Many people tend to think that the recruitment process ends when a Job is offered. However, there is much more to making sure the job you are offered is the best one for you.
What constitutes a job offer
A job offer can be made in a number of ways:
- Verbally through a recruitment consultant or by the company directly
- A formal offer in writing
- A formal interview accompanied with a formal offer
Job Offers via a Recruitment Consultant or Company
If you receive a verbal offer of employment, you will ordinarily receive a formal letter and contract of employment in the mail.
Sometimes, provisional verbal offers of employment are made subject to the receipt of satisfactory references, security checks and, possibly, health checks. If you verbally accept an offer, you are not bound by this until you have signed a formal offer letter and/or contract of employment.
Formal Written Letter Offer
Do not sign this until you are satisfied with what you are being offered; salary, benefits and conditions of employment etc. Always wait until you have had the chance to consider the contents prior to your formal acceptance. If the offer does not meet your expectations, identify what you need to do to bring it to a level you are satisfied with.
Once you have received the formal letter offer (contract), you should return a signed copy within two to three days, keeping a copy for yourself.