You’ve been offered a job. What to check before you say yes.

First, well done

Someone has said yes to you. Enjoy it. You don’t need to accept on the spot, though. It’s completely normal to say “Thank you so much, that’s brilliant news. Could you send me the details so I can look over them?” Most employers expect that, and a day or two to reply is usually fine. If they need an answer quickly, they’ll tell you.

Get it in writing

Job offers can be made verbally or in writing. A verbal offer counts, but it’s much harder to check or remember the details later. So if you’ve been offered a job over the phone or in person, ask for the main details by email.

Hi [Name],

Thank you so much for offering me the [Role] position. I’m really pleased.

So I’ve got everything right, could you confirm the details by email: the pay, my usual hours and days, my start date and time, and where I’ll be working?

Thank you again, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,
[Your name]

Conditional or unconditional?

This matters more than it sounds.

• A conditional offer depends on something still to happen: references, a criminal record check, proof of your right to work, exam results, a health check. If the conditions aren’t met, the employer can withdraw it.
• An unconditional offer has no conditions left. Once you accept it, a contract exists between you.

If you already have a job, wait until your new offer is unconditional before you hand in your notice. Otherwise you could end up with neither job. GOV.UK explains job offers and withdrawals.

The things to check

Pay

How much, and how often: hourly, weekly or monthly? Is it before tax? Will you be paid for training, trial shifts and any time you’re asked to arrive early?

Your pay must be at least the legal minimum for your age. There’s a separate, lower rate for apprentices under 19, and for apprentices aged 19 or over in the first year of their apprenticeship. The rates go up every year on 1 April, so check the current rates on GOV.UK’s minimum wage page rather than relying on a figure you heard from a friend.

Hours and days

How many hours a week, and which days? Are they fixed, or will you get a rota? How much notice will you get of your shifts? If you’re studying, check the hours fit around your timetable before you accept, not after.

Some jobs don’t have guaranteed hours. That can suit people who want flexibility, but it means your pay can change week to week. If that’s the case, it’s worth knowing before you start.

Where you’ll work

Is it one site, or could you be moved between branches? How will you get there for an early shift or a late finish?

Start date

The date, the time, and where to go. If you need to give notice at another job or finish exams first, say so now.

Holiday

Most workers get 5.6 weeks of paid holiday a year. If you work part time, you get the same 5.6 weeks, worked out in proportion to your days. Ask how holiday is booked, and whether there are times of year you can’t take it. GOV.UK explains holiday entitlement.

Probation

Many jobs start with a probation period, when your employer checks the job is working out and you can check it suits you too. There’s no legal rule that there has to be one, or how long it lasts. Ask how long yours is and how you’ll know how you’re getting on. Basic rights like the minimum wage, paid holiday and protection from discrimination apply from your first day, probation or not. Acas explains probation periods.

Anything else

Uniform (and whether you pay for it), breaks, training, who your manager will be, and for apprenticeships, which training provider you’ll study with and when.

Your written statement

You won’t always get a full contract before you start. But by law, on or before your first day, your employer must give you a written statement that covers the main things: your employer’s name and yours, your job title, your start date, your pay and how often you’re paid, your hours and days, your holiday, where you’ll work, how long the job lasts if it’s temporary, any probation, and any training you must do. Some further details can follow within two months.

Read it. Check it matches what you were told. Keep a copy. GOV.UK lists what the written statement includes.

If something doesn’t match

If the written details are different from what you were told, or something’s missing, ask about it politely before you start. It’s usually a simple mix-up.

“Thanks for sending this. I noticed the hours say 12 a week, but at the interview we talked about around 16. Could you let me know which is right?”

If you’re asked to pay money to start a job, or something about the offer feels wrong, pause and check before you go further. And if an offer is withdrawn, or you think you’re being treated unfairly, Acas can talk you through your options.

When you’re happy, accept clearly and warmly, by email if you can, so there’s a record. Then head to your first day to get ready.