If you receive a verbal offer, but it isn’t followed by a formal offer letter or contract, you should communicate with your employer. Even though verbal offers are contractually binding, you need a written one to prove that in court. Today’s article is what to do when Verbal Job Offer Then No Response?
While the circumstances might differ with each individual, there are a few steps you can take if you received a verbal letter and no further response. These steps will help you decide if you want to wait for the position or withdraw and look for another one.
What are Verbal Job Offers?
Verbal job offers are job offers made by the employer informally through a phone call or a real-life conversation. They get followed by proper written offer letters or contracts. But sometimes, people have also received nothing but silence. Such cases are disadvantageous to the candidates who might have expected a job.
Technically, verbal job offers are still contractually binding for both parties. But since most verbal conversations can’t record as evidence, you have nothing to prove that a job offer was at the table in the first place.
It is why you must be extremely careful while dealing with such verbal offers to ensure that you do not give up opportunities. Even if it is your dream job or dream firm, weigh your odds and decide what you want to do. Then, take instead, youample time to think about how you want to handle it, and don’t give up without trying to communicate.
What to Do When There Is No Response?
Is it a good idea to give up an offer when there is no response? Is it better to wait for it solely? Neither of these is a good idea when it comes to the above situation. If you have not received a written offer after a verbal one, you should wait moderately, but not for too long.
It depends on an individual’s situation, but here are the general things to do if you received a verbal offer but not a formal written one:
Inquire About It from Your Employer
If you ample you are left hanging for a while after your employer stated that they will hire you, communicate with them. Leave them a message or an email politely asking the status and request an update. By doing this, you are opening the lines of communication and confirming the status of your employment.
Ensure that you are polite while conveying the message would when you should expect to receive the formal offer. Also, ask about the period it will provide the offer letter and when you should decide.
It is essential to communicate with your employer since there might be some genuine issue regarding the formal offer. By sharing, you can ensure that you tried your best for the job.
Do Not Stop Other Applications
Just because you received a verbal offer, you shouldn’t give up your job search. Mostly, verbal job offers get followed by formal written ones. However, it is also possible that firms might just cut off contact after a verbal job offer.
The reason is not specific; sometimes, it’s because of a better candidate or lack of communication. In either case, the candidate leaves in a dilemma. Thus, even though you receive a verbal offer, do not halt your job search.
Keep applying for other posts and giving interviews in the waiting time. Only when you have received a properly written contract or odder letter, should you stop your job search and start working for the firm.
Do Not Wait for Too Long
While trying to communicate and waiting some time is ideal, you should keep a period in mind for this entire process. Let’s take an example. Say you got interviewed, and the employer expressed their will to work with you. But after coming back, you have not received any updates regarding the work.
Even if you send emails or message the employer, you don’t receive a response. A month or two passes by like this. Should you still wait? The answer is no. You shouldn’t waste further efforts or time in such a firm.
The firm has no intentions of contacting you further. Even if it’s not the offer letter, most firms would send you an update on their situation and explain why there is a delay. But the absolute lack of communication only signals one thing. The firm no longer wants to work with you.
If the firm has contacted you and provided a reason for the delay in the offer letter, it is alright to wait and be hopeful. But otherwise, it’s just not worth your time, and you should return to your job search.
Conclusion
Verbal offers might be an initial step in your employment process, but they must get followed by a written letter. The verbal letter itself is legally binding, but a written offer letter is safer for the employee as it mentions the exact details of the work.
If you have received a verbal offer from your employer but not a written one, you should communicate clearly about it. By following the steps above, you can decide whether you would like to wait for the opportunity or try somewhere else.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is it necessary to receive a written offer after a verbal one?
It isn’t necessary per se, but it is always better to receive a written offer. Since a written job offer is safer and more precise, it is best to ask for one even though you receive a verbal job offer.
- Should I give up since I have not received a written offer?
No, you shouldn’t give up just because you have not received a written offer. You should try to communicate with your employer, and if they still do not reply after many tries, then you should think about it.
- Is a verbal offer enough to work?
Technically, yes, a verbal offer is legally binding. But the safer bet is to have a written job offer with you too. Verbal job offers, unless recorded, can’t prove your employment in a firm, so it is risky.