# How to Accept a Job Offer: What to Confirm and Email Templates > Before you accept, get the offer in writing and check pay, title, start date, manager and anything you negotiated. Then reply within the deadline with a short email that says yes, confirms the key terms and start date, and asks what happens next. Canonical: https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/how-to-accept-a-job-offer/ Published by the Know the Room team (https://knowtheroom.ai/authors/know-the-room-team/). Updated 2026-10-24. ## Key takeaways - Before you accept a job offer, get it in writing and check the title, pay, bonus, start date, manager and anything you negotiated. - A job offer acceptance email says yes clearly, restates the title, pay and start date, thanks them and asks about next steps. - You don't have to accept a job offer on the phone; say you're pleased and that you'll reply in writing by a specific day. - Raise any difference between the verbal offer and the written offer before you sign, not after. - Don't resign from your current job until the new offer is signed and any background checks are cleared. ## How do you accept a job offer by email? Reply to the offer email, say clearly that you accept, restate the title, pay and start date, thank them, and ask about next steps. Keep it to a short paragraph or two. The email is a record as much as a message, so the terms in it should match the written offer exactly. Offers often come by phone first, from the recruiter or the hiring manager, then in writing. It's fine to say on the call that you're very pleased and will reply in writing by a specific day. You don't have to accept on the spot, and the email is where you actually say yes. A simple way to respond when the offer comes by phone: ```text "Thank you, that's great news and I'm really pleased. Could you send the details in writing? I'll read through everything and come back to you by [day]." ``` ## What should you confirm before accepting a job offer? Confirm everything that would change your answer, and get it in writing before you sign. Once you've accepted, you have little room to change anything. | What to check | Why it matters | |---|---| | Job title | Titles in marketing vary a lot. "Manager" at one company is "Senior Specialist" at another, and the title shapes your next move. | | Base pay and bonus | Check the base, the bonus target and what the bonus depends on: company results, your team's targets, or both. | | Equity | Number of shares or units, vesting schedule, and whether there's a cliff. | | Reporting line | Who you report to, and whether that person is staying. A reorg between offer and start date does happen. | | Scope | Which channels, brands, budget or team you own. If they told you that you'd own paid social and the offer letter says "support", ask. | | Start date | A date that leaves time for your notice period, and any break you want. | | Location and working pattern | Remote, hybrid or office, which days, and whether it's in writing. | | Benefits and time off | When health insurance starts, paid time off, parental leave, retirement match. | | Anything you negotiated | A sign-on bonus, an extra week off, a title change, a review at six months. If it isn't in the letter, it may not happen. | | Conditions | Background check, reference checks, a non-compete or non-solicit clause. | If you're still deciding whether to push on any of this, read [how to negotiate a job offer](/guides/salary-negotiation/) before you reply. Asking a clarifying question isn't negotiating, and no reasonable employer pulls an offer over one. ### A note on non-competes Read any restrictive clause before you sign, especially if you're in a niche category where your next job is likely to be at a competitor. If the language is broad, ask what it's meant to cover. For a senior role, it can be worth having an employment lawyer read the contract. ## How to ask for the offer in writing If you only have a verbal offer, ask for the written version before you accept. ```text Hi [Name], Thank you again for the call today. I'm really pleased about the offer for the [Role] role. Could you send the offer in writing, including the base salary, bonus, start date and benefits? I'd like to review it and will come back to you by [day]. Best, [Your name] ``` ## Job offer acceptance email templates Replace everything in [brackets] and check every number against the offer letter before you send. Keep the facts exact, but write the warm parts the way you'd naturally say them; the people reading this are about to be your colleagues, and a note that sounds like you is a nice first impression. ### 1. Standard acceptance ```text Subject: Accepting the [Role] offer Hi [Name], Thank you for the offer. I'm delighted to accept the position of [Job title] at [Company]. To confirm what we discussed: a base salary of [amount] per year, [bonus or equity details], reporting to [manager's name], with a start date of [date]. I'm looking forward to working with you and the team on [one thing you're excited about: the rebrand, building out lifecycle, the new market launch]. Please let me know what you need from me before then, and what the first day will look like. Best, [Your name] [Phone number] ``` ### 2. Accepting after a negotiation Confirm the changed terms explicitly, so the email matches the revised letter. ```text Subject: Re: [Role] offer Hi [Name], Thank you for working with me on the offer. I'm happy to accept the revised terms: a base salary of [amount], [the item you negotiated: a sign-on bonus of X / a title of Senior Brand Manager / a compensation review at six months], and a start date of [date]. Could you send an updated offer letter that reflects these terms? I'll sign and return it as soon as I have it. I'm excited to get started. Best, [Your name] ``` ### 3. Short acceptance to the recruiter ```text Subject: [Role]: accepting Hi [Name], Good news: I'm accepting the [Role] offer. I've signed and attached the letter. Thank you for all your help through the process. Please pass my thanks on to [hiring manager] and the panel. What are the next steps for the background check and onboarding? Best, [Your name] ``` ### 4. Accepting with a later start date