3 Things to Avoid in Your Job Offer Letters

Writing a job offer letter represents the welcome end to what may have been a long and laborious recruiting process. It’s an exciting time, because not only have you successfully tracked down a talented candidate, your company is about to get stronger. Remember, however, that a job offer letter can be a sensitive document, and there are some subjects that are off limits. These are three things you need to make sure to avoid:

Relying on the Letter Alone

Writing and delivering a job offer letter is considered a standard part of the recruiting process and a basic courtesy. But it should not be the only form of communication you rely on to inform a prospect they’ve gotten the job. Reaching out to them through a phone call, or even in person if possible, adds a personal touch to the process and demonstrates how enthusiastic your company is to make the hire. Plus, acting sooner rather than later helps ensure that the candidate won’t accept an offer from a competitor.

Making Unfounded Promises

Never make the mistake of promising things you can’t deliver. For instance, you shouldn’t mention the prospect of raises, choice project assignments, promotions, or any timeline for advancement. You may feel confident about this hiring decision, but that does not guarantee success. Promising the moon is both dishonest, and could make you vulnerable to legal challenges. Instead, make the focus of your letter relevant information the candidate will need immediately like the start date, starting salary, office location etc.

Concealing Conditions of Hire

If your job offer is contingent on the candidate meeting certain conditions for hire – passing a drug test/background check, completing tax forms, signing contracts – that needs to be clearly spelled out in your job offer letter. This helps expedite the onboarding process, and provides powerful insurance for your company. If you later have to rescind a job offer because specific conditions are not met, the process could be complicated if you didn’t adequately inform the candidate in advance.

As you can see, you need to write your job offer letter carefully if you want this final, crucial step in the recruitment process to go smoothly. Keep your tone balanced, express your enthusiasm in a professional way, and provide the candidate with as much important information as possible. To learn more about improving every step of your recruiting process, consult with the team at Morris Bixby.

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