# Offer Letter > Drafts employment offer letters with position details, compensation, benefits, start date, and key terms for professional hiring communication. - Skill: `reaperinvest/offer-letter` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add reaperinvest/offer-letter` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/reaperinvest/offer-letter/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: reaperinvest (https://skillmd.com/u/reaperinvest) - Updated: 2026-09-22 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/reaperinvest/offer-letter --- # Offer Letter ## When to Use This Skill Use this skill when you need to: - Draft a professional offer letter for a new employee or contractor - Include position details, compensation, benefits, and start date - Create a reusable offer letter template for future hires - Formalize a verbal offer into a written document **DO NOT** use this skill for full employment contracts, contractor agreements, or legal compliance documents. This is for the offer letter — the document that communicates the offer. Consult legal counsel for binding employment contracts. --- ## Core Principle AN OFFER LETTER IS A FIRST IMPRESSION AS AN EMPLOYER — IT SHOULD BE CLEAR, PROFESSIONAL, AND EXCITING ENOUGH THAT THE CANDIDATE FEELS GREAT ABOUT SAYING YES. --- ## Phase 1: Offer Details Gather the specific terms of the offer. ### Required Inputs | Input | What to Ask | Default | |-------|------------|---------| | **Candidate name** | "Who is the offer for?" | No default | | **Position title** | "What is the job title?" | No default | | **Employment type** | "Full-time, part-time, or contractor?" | No default | | **Start date** | "When should they start?" | No default | | **Compensation** | "What is the salary or rate?" | No default | | **Pay frequency** | "How often will they be paid? (weekly, biweekly, monthly)" | Biweekly | | **Benefits** | "What benefits are included? (health, PTO, remote stipend, etc.)" | Varies | | **Manager** | "Who will they report to?" | Business owner | | **Work location** | "Remote, hybrid, or on-site?" | Remote | | **Response deadline** | "When do they need to respond by?" | 5 business days | ### Pre-Offer Checklist ``` - [ ] Compensation confirmed and within budget - [ ] Start date is feasible (onboarding prep time included) - [ ] Benefits and perks clearly defined - [ ] Any conditions (background check, references) identified - [ ] Manager and team notified of expected hire ``` **GATE: Confirm all offer details before drafting the letter.** --- ## Phase 2: Draft Letter Write the offer letter. ### Employee Offer Letter Template ``` [Business Name] [Business Address] [Date] [Candidate Name] [Candidate Address] Dear [Candidate First Name], I am thrilled to offer you the position of **[Position Title]** at **[Business Name]**. After our conversations, I am confident you will be a great addition to the team, and I am excited to work together. ## Position Details **Title:** [Position Title] **Reports to:** [Manager Name and Title] **Start date:** [Date] **Work location:** [Remote / Hybrid / On-site at Address] **Employment type:** [Full-time / Part-time] [Exempt / Non-exempt if applicable] ## Compensation **Base salary:** $[Amount] per year, paid [biweekly / monthly] [**Bonus:** Eligible for [bonus structure] based on [criteria] — if applicable] [**Equity:** [Details] — if applicable] ## Benefits - [Benefit 1 — e.g., Health insurance (eligible after 30 days)] - [Benefit 2 — e.g., X days paid time off per year] - [Benefit 3 — e.g., Remote work stipend of $X/month] - [Benefit 4 — e.g., Professional development budget of $X/year] - [Additional benefits] ## Conditions This offer is contingent upon: - [Successful completion of background check — if applicable] - [Satisfactory reference checks — if applicable] - [Proof of eligibility to work in [country] — if applicable] - [Signing of employment agreement and NDA — if applicable] ## At-Will Employment [For US-based employment:] Employment with [Business Name] is at-will, meaning either party may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice. ## Response Please confirm your acceptance by signing and returning this letter by **[Response Deadline Date]**. