need to be persistent. We look at the delicate balance between professionalism and eagerness as we learn how to follow up on a pending job offer.
It’s exciting to make it through the interview process and receive a job offer. You’re likely ready to accept and move into your next role quickly. However, sometimes the official paperwork doesn’t hit your mailbox or email as quickly as you hope. Being in this situation can be frustrating and confusing, but we’re here to help! In this article, we will learn how to follow up on a pending job offer and see some examples of the types of emails you might want to send.
Here are some of the things we will cover:
How long to wait before following up on a pending job offer
Tips for politely asking for your formal, written job offer
Best ways to update a recruiter or hiring manager regarding your availability
Pending job offer email examples
How long to wait before following up on a pending job offer
Generally speaking, it isn’t uncommon to wait one to two weeks to receive a formal job offer. Often, employers need to complete additional new hire paperwork, review background checks, and talk to your previous employers before they can formally offer you the job.
However, there are some general guidelines you can follow to decide whether you’ve waited long enough to follow up. For example, if the hiring manager gave you a specific timeframe, it’s best to wait until it has passed before you ask for an update. Also, consider any holidays or weekends that may slow down the hiring manager.
Ultimately, you’ll need to use your best judgment to decide when the best time to follow up on a pending job offer is. The goal should be to make a positive impression right from the start. To do this, you should be pleasant whenever you interact with your future employer.
Tips for politely asking for your formal, written job offer
The first step in asking for an update regarding your formal, written job offer is to be professional and polite. When possible, use your contact’s name and express your gratitude for the verbal job offer. Here is an option for how to structure your email:
1. Polite greeting
After you have greeted your contact by name, you should first express your gratitude and excitement for the role. Doing so will give the hiring manager a great impression of you, but it will also help you build a relationship with them and the company.
“I wanted to express my gratitude for extending the job offer for the [Job Title] position.”
“I am truly grateful for the job offer extended to me for the [Job Title] role.”
“Please accept my sincere thanks for offering me the [Job Title] position.”
2. Ask about next steps
After the initial introduction, you can ask about the formal offer itself and what the next steps in the hiring process will be. In the body of your email, be specific about your potential start date. You should also offer to provide any additional information your future employer may need.
“I am thrilled about the opportunity. Could you provide me with the formal, written offer that was mentioned during my interview on [Interview Date]? If you need any additional information from me, I would be happy to provide it.”
“To continue with the next steps in the hiring process, I am requesting that you send the formal, written offer for my review. If you require anything from my end, just let me know.”
“I am excited about the opportunity to start on [Start Date]. Could you please send me the formal, written offer that includes the salary, benefits, and expected start date? I’m available at any time if further information is needed.”
3. Gracious closing
You will conclude your email the same way you started it, with gratitude. Before signing off on the email, thank your hiring manager again for the opportunity and express your excitement for the new role.
“I appreciate this wonderful opportunity and eagerly await your response.”
“I’m thankful for the offer and am excited to move forward. Thank you for your prompt response.”
“Thank you again for the fantastic opportunity. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.”
Best ways to update a recruiter or hiring manager regarding your availability
Occasionally, you may find that something has changed between the time you received your verbal offer and the time when you need to follow up on a pending job offer. If you find yourself in this situation, there are some specific ways to handle things. Here are a few instances where you may need to address changes to your availability:
You’ve received another offer. When you have a competing offer, you should navigate the situation by expressing gratitude and honesty. Show that you are still excited about the initial offer and request additional time to consider both offers thoroughly.
You want to negotiate. In this situation, start by conducting research. You should include specific reasons why you want to negotiate in your email that are based on your research.
You received additional certifications. If you’ve completed additional training or need to add to the information your hiring manager already has, express your excitement and explain how the additional information will benefit you in your new role.
You want to decline an offer. Whether you are moving on because you haven’t received an update regarding your job offer or have changed your mind, thank the hiring manager for the position. Feel free to include the reasons why you are turning down the offer, but you can leave this out if you want.
Trends of Job Seekers and Recruiters “Ghosting” Each Other: According to this 2023 HR Director article, ”Ghosting”–“a term used to describe when a recruiter or hiring manager previously expressed interest ceases communication”–has become a concern for professionals. In an October 2023 survey, 48 percent of professionals interviewed said an employer had “left them in the dark” after initially appearing interested in hiring them for an open position.
Pending job offer follow-up email examples
Now it’s time to look at your pending job offer followup email in action. Below you will find some examples of letters you can use to follow up on your pending job offer. Feel free to customize them for your situation.
Subject: Request for Formal Job Offer - [Position Title] - [Your Name]
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
I hope you are doing well. Thank you for extending me an offer for the [Job Title] position. I am excited about the opportunity and am excited to move forward with the hiring process.
I would be grateful if you could provide me with a formal, written offer, including the expected start date, salary, and benefits. Can you tell me what the next steps in the hiring process will be?
Thank you again for the opportunity. I look forward to your timely response.
Best regards, [Your Name]
Subject: Excited to Move Forward - Request for Formal Job Offer
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
I hope this email finds you well. I want to express my gratitude for the job offer extended for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. I’m thrilled about the prospect of joining the team.
Could you please provide me with the formal, written offer and details regarding the next steps in the hiring process? I look forward to contributing to the team when I start on [Start Date].
Thank you again for the wonderful offer. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards, [Your Name]
If you’re looking for an easy way to keep track of the jobs you are applying for, our Job Tracker Tool can help.
Key takeaways
It’s common to wait one to two weeks before following up on a pending job offer.
When you send a follow-up on a pending job offer, start with a polite greeting, ask about the next steps, and close with gratitude.
If you have received another offer, want to negotiate, or are no longer interested in the role, you will need to update your hiring manager.
