• Recruitment overview
• Job description
• Person specification
• Diversity and equality
• Head hunting and poaching
• Advertising
• Applications and short listing
• Testing
• Interviewing
• Selection
• Offer of employment
• Checks

• Case studies
• Resources
• Further reading

• People In Aid Code

Offer of employment

A written offer of employment should be made to the candidate selected for the post.

A verbal offer can cause significant problems if there is any disagreement later about what was actually offered.

The offer should confirm:

• the details given in the job description with any amendments following the interview.
• the starting salary, start date and contract completion date.

It should also:

• be made subject to satisfactory personal, professional, criminal and health checks.
• specify a probationary period
• be written in clear and unambiguous language

The candidate should return a signed copy of the offer confirming acceptance.

Beware making any statements such as "We know the salary is not very competitive but we hope to review them soon". It raises expectations which you may not be able to meet.