To accept a job offer, review the full compensation package, confirm details like start date and remote policy, then send a clear written acceptance. Respond within 2-3 business days. If you negotiated terms, restate the agreed numbers in your acceptance email so everything is documented.
You did the hard part. You prepared, interviewed, and got the offer. Now you need to close it cleanly.
This guide covers exactly what to verify before accepting, four email templates you can copy, and what to do after you say yes.
Before You Accept: The Pre-Acceptance Checklist
Do not accept an offer until you've confirmed every item on this list. Verbal promises disappear. Get it in writing.
Compensation
- Base salary (annual, not "competitive")
- Bonus structure and target percentage
- Equity or stock options (vesting schedule, strike price, cliff)
- Sign-on bonus and any clawback terms
Benefits
- Health, dental, and vision insurance (premiums and coverage)
- 401(k) match percentage and vesting schedule
- PTO days, sick leave, and company holidays
- Parental leave policy
Role Details
- Exact job title (matches what was discussed)
- Reporting structure (who you report to)
- Start date
- Work location and remote/hybrid policy
- Travel expectations
Terms
- At-will employment or contract
- Non-compete or non-solicitation clauses
- Intellectual property assignment
- Severance terms
If anything is unclear or missing from the written offer, ask before you accept. This is your last point of leverage. Once you sign, these conversations become much harder.
Need to negotiate before accepting? Use these salary negotiation scripts or counter offer email templates first.
4 Job Offer Acceptance Email Templates
Template 1: Standard Acceptance
Use this when you're accepting the offer as presented, no changes needed.
Subject: Acceptance - [Job Title] Position
Dear [Hiring Manager/Recruiter Name],
Thank you for offering me the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. I'm pleased to accept.
I'm confirming my understanding of the key terms:
- Start date: [Date]
- Base salary: $[Amount]
- Location: [Office/Remote/Hybrid arrangement]
Please send over any paperwork or onboarding materials, and let me know if there's anything you need from me before [start date].
I'm looking forward to joining the team and contributing to [specific project or goal discussed in interviews].
Best regards, [Your Name]
Template 2: Acceptance After Negotiation
Use this when you've negotiated and want to lock in the agreed terms.
Subject: Acceptance - [Job Title] at [Company Name]
Hi [Name],
Thank you for working with me on the compensation package. I'm happy to accept the [Job Title] position at [Company Name] under the revised terms we discussed.
To confirm, my understanding of the agreed package is:
- Base salary: $[Negotiated Amount]
- Sign-on bonus: $[Amount] (if applicable)
- Start date: [Date]
- Equity: [Details, if applicable]
- Remote work: [Agreed arrangement]
Please let me know if I've captured anything incorrectly. I'll look for the updated offer letter to review and sign.
I'm excited to get started and appreciate the collaborative approach throughout this process.
Best, [Your Name]
Documenting the negotiated terms in your acceptance email is not optional. If the revised offer letter hasn't arrived yet, this email becomes your written record.
Template 3: Acceptance With Conditions
Use this when you're accepting but need one thing confirmed or adjusted.
Subject: Re: [Job Title] Offer - Acceptance
Hi [Name],
I'm ready to accept the [Job Title] offer at [Company Name]. I'm excited about the role and the team.
Before I sign the formal letter, I'd like to confirm one detail: [specific condition—e.g., "that my start date can be [Date] to allow two weeks' notice at my current employer" or "that the remote work arrangement of 3 days/week from home is reflected in the offer letter"].
Assuming that's confirmed, consider this my formal acceptance. Please send the paperwork and I'll return it promptly.
Looking forward to it.
Best, [Your Name]
Template 4: Written Follow-Up After Verbal Acceptance
Use this when you already accepted over the phone and need to confirm in writing.
Subject: Following Up - [Job Title] Acceptance
Hi [Name],
Following our conversation today, I'm writing to formally confirm my acceptance of the [Job Title] position at [Company Name].
As discussed:
- Base salary: $[Amount]
- Start date: [Date]
- Reporting to: [Manager Name]
Thank you again for the opportunity. I'll watch for the offer letter and onboarding details.
Best, [Your Name]
Always follow a verbal acceptance with a written one. Phone calls don't create records. Emails do.
Stop Guessing. See Exactly How You Sound.
Reading about interviews won't help you. Speaking out loud will.
Get specific feedback on what's working and what's killing your chances. Know your blind spots before the real interview.
Timeline: How Quickly Should You Respond?
Within 24 hours: Acknowledge receipt. Thank them. Say you're reviewing the offer.
Within 2-3 business days: Give your answer, or ask for more time with a specific date.
Within 1 week (maximum): Final decision. Going longer than a week without a clear reason signals hesitation.
If you need more time, say so directly:
"Thank you for the offer. I'm very interested and want to give this the consideration it deserves. Would it be possible to have until [specific date] to provide my final answer?"
Most employers will grant 3-5 business days without issue. A week is fine if you explain why. Beyond that, you risk losing the offer or signaling that you're using it as leverage elsewhere.
What to Do After You Accept
Accepting the offer is step one. Here's what happens next.
1. Sign and return the offer letter
Read every line. Confirm the terms match what was discussed. Sign and return it the same day if possible.
2. Give notice at your current job
Two weeks is standard. Write a brief, professional resignation letter. Don't burn bridges—you'll cross paths with these people again.
3. Stop interviewing
If you have active interviews elsewhere, withdraw promptly and politely. Ghosting other companies is unprofessional and the hiring world is smaller than you think. Here's how to decline other offers gracefully.
4. Handle counter offers from your current employer
Your current company may counter. Decide in advance whether you'd stay. In most cases, accepting a counter offer leads to the same departure within 12 months—the underlying reasons you were looking haven't changed.
5. Prepare for day one
- Complete all onboarding paperwork and background checks
- Set up any required accounts or equipment
- Research your new team (LinkedIn, company org charts)
- Prepare a 30-60-90 day framework for yourself
- Reach out to your new manager a few days before to confirm logistics
Common Mistakes When Accepting a Job Offer
Accepting too fast without reviewing terms. Enthusiasm is good. Signing without reading is not. Take the time to review every detail.
Not getting verbal promises in writing. If the recruiter said "we'll revisit salary at six months," it needs to be in the offer letter or your acceptance email. Verbal promises evaporate when your recruiter moves to a different company.
Failing to negotiate before accepting. The window closes the moment you sign. If you haven't explored whether there's room on salary, bonus, equity, or start date, you've left value on the table. Our salary negotiation scripts can help.
Ghosting other employers. Withdrawing from other processes is a professional obligation. A brief email is all it takes.
Not confirming the start date with your current employer. Make sure your two-week notice timeline aligns with your new start date. If there's a gap or overlap, resolve it before you accept.
Forgetting to follow up a verbal acceptance in writing. A phone call is a handshake. An email is a contract. Always follow up in writing.
After the Offer: What Comes Next
The offer stage is one piece of a longer process. If you're still in the interview cycle for other roles, these resources will help:
- Salary Negotiation Scripts: Word-for-word examples for phone and in-person conversations
- Counter Offer Email Templates: 15 templates for negotiating a better package
- How to Decline a Job Offer: Gracefully turn down offers without burning bridges
- Follow-Up Email After Interview: Templates for every interview stage
Want to practice the conversation before it happens?
Try Revarta and rehearse salary negotiations, offer discussions, and interview scenarios with AI that responds like a real hiring manager. Walk into every conversation prepared.
