Would you accept a job verbally before receiving and reading an offer letter?

[AccruedExpenditure]

Would you accept a job verbally before receiving and reading an offer letter?

Say coming out of college you interviewed for a job and the company calls you the next week to say you?ve gotten the job. They tell you you?ll be making XX,XXX amount a year and want you to decide if you want to take the job or not in the next 48 hours with out an actual offer letter.

What would you do? Would hold out for a cover letter? Just accept the job?

???

edit: Let's also say you hadn't hear about the company before you interviewed the job, but a google search revealed nothing alarming about the company.


edit 2: This isn't for me.

 

[Blazin Trav]

if the job was good enough and the company was reputable I'd say yes.

 

[lytalbayre]

You're just out of college... Unless you have another prospect that this might hurt your chances with, I say go for it.

 

[DannyLove]

I would accept the offer only if they faxed or emailed you a offer letter. But if they are saying right off the bat you'll be making x amount each year, verbal contract in the job world still holds ground. Just ask them for a official letter, it won't hurt to try.

 

[AgentEL]

What kind of company expects you to make that kind of decision with such short notice? I'd be wary.

 

[woodie1]

No. The least they could do is confirm the offer via email.

 

[z42]

No.

I would tell the person that I plan on accepting the position after reviewing the Offer letter. Many companies don't want to have their HR dept write cover letters and get signatures on every applicant. They would rather have them spend their time on other things. I don't know of any companies that would have a problem with you wanting an actual offer sheet when you are going to accept.

 

[Kelvrick]

The offer letter should also spell out your vacation time, hours, benefits, all that other stuff, not just xx amount per year. Are you exempt?

I've accepted verbally before and gotten the official letter later, but I'll definitely want one for the record.

 

[sygyzy]

I usually like maknig a bit more than XX,XXX ... so no.

 

[shortylickens]

As a matter of fact I did.
But the job was from a company I had been introduced through a placement agency and I did a phone and sit down interview with them.
Accepted the job on the phone and got the package two days later.

 

[puffff]

Discuss benefits and time off first.

Or verbally accept, but mention to the company that it's on the condition that benefits are typical and satisfactory.

 

[MixMasterTang]

Originally posted by: AgentEL
What kind of company expects you to make that kind of decision with such short notice? I'd be wary.

Almost every job I've been offered they've asked if they could expect a decision within the next 48 hours. There were times I wanted more time and I just let them know that and gave them a time frame and they were perfectly okay with it. Most of the time they just want to set expectatins for them to hear something.

 

[talyn00]

depends what kind of job this is.

 

[wiredspider]

Sure why not, they don't have me signing something saying I'm gonna work for them so if something better comes along, sorry.

 

[Triforceofcourage]

marked for later

 

[AreaCode707]

If you've been discussing terms, it's fine to indicate your agreement to the terms. I would definitely not start work without an offer letter, and I would not stop interviewing with other companies prior to recieving an offer letter, especially with a company I'd never heard of.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: HotChic
If you've been discussing terms, it's fine to indicate your agreement to the terms. I would definitely not start work without an offer letter, and I would not stop interviewing with other companies prior to recieving an offer letter, especially with a company I'd never heard of.

Seconded.

Let them know that you accept the offer contingent upon receiving an offer letter that matches the terms discussed.

ZV

 

[veggz]

Originally posted by: AccruedExpenditure
Would you accept a job verbally before receiving and reading an offer letter?

Say coming out of college you interviewed for a job and the company calls you the next week to say you?ve gotten the job. They tell you you?ll be making XX,XXX amount a year and want you to decide if you want to take the job or not in the next 48 hours with out an actual offer letter.

What would you do? Would hold out for a cover letter? Just accept the job?

???

edit: Let's also say you hadn't hear about the company before you interviewed the job, but a google search revealed nothing alarming about the company.


edit 2: This isn't for me.

Elite business schools prohibit companies from withdrawing job offers if not accepted by a certain date. Because of this, top employers often extend "hypothetical" job offers in order that their offer cannot be used as leverage in another job interview situation. Basically, these hypothetical offers reserve a position for the recipient should he choose to accept an offer IF it were given. So, basically, yes, I would absoultely accept such an offer.

 

[PrinceofWands]

I've never received an 'offer letter' before. I have had many many jobs. Therefore, I'm gonna say yes.