Should you make a verbal offer before a written one?

Yes. A verbal offer lets you gauge the candidate's reaction, answer questions live, and build excitement before anything is formalized. Follow it within a day with a written offer letter.

How long should you give a candidate to accept an offer?

Usually 3–5 business days. That's enough time to consider it without leaving the offer open so long that the candidate keeps interviewing elsewhere or you lose your backup.

What if the candidate makes a counteroffer?

Expect it. Know your maximum on pay and start date before you make the offer so you can respond quickly. If you agree to a change, issue an updated offer letter rather than relying on a verbal agreement.

How to Make a Job Offer to a Candidate

The offer is where you win or lose your top pick. Do it in the right order — a warm verbal call, then a written letter — and most candidates say yes.

Written by the Snap Tool Suite editorial team — plain-English guidance for hiring managers and small employers. Not legal advice.

Offer in the right order: verbal, then written

The single biggest mistake employers make is leading with a cold letter. Your best candidates usually have options — the way you make the offer is part of whether they accept. The proven order:

Verbal offer first. Call them. Be warm and direct: you'd love to have them, here's the role, the pay, and the start date. A live "yes, I'm excited" tells you the written offer will land.
Written offer within 24 hours. Send the formal offer letter while the excitement is fresh. Waiting a week cools a hot candidate.
A clear deadline. Give them a few business days to sign — enough to think, not so long the offer drifts or they keep shopping it.

Handling the counteroffer

Expect negotiation, especially on pay or start date. Before you make the offer, decide your ceiling so you can respond fast without scrambling. If you agree to a change, put it in an updated letter — never leave a revised term as a verbal side-deal.

Ready to send it? Generate the written offer free with the Job Offer Letter Generator, and see what to include so nothing's missing.

Not legal advice. Offer and employment rules vary by state. For unusual terms — equity, relocation, restrictive covenants — have an employment attorney review the letter before you send it.