Accepting a job offer can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, so we’ve gathered advice from ten professionals, including HR managers and certified resume writers, to help you craft the perfect response. From addressing the next steps in the transition to asking questions to clarify concerns, these experts share their top tips on what to include when expressing your interest in a new position.
Address Next Steps in Transition
Align Experience With Company Goals
Express Gratitude and Enthusiasm
Demonstrate Gratitude for the Offer
Clarify Timeline and Notice Period
Negotiate Terms With Confidence
Confirm Salary, Benefits, and Date
Show Excitement and Gratitude
Connect With Your New Team
Ask Questions to Clarify Concerns
Address Next Steps in Transition
When replying to and accepting an employment offer, it’s a good idea to address the next steps or actions required to ensure a smooth transition to the new role. This could mean signing and sending back an offer letter, filling out any additional paperwork or assessment, or scheduling an onboarding session.
Showing your employer that you are ready to take on more responsibility can show that you are well-prepared and proactive. It also shows your enthusiasm towards starting the position and can help establish a positive relationship with your new company.
Maja Kowalska, Community Manager, Zety
Align Experience With Company Goals
Advertise yourself as a great fit for the job in your response by identifying a company goal and showing how you can help achieve it. Quickly review the employer’s website, social media, and similar job ads for a specific aim, then mention it in your reply.
Let’s say the job offer is a sales associate position at an e-commerce company and you find they want to expand their market share in the tech industry. Your reply should align your experience with that aim. For example:
“I noticed that [Company Name] wants to increase its market share in the technology sector—a goal I can definitely help with, given my proven success in this area. In my previous role in [XYZ Company], I spearheaded the release of several new software products, enabling us to grow our market share by 25% in just six months. I’d love to meet for an interview and tell you more about how my effectiveness at market analysis and negotiation will benefit your team.”
Geoffrey Scott, SEO Content Manager and CRPW, Resume Genius
Express Gratitude and Enthusiasm
One thing to include when responding to an employment offer and expressing your interest in the position is to thank the employer for the opportunity and express your enthusiasm for the role. This can help to create a positive first impression and show your professionalism and gratitude for the offer.
For example, you might start your response by thanking the employer for extending the job offer and expressing your excitement at the prospect of joining the team. You might also mention specific aspects of the job that you find appealing, such as the company culture, the opportunity to work on interesting projects, or the potential for growth and development.
By expressing your interest and enthusiasm in this way, you can help to build a firm foundation for your relationship with the employer and set the stage for a successful employment experience.
Brittney Simpson, HR Operations Manager, Walker-Miller Energy Services
Demonstrate Gratitude for the Offer
In your response, it’s critical to show gratitude for the job offer. This not only shows professionalism and respect for the hiring team but also your gratitude for the opportunity.
It might provide the foundation for a fruitful working connection with your prospective employer.
Early in my career, I acknowledged my thanks in my replies to job offers.
I conveyed my excitement at the prospect of joining the hiring team and thanked them for taking the time to consider me for the role. This made it easier to build a good rapport right away and set the stage for fruitful collaboration.
Percy Grunwald, Co-founder, Compare Banks
Clarify Timeline and Notice Period
Once you are ready to accept an employment offer, it is time to discuss the practicalities. The next logical question on the employer’s mind is “When can you start?” so it makes sense to outline the timeline, which is contingent on your current contract.
By formally stating the terms of the notice, you remove any ambiguity on your part. This also highlights an appreciation for contract adherence, showing your new employer that you follow the rules even when leaving an organization.
Last, by highlighting how much notice you need to give, you reassure the employer that any gap between the present and your future start date is purely a legal obligation. You aren’t merely buying time to seek other offers, putting their minds at ease.
Chloe Yarwood, HR Business Partner, Test Partnership
Negotiate Terms With Confidence
When you receive a promising offer of employment, don’t respond right away. Give yourself time to contrast and compare different salary and benefits packages so you know exactly what you’re looking for, then reply with your interest, a thank you, and a negotiation.
Companies expect negotiations on their terms; in fact, when candidates don’t negotiate, they can appear disinterested, unmotivated, or even desperate. So no matter how good the offer is, come up with something you’d like tweaked.
But give it some thought; if you want a better package, this is the time to bring it up. You have more leverage now. Use it, and you’ll look like someone who knows they’re worth it but is still committed to the role.
Travis Hann, Partner, Pender & Howe
Confirm Salary, Benefits, and Date
If you are satisfied with the offer given, you can start out by thanking the employer for the offer and writing out that you are officially accepting it.
Always take time to clarify information about your salary, benefits, and start date.
You can do this by creating a paragraph that states:
“As discussed, my starting salary is $XX,000, with a semi-annual performance-based bonus, medical insurance coverage for myself and my spouse, and a fully remote working schedule as part of the offer. I confirm that my start day will be June 15th, 2023.”
Last, end with an expression of excitement about starting the new role.
Liz Hogan, Digital Partnerships CPRW, Find My Profession
Show Excitement and Gratitude
The single most important thing to include when responding to an employment offer is to express your excitement and gratitude that the company would like to hire you! Regardless of whether you accept immediately. For example, thank you so much for the offer. I am thrilled that you would like to have me join the team.
This can help build a positive relationship with your future employer from the very beginning. It also shows that you value the opportunity and appreciate the time and effort that the company put into considering you for the role.
Expressing your excitement and gratitude can set a positive tone for future negotiations, including salary, benefits, and work arrangements. Employers are more likely to be open to discussion when they feel the candidate appreciates the opportunity to work for them.
Steph White, Director, EC1 Partners
Connect With Your New Team
One thing I always recommend is to suggest a call or a meeting prior to the commencement of the role so that you can meet the team either in person or at least talk to them over a call.
Not only does this show that a) you clearly eagerly want the role, but also b) you’re showing an appreciation for your team and that you actively, genuinely want to get to know them as soon as possible.
Wendy Makinson, HR Manager, Joloda Hydraroll
Ask Questions to Clarify Concerns
Responding to an employment offer presents an excellent opportunity to clarify questions you may have about the job or the company.
Asking questions about essential aspects of the job (e.g. the work schedule or reporting structure) helps you make an informed decision about whether to accept the offer.
Verifying the company’s goals or values, such as its commitment to diversity and inclusion or sustainability, demonstrates your genuine interest in the organization’s culture and mission. Overall, asking questions proves you are thoughtful and detail-oriented.
But there’s more behind it. Posing questions enables maintaining a constructive dialogue with the employer. This can give you a chance to showcase your skills, experience, and unique perspective, making yourself more memorable to the recruiters.
The employer should feel obligated to answer your questions, as this can help to establish a positive and collaborative relationship.
Nina Paczka, Community Manager, Resume Now
Comments