An Employment Offer Letter is similar to an Employment Contract in that they both constitute a form of employment agreement and each contain all of the key points associated with the position, including information about compensation and benefits.

Job offer letters are often used with low-to-mid-level employees who don't require a more extensive Employment Contract. Instead, an Employment Offer Letter contains the essential details of the position being offered to the applicant.

This format is typically used where less formality is desired, the job description is less detailed, and the responsibilities are less demanding or heavy.

A position negotiated by a simple offer letter will usually follow the employment at-will doctrine. That means either party can end the employment relationship "at will" and without notice or cause.

Employment Contracts are different in that they often include termination notice periods which must be adhered to by either party seeking to end the employment without cause.

When creating an offer letter for an applicant, these are the details you would typically include:

• The job title for the position
• When the employee will start their employment
• Whether the position is full-time or part-time
• Whether it's a permanent position or a temporary job
• The salary or wage being offered, and the frequency of pay periods (e.g. monthly)
• If there is a probationary period, and if so, how long it is
• The number of paid vacation days offered with the job
• Any benefits offered with the job

The job offer letter should also list any preconditions the candidate must satisfy before their employment is made official. This might include items like taking a routine medical exam, passing an alcohol/drug screening, or having a criminal record check performed.

Using a standardized Employment Offer Letter makes it easy to create new job offers for applicants you want to hire for your business. Job offer letters help to automate the process of hiring new workers, and provide you (and the new hire) with a written record of the initial agreed-upon terms of employment.

You can have the new hire co-sign the offer letter to signify both their acceptance of the job offer, and their agreement to satisfy any preconditions your company requires of its employees.