Accept a job offer

Congratulations on your new job! Now write the perfect acceptance letter.

An acceptance letter provides proof of what you believe to be your terms of employment before you actually begin work.

Although you will often accept a job offer in person, it is a good gesture and a wise practice to formalize it with a letter.

How to write a letter to accept a job offer: 7 tips

• Begin your acceptance letter by thanking whoever sent you the job offer, and then make it clear that you have decided to accept it.

• Use your acceptance letter to restate the basic terms of employment as you understand them, including hours per week, salary, and benefits.

• Restate what instructions you were given regarding such details as your starting date, work hours, appropriate dress, and where you should park.

• Request clarification in your acceptance letter of any terms of employment that were vague in the interview or that concerned you afterwards.

• Express how much you look forward to filling this new position and mention one or two aspects of the job you will especially enjoy.

• Type your acceptance letter in block or semi-block format, using three or four paragraphs, one page in length, and sign it by hand.

• Make sure your acceptance letter is professional-looking; check it carefully for grammatical mistakes, typographical errors, and misspelled words.

Say, "I accept" correctly or negociate and ask for a better deal

Follow the example of expert writers: Review several of our model acceptance letters before writing.

Not ready to accept a job offer?

Now is the time to negotiate:

• Respond to a job offer, negotiating a higher salary

• Respond to a job offer, negotiating conditions