6 Items You Need To Include In Your Offer Letter

When you finally find the perfect candidate for an open position after weeks, or maybe months of searching, you may be so excited that you just want to tell them everything about the job perks right then and there. However, it’s important that you take the time to carefully craft an offer letter. Below, you will find the top 6 things you need to include in each offer letter you write:

1. Salary / Pay : How much will your new employee be paid? It’s always smart to write this in terms of pay period, versus annual salary. For example if an employee is going to be making $50,000 a year in salary, write, “$2,083.33 per semi-monthly pay period.” This statement includes 2 key points: the dollar amount, and the frequency of pay.
2. Job details : What is the actual title of the job you are offering? Be clear on this point, and state, “XYZ Company is pleased to offer you the position of Account Representative”. You can also include who this employee will report to, and specific job responsibilities. A start date should also be listed in this section.
3. Any contingencies : Sometimes, a job offer is contingent on an employee passing a background check, or completing an aptitude test. If this is the case, you must state it in your offer letter. If employment is “at-will” you should specify in this section also.
4. Benefit information : Do you offer health insurance plans? Include this in your offer letter. Also include any information relating to 401(k) matching, or other company-specific benefits you offer.
5. Identification requirements : For jobs in the United States, employees need to bring documentation that proves they are eligible to work in the United States. Include this in the offer letter to avoid any first-day confusion.
6. Signature Request : The employee will need to show their acceptance of the job offer by a specific date by signing the offer letter and returning it to you. Make sure you include this in your offer letter so both you and the employee are ready to embark on this new adventure!

Are there other things you always include in your offer letters? Tell us about it in the comment section below!
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