If you need more time than they proposed, ask as you accept, with a reason. ```text Subject: Accepting the [Role] offer Hi [Name], Thank you for the offer. I'm very happy to accept the [Job title] position. I have a [two / four]-week notice period at [current company], and I'm leading [a launch or handover] that finishes on [date]. Would a start date of [date] work for the team? I want to leave my current role properly and arrive ready to start. Looking forward to it, [Your name] ``` ### 5. A note to the hiring manager If the offer came through a recruiter, a separate note to your new manager is a good start to the relationship. ```text Subject: Looking forward to starting Hi [Name], I've just accepted the offer and wanted to say thank you directly. I really enjoyed our conversations, especially [something specific: the discussion about the brand's position with younger buyers]. Before I start, is there anything you'd suggest I read or look at? I'd like to come in on day one already familiar with [the brand, the channel mix, the last campaign]. See you on [date], [Your name] ``` For a senior role, this is the moment to start your [30-60-90 day plan](/guides/30-60-90-day-plan/). Your new manager will be glad to see it in the first week. ## What should you do after accepting? Sign and return the letter, then deal with the other companies and your current employer, in that order. Don't resign until you have a signed offer and any conditions, such as background checks, are cleared or near enough. 1. **Sign the offer letter** and keep a copy. 2. **Withdraw from other processes** and decline any other offers. Our [guide to declining a job offer](/guides/how-to-decline-a-job-offer/) has templates for both. 3. **Thank your references.** If they were called, tell them the outcome. The [reference check guide](/guides/reference-check-questions/) covers how to brief them next time. 4. **Resign from your current job,** in person or on a call with your manager first, then in writing. 5. **Update LinkedIn** close to your start date, not the day you sign. ### A resignation email template Keep it short. The conversation with your manager comes first; this is the record. ```text Subject: Resignation: [Your name] Hi [Manager's name], As we discussed today, I'm resigning from my position as [Job title]. My last day will be [date], in line with my [two-week / one-month] notice period. Thank you for [something true: the chance to lead the relaunch, your support over the past two years]. I'll make sure [your main projects] are handed over properly, and I'm happy to help find and brief my replacement. Best, [Your name] ``` ## How do you accept an interview invitation by email? If the "offer" is an invitation to interview rather than a job offer, reply the same day, confirm one of the times they offered, and check the format and who you'll meet. It's a small email, and a quick, clear reply makes a good first impression. ```text Subject: Re: Interview for [Role] Hi [Name], Thank you for the invitation. [Day, date, time and time zone] works well for me. Could you confirm whether it will be [video / phone / in person] and who I'll be speaking with? I'm looking forward to it. Best, [Your name] ``` Then start preparing: [how to prepare for an interview](/guides/how-to-prepare-for-an-interview/) has a day-by-day plan. ## Mistakes to avoid - **Accepting on the call.** Say you're pleased and you'll reply in writing. Then read the letter. - **Assuming a verbal promise is in the offer.** If the six-month review or the remote days aren't written down, ask for them to be. - **Resigning before the offer is signed.** Wait until you have it in writing and the checks are clear. - **Sending the wrong numbers.** The email is a record. A typo in the salary creates a conversation nobody wants, so check each figure against the letter. - **Going quiet until the start date.** Send a short note to your new manager to keep the momentum. - **Announcing it everywhere at once.** Tell your current employer first, then post about it closer to your start date. ## FAQ ### How quickly should I accept a job offer? Within the deadline they gave you, which is often a few business days. If you need more time, ask for a specific extra day or two with a reason. Once you've decided, there's no benefit in waiting. ### Should I accept a job offer by phone or email? Both, usually. Say you're pleased on the call, then accept in writing so the terms are on record. If they send a letter to sign, signing it is the formal acceptance. ### Is it rude to negotiate before accepting? No. Asking for a specific change, politely and once, is a normal part of an offer. Do it before you accept, not after; the [salary negotiation guide](/guides/salary-negotiation/) covers how. ### Can I accept a job offer and keep interviewing? You can, but it's poor form, and if you then pull out of the accepted offer it can damage your reputation with that company and the recruiter. Withdraw from other processes once you've signed. ### What if the written offer doesn't match what they told me? Raise it before you sign, calmly and in writing. Point to the specific difference and ask whether it's a mistake. Don't sign until the letter matches what you agreed. ### Is a job acceptance letter different from an acceptance email? Not in content. A formal acceptance letter is the same message on letterhead or as a signed attachment, and some employers ask for one. For most marketing roles, a reply to the offer email plus signing the offer letter is all that's needed. ## More on Offers and pay - [What are your salary expectations?](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/salary-expectations.md) - [Salary negotiation](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/salary-negotiation.md) - [Counter offer letter](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/counter-offer-letter.md) - [How to decline a job offer](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/how-to-decline-a-job-offer.md) - [How to ask for a raise](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/how-to-ask-for-a-raise.md) - [How to ask for a promotion](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/how-to-ask-for-a-promotion.md)