Our step-by-step guide will take you through the process of how to accept a job offer...

Covering:
- Receiving a job offer
- How to accept the offer with examples
- The best way to negotiate salary
- Questions you should be asking before starting a new job
- How to hand in your notice at your current job

Job offer acceptance email templates:
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1. Receiving the job offer

Most employers will offer you the job by phone call; either personally or via a Recruiter.

Accepting a job is a big decision, so take your time and ask any questions you have first. You shouldn’t feel pressure to accept the job offer straight away.

Thank the employer or recruiter and then politely ask if you can have some time to go away and consider the offer. If you want the job but you’re unhappy with some of the terms of the offer, you may need to negotiate at this stage, before accepting the job offer.

Of course, if you’ve been waiting excitedly for the call, and you know that everything about this job is right for you, you can verbally accept it over the phone. When accepting a job offer verbally, say ‘thank you’ for the opportunity, show your excitement and clarify any questions you have.

It’s not a problem if you haven’t been able to confirm your start date yet; just inform them you'll let them know as soon as you can.

You should then receive a written formal offer; either by email or post. It’s important that you have written confirmation of the job offer; so if you aren't informed of this during your call, ask about it or request that you receive the offer in writing.

2. How to accept a job offer by email or letter

It’s polite to respond to a written job offer via an email reply or a job offer acceptance letter, even if you’ve already verbally accepted the offer.

A job offer acceptance letter should contain:
• An expression of your gratitude for the opportunity
• Written formal acceptance of the job offer
• The terms and conditions
• Clarification on your starting date

A well-constructed, formal acceptance email shows the employer they made the right decision offering you the job:
- Use proper language
- Address the Hiring Manager
- Use spell check

A formal job offer acceptance email that's poorly written won’t give your new employer the best impression.

3. How to negotiate a job offer

Employers expect candidates to have questions about the role, the company and the terms of the job offer (usually salary). In order to negotiate your salary, do your research on your market value & consider what your minimum salary requirements are.

If you aren’t happy with the basic salary they offer, you haven't discussed your salary expectations in the interview, OR, if there was a salary bracket in the job specification, you'll need to discuss this before accepting the job offer.

If you're negotiating salary, ask if there's any flexibility & how often salary reviews will take place. If they say no, take time to consider the offer as a whole, including other benefits: work culture, training & career progression.

If there is some flexibility, explain how your worth justifies this higher salary, e.g. your experience or how you could help the company grow.

Don't get disheartened if the salary offer is lower than expected or if the employer won’t budge; especially in entry-level graduate jobs. A lower salary offer doesn’t mean the employer doesn’t value you, they’ll just want to get to know you before offering a higher salary.

4. Questions to ask an employer before starting a new job

• Is the salary negotiable?
• How many days annual leave will I get?
• Does unused annual leave carry over?
• When do you need a decision?
• What benefits are included?
• What opportunities are there for personal growth?
• What are the working hours?
• Will I be required to work outside these hours?
• What paperwork do I need to bring on my first day?

5. How to hand in your notice

If you are already working in another job you will need to officially resign, usually in the form of a resignation letter.

Processes for handing in your notice differ, so if you’re at unsure on how to resign from a job, check your contract or staff handbook.

Golden rule for handing in your notice to start a new job is not to resign until you have a written job offer, which includes a start date, details of your salary and any other benefits packages. If it’s possible, avoid handing in your notice until you have a company signed employment contract.

A resignation letter needs to include:
• Details of the position you are leaving
• How much notice you are giving
• When your last day will be
• A thank you for the opportunity to work at the company
• Finally, wishing the company good luck or a concluding sentence

The process of searching for graduate jobs doesn’t end once you've received an offer. Now it’s time to prepare for your first day!

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