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to me directly at [email/phone]. I am genuinely excited about what we will accomplish together. Welcome aboard! Warm regards, [Your Name] [Your Title] [Business Name] [Email] [Phone] --- **Acceptance:** I, [Candidate Name], accept the offer of employment as described above. Signature: _______________ Date: _______________ ``` ### Contractor Offer Letter Template ``` Dear [Name], I am pleased to offer you a contractor engagement with [Business Name] as a **[Role/Title]**. **Engagement details:** - **Scope:** [Brief description of work] - **Start date:** [Date] - **Duration:** [Ongoing / Fixed term through Date] - **Rate:** $[Amount] per [hour / project / month] - **Payment terms:** [Net 15 / Net 30 / Upon delivery] - **Expected hours:** [X hours per week, flexible schedule] **Next steps:** 1. Sign and return this letter by [Date] 2. Sign the contractor agreement (attached) 3. Complete W-9 form 4. [Additional setup steps] Looking forward to working with you! [Name] ``` **GATE: Present the draft offer letter for review.** --- ## Phase 3: Personalize Customize the letter to make it compelling. ### Personal Touch Points Add 1-2 sentences that reference: - Something specific from the interview ("Your experience with [X] really stood out") - A project or goal they will work on ("Your first project will be [X], which I think you will find exciting") - Why they were chosen ("You were our top candidate because [specific reason]") ### Compensation Presentation If the offer includes multiple components, present as a total compensation summary: ``` ## Your Total Compensation | Component | Annual Value | |-----------|-------------| | Base salary | $[X] | | Target bonus | $[X] | | Benefits value | ~$[X] | | Perks (stipends, development budget) | $[X] | | **Total** | **$[X]** | ``` ### Attachments to Include - Employee handbook or culture document (if available) - Benefits summary sheet - NDA or confidentiality agreement (for signing) - Employment agreement (if separate from offer letter) - W-4 or W-9 form --- ## Phase 4: Deliver Send the offer professionally and follow up. ### Delivery Process 1. Call the candidate first to deliver the offer verbally (builds excitement) 2. Send the written offer letter within 2 hours of the call 3. Give them the stated deadline (typically 3-5 business days) 4. Check in after 2 days if no response ("Any questions I can answer?") ### Negotiation Prep If the candidate negotiates: - Know your maximum before the conversation - Be open to creative alternatives (remote stipend, extra PTO, flexible hours) if base salary is firm - Respond within 24 hours to counter-offers - Get final agreement in writing ### After Acceptance ``` ## Post-Acceptance Checklist - [ ] Send confirmation email with next steps - [ ] Begin onboarding preparation (see onboarding-checklist skill) - [ ] Notify the team about the new hire and start date - [ ] Prepare tool access and accounts - [ ] Schedule Day 1 welcome meeting ``` --- ## Anti-Patterns - **Verbal offer only** — always put offers in writing. Verbal offers lead to misunderstandings about terms. - **Vague compensation** — "Competitive salary" is not an offer. State the exact number. - **No response deadline** — without a deadline, offers linger and create uncertainty for both sides. - **Cold delivery** — emailing an offer without a phone call first misses the chance to build excitement and answer questions. - **Overpromising benefits** — do not list benefits you cannot deliver. Under-promise and over-deliver. --- ## Recovery - **Candidate declines the offer:** Ask what would change their mind. Sometimes a small adjustment (start date, remote flexibility, title) makes the difference. If they decline, respond graciously — they may refer someone. - **Candidate negotiates higher than budget:** Know your walk-away number before the conversation. Offer non-monetary alternatives if salary is at max. - **Candidate ghosts after receiving the offer:** Follow up at Day 3 and Day 5. If no response by the deadline, send a final message and move to your backup candidate. - **User has never written an offer letter:** Use the template above with minimal customization. A simple, clear offer letter is better than a delayed one. - **Legal concerns about the language:** Add a disclaimer: "This letter is not a contract of employment." Recommend the user have a lawyer review the template before first use.