A job offer SMS should move the conversation forward without trying to squeeze the entire offer into a text message.

Pay, start date, contingencies, benefits, reporting details, and legal terms belong in the approved written offer and the recruiter conversation. The text should identify the sender, explain what happened, and make the next step obvious.

Below is one baseline template, followed by 10 job offer SMS templates for common recruiting situations.

The Short Answer

Use this basic job offer text message after the recruiter has confirmed that an offer is approved:

Hi [First name] — this is [Recruiter] with [Agency]. [Company] would like to offer you the [Role] position. I sent the written offer to [Email]. Can we review it together at [Time]?

It communicates good news, points to the formal document, and keeps a human recruiter in the loop.

Verbal Offer Call Request

Hi [First name] — I have an update from [Company] about the [Role] position. Are you available for a quick call at [Time option 1] or [Time option 2]?

Use this when company policy or the complexity of the offer makes a call the appropriate first step.

Written Offer Sent

Congratulations, [First name]. Your written offer for [Role] at [Company] was sent to [Email] from [Sender]. Please confirm you received it, and send any questions here or call me at [Number].

Do not send sensitive attachments or complete compensation terms by SMS unless the approved process specifically supports it.

Offer With a Real Decision Deadline

Hi [First name] — your [Role] offer is ready in [Portal/email]. The stated response deadline is [Date and time]. I am available at [Times] to answer questions before then.

Only use a deadline that appears in the approved offer. Manufactured urgency damages trust.

Candidate Has Not Opened the Offer

Hi [First name] — checking that the [Company] offer reached you at [Email]. If it is missing, reply here and I will resend it through the approved system.

This treats a delivery problem as a delivery problem, not as candidate disinterest.

Candidate Has Questions

Thanks for the questions, [First name]. I want to give you accurate answers. I am confirming [Topic] with [Company] and will update you by [Date/time].

Do not guess about pay, benefits, schedules, background requirements, or start dates.

Candidate Accepts

Great news, [First name] — I received your acceptance for the [Role] position. Your next step is [Verified next step] by [Date/time]. I will remain your contact if anything changes.

The formal system of record—not the text alone—should capture the acceptance.

Candidate Declines

Thank you for letting me know, [First name]. I have recorded that you are declining the [Role] offer. If you are comfortable sharing, was the main factor pay, schedule, location, timing, or something else?

Keep the question optional and respectful. A decline reason can improve future matching without pressuring the candidate.

Offer Is Being Revised

Hi [First name] — [Company] is revising part of the [Role] offer. Please wait for the updated written document before making a decision. I will send the confirmed version by [Date/time].

State clearly that the earlier document should not be treated as final.

Start Date Confirmation

Hi [First name] — confirming your approved start date for [Role] at [Company]: [Date] at [Time]. Report to [Location/contact]. The full onboarding instructions are in [Portal/email].

Send this only after the start date and reporting instructions are confirmed.

Offer Withdrawn

Hi [First name] — I need to speak with you today about the [Role] offer from [Company]. Please hold off on any decisions or steps tied to the offer until we talk. Are you available at [Time]? Formal written notice will follow through [Approved channel].

An offer withdrawal should not be delivered as a casual one-line text. Follow employer policy and applicable law, and involve the appropriate human decision-makers.

What Not to Put in a Job Offer Text

Avoid:

  • Unapproved or incomplete compensation details
  • Social Security numbers, birth dates, or banking information
  • Background-check results or private medical information
  • A start date the employer has not confirmed
  • Pressure disguised as a deadline
  • Language implying that silence equals acceptance
  • A claim that an AI system made the offer decision

Job Offer SMS Checklist

Before sending:

  1. Confirm the offer is approved.
  2. Verify the candidate’s name, role, company, and contact details.
  3. Point to the formal written offer or approved portal.
  4. State the real next step and deadline.
  5. Identify the recruiter or staffing company.
  6. Give the candidate a way to ask questions.
  7. Record acceptance, decline, or changes in the proper system of record.

Use the consent and opt-out process approved for your staffing program. Application-to-person messages sent to U.S. numbers over a 10-digit long code may require A2P 10DLC registration; review your provider’s current A2P 10DLC guidance. This article is operational guidance, not legal advice.

Where TalentPrism Fits

TalentPrism helps staffing teams preserve the context around an offer conversation: questions, timing concerns, acceptance intent, or a request to speak with the recruiter.

It does not authorize an offer, invent terms, or replace the formal system of record. The recruiter and employer remain responsible for the decision, the approved document, and the candidate relationship.

See how TalentPrism supports candidate conversations →

Related Recruiting Text Templates