Offer letter
Also called: offer, letter of offer
What goes in an offer letter
The minimum:
- Role: title and reporting line.
- Compensation: base salary, variable, equity if any, signing bonus.
- Start date: specific or “subject to notice period.”
- Location and arrangement: office/hybrid/remote.
- Contingencies: background check, reference check, visa.
- Acceptance deadline: usually 5-10 business days.
A separate employment contract follows. In some EU countries (France), the offer letter and the contract are sometimes the same document.
When to send it
Within 24 hours of the verbal yes. Every additional day raises the risk of a counter-offer or the candidate going cold. Speed in this window is one of the highest-leverage moves an SMB recruiter can make.
Negotiation: the part most teams underprice
A candidate who negotiates the offer is signalling commitment, not difficulty. Teams that prep a small range in advance (5-8% room on base) close more offers than teams that lead with the final number.
Where Join fits
Join templates the offer letter from the candidate record so the role, compensation, and start date prefill — sent in under a minute. See the features page.
