Pay and progression · 5 min read
How do I accept a job offer?
What to check before accepting a job offer, how to accept by phone and email, a template, and the order in which to resign so nothing goes wrong.
The short answer
Before you accept, get the offer in writing and check the details: job title, salary, bonus, start date, location and hybrid rules, notice period, probation, holiday, pension or 401(k), benefits and any conditions such as references, background checks or right-to-work checks. If anything is missing or different from what was said, ask now. Then accept warmly by phone or email, confirming the key terms in writing. Don't resign from your current job until the offer is unconditional, or until the remaining conditions are ones you're confident of, and you have a signed contract or written offer. Then resign, and stop other applications politely.
Key takeaways
- Get the offer in writing and check every term before you say yes.
- Negotiate before accepting, not after.
- Accept in writing, restating salary, start date and title.
- Resign only once the offer is unconditional or you're confident of its conditions.
On this pageWhat to check before you say yes
What to check before you say yes
| Term | Check |
|---|---|
| Title and level | Matches what was discussed |
| Base pay | The figure, and whether it's annual or hourly |
| Bonus or commission | How it's calculated and when it's paid |
| Start date | Allows for your notice period |
| Location and hybrid days | Written down, not just said |
| Probation | Length and notice during it |
| Holiday | Days, and whether public holidays are included |
| Pension or 401(k) | Employer contribution or match, vesting |
| Benefits | Health cover, waiting periods |
| Conditions | References, checks, qualifications still outstanding |
Negotiate first, if you're going to
The moment between the offer and your acceptance is when your negotiating position is strongest. If you want to ask for more pay, a later start, extra holiday or a different hybrid pattern, do it now, politely and once. After you've accepted, reopening terms is awkward and rarely works.
An acceptance email template
Subject: Acceptance of offer, senior project coordinator. Dear Ms Chen, thank you for offering me the role of senior project coordinator. I'm delighted to accept. As discussed, I confirm a starting salary of £42,000 a year and a start date of Monday 5 January, following my four-week notice period. Please let me know if you need anything further from me before then, such as documents for the right-to-work check. I'm looking forward to joining the team. Kind regards, Alex Patel
The safe order of events
- Receive the written offer.
- Negotiate, if needed, and receive the revised offer in writing.
- Accept by phone and email.
- Clear the conditions: references, checks, documents.
- Receive the contract or confirmation that the offer is unconditional.
- Resign from your current job in writing.
- Withdraw politely from other processes.
Withdrawing from other applications
Send a short note to any employer still interviewing you: thank them, say you've accepted another role and wish them well. It keeps the door open for later, and recruiters often come back when a better role appears. If you were waiting on another offer you'd prefer, you can tell that employer you have an offer and ask whether they can decide sooner, before you accept.
Questions people ask
- How long do I have to accept a job offer?
- Most employers expect an answer within a few days to a week. If you need more time, for example to hear from another employer, ask politely and give a date: "Could I come back to you by Friday?" Most will agree. Very short deadlines of a few hours are a pressure tactic worth questioning.
- Can I accept a job offer and then back out?
- Legally you usually can, though if you've signed a contract you may be bound to give notice. It burns the bridge and the recruiter will remember. Only do it for a serious reason, tell them quickly and personally, and apologise.
- Should I accept by phone or by email?
- Often both: a warm yes on the phone, then an email that confirms the terms. The email gives you a record of what was agreed, which matters if the contract later differs.
- What's a conditional offer?
- An offer that depends on things still to be checked, such as references, qualifications, a criminal record or background check, a medical, or right to work. Until they're cleared, the employer can withdraw it. Ask which conditions remain and how long they take before you resign.
- Should I ask for the contract before I resign?
- Yes, or at least a written offer that sets out the main terms and confirms which conditions remain. A verbal offer isn't enough to resign on. If the employer is slow sending the contract, ask when it will arrive and hold your resignation until you have the key terms in writing.
- Can I accept an offer but ask for a later start date?
- Usually, yes. Ask before accepting, with a reason, such as your notice period or a planned holiday. Most employers would rather wait two weeks for the right person than restart hiring. If the start date is fixed, ask whether you could start part time or remotely for the first week.
Exercises are practice, not evidence of career fit or a qualification. How to read our guides and report a correction.
Sources
- Handing in your notice · GOV.UK
- Interview · CareerOneStop, US Department of Labor
How this page is written
Sources support the factual background, not a guarantee that an exercise predicts career fit. Fictional practice material is labelled. Dates record content updates; no independent expert review is implied. More about OffLadder.