GPI 082 – Put your employment offer in writing; respect the candidate’s position.

Put your employment offers in writing for new hires.  You want to do this for the candidate to protect his employment status.  If you are serious, you will give him your offer in writing.  Write it out on your company letterhead and be specific with position, title, salary details, starting date and anything else the candidate negotiated that he or she wants to be clarified upfront before they submit their termination and notice to their current employer.

Write out your offer to substantiate your sincerity in hiring the new person.  Show them the company is serious and make it easier for them to resign from where they are leaving.  The new candidate will be assured you are as professional as you seem and appreciate your solidifying the offer and position in writing.  Why do this?  You show you are serious because once you put the offer in writing, the candidate can theoretically sue your firm if you try to back out of the offer after he has given up employment elsewhere.  This written offer shows the candidate your firm is legitimate, acting honestly, and is willing to give that candidate protection during his or her employment transition.

You show respect to an employee when you make an offer in writing.  You increase your strength and verify your integrity by putting what you say in writing.  You make it easier for the candidate to leave his job knowing there is another job waiting for him.  When companies will not put an offer in writing, it raises suspicion in the mind of the candidate whether the firm’s offer is legitimate.  Including it on letterhead finalizes the salary negotiation and any other issues requested and accepted by the new employee.

Do not force the candidate to ask for this letter.  Automatically tell them your HR department is preparing the letter which describes very clearly the compensation package that accompanies the job title and position details.  Inclusion of this detail on the employer’s behalf simply solidifies the integrity of the new firm where the candidate is going.