Congratulations, you got the offer! After weeks of applying and interviewing, the hard part is over. But before you celebrate, you need to officially accept the offer in writing.
A verbal acceptance on the phone is great, but a formal email acceptance is legally and professionally required. It locks in the details and prevents any miscommunication about your start date or salary.
What to include in your acceptance email
Your job offer acceptance email should be brief, polite, and cover these four points:
- A clear statement of acceptance: Explicitly state that you accept the offer for the specific job title.
- Gratitude: Thank the hiring manager or recruiter for the opportunity.
- Confirmation of details: Confirm your agreed-upon start date and base salary.
- Next steps: Ask if they need any additional paperwork or documentation before your first day.
Template 1: The standard acceptance
Use this template if the offer is exactly what you wanted, and you are ready to sign the contract without any further negotiation.
Subject: Job Offer Acceptance - [Your Name] - [Job Title]
Dear [Hiring Manager Name],
Thank you so much for offering me the position of [Job Title] at [Company Name]. I am thrilled to officially accept your offer.
As we discussed, my starting salary will be [$X,XXX] and my start date will be [Date]. I have signed and attached the offer letter and onboarding documents you requested.
Please let me know if there is anything else you need from me before my first day. I am very excited to join the team and get started!
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Template 2: After negotiating salary
If you verbally negotiated a higher salary or a different start date over the phone, use this template to confirm the new, updated terms in writing.
Subject: Job Offer Acceptance - [Your Name]
Dear [Hiring Manager Name],
Thank you again for the offer and for our conversation earlier today. I am excited to officially accept the position of [Job Title] at [Company Name].
To confirm our discussion, my starting salary will be [$X,XXX] and my first day will be [Date]. I look forward to receiving the updated offer letter reflecting these terms so I can sign and return it to you.
Thank you again for this opportunity. I can't wait to join the team.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Mistakes to avoid
- Waiting too long: You should reply to a job offer within 24 to 48 hours. If you need more time to think about it, reply immediately to acknowledge receipt and ask for a deadline.
- Negotiating after accepting: Once you send the acceptance email, the negotiation phase is over. Do not ask for more money or extra vacation days after you hit send.
- Forgetting the attachments: If they asked you to sign a PDF offer letter, make sure you actually attach it before sending the email.