There’s a lot to think about when you’re looking for work. One of the most important things you should keep in mind is knowing when companies will be looking for new employees.
According to career experts, the following are the time of day and days of the week in which job offers are usually made:
I have always viewed one day of the week as the most productive throughout my career. It always seems that candidates, clients and prospects are always more responsive on this day than any other.
That is why it comes as no surprise that more job offers are made on this day of the week than any other.
Tuesday is a popular day to extend offers
Hiring decisions are typically made shortly after the final interview. However, depending on the position and the structure of the organization, it may take a few days to get an official offer letter together.
Monday can be a “catch-up day” for many of us, including hiring managers. By Tuesday, the tasks that spilled over from the prior week have been completed, and the hiring manager has time to extend an official offer letter.
Tuesday is also a popular day to extend offers because it gives the candidate time to review the offer, ask questions and possibly make a counteroffer in the same week. All questions and concerns can be ironed out during the remainder of the week, and the candidate can sign their offer letter by Friday, if not sooner.
Related: 25+ Best Questions to Ask Before Accepting a Job Offer
The truth is job offers are made every day of the week. However, Tuesday is the most popular.
The best approach is to set aside an agreed-upon time with no distractions
The most common time for job offers to be made can depend on multiple factors, but the most important is scheduling. Often the candidate is currently working, so it is important for the hiring manager to have some flexibility. It is equally important for the candidate to understand that the hiring manager has responsibilities outside of extending offers.
The best approach is to set aside an agreed-upon time with no distractions.
Before the pandemic, the most common times during the day to extend offers were around lunchtime or at the end of the day. Now that many employees and employers are working remotely, there is a lot more freedom and flexibility to have open conversations.
I have never noticed a universal “set time” for job offers to be made. There is a set time for rejections, though, which I’ll share at the end. In smaller startups, the offers get made at any time of day and any day of the week. We would sometimes make offers within ten minutes of an interview, and sometimes it would be a week later.
Larger companies are a little more reliable, but it still changes company to company. There are some questions a candidate can ask, though, that will give them a sense of when to expect to be notified.
How are final approvals/decisions made?
Most offers are made within an hour or two of getting “final approval”
Most offers are made within an hour or two of getting “final approval.” It really is that reactive.
Recruiters are excited to make winning offers, so once approved, we make them fast. So, if a reader wants to get an idea of when they will get an offer, they should ask when the decision will be made. Nine times out of ten, they will be notified of an offer within a few hours of that approval.
Larger companies have a bureaucratic process
Larger companies have a bureaucratic process (in Google, it’s called Hiring Committee) that is pretty regimented and has set dates and times. In smaller companies I’ve worked at, offers were usually all approved by the CEO and sometimes done ad-hoc and sometimes in standing meetings.
My suggestion would be to get as much information about the approval process as early on in the process. As it gets closer, recruiters sometimes get cagey about sharing details.
But at the beginning, get as much info as you can:
- How are offers approved?
- Who approves them?
- How often does the recruiter meet with them?
It takes a little tact to ask these and not be invasive, but they’re easy enough to work into that first phone call when the candidate is just trying to learn more about the process.
When does my recruiter normally contact me?
Recruiters are managing dozens of candidates at the same time. Generally, the successful ones have rhythms. For example, mine was: cold calls in the morning, meetings, data review, clean-up mid-day, interviews, and offers in the evening.
Since candidates work with the same recruiter throughout the process, they’ll get a sense for when they hear from that recruiter.
That, honestly, is the best tell I’ve ever used as a candidate. If my recruiter is chatting with me almost every day, then it goes for final approval, and I don’t hear anything, that’s a signal. Additionally, if I only hear from my recruiter on Friday afternoons, then I’m okay if it’s Thursday and I haven’t heard anything.
Side note: When do rejections usually get sent out? My experience, as a candidate and recruiter, has been that most rejections go out at the end of the day or end of the week.
Related: How to Ask for Feedback After a Job Rejection
We save these calls to the end of the day because, understandably, they’re our least favorite to have. Obviously, if a candidate has told us they have a tight timeline, we’ll notify sooner. But, if there’s no other offer or deadline and we find out at 10 am, most likely we’re not gonna ruin someone’s morning with that.
The optimum day of the week is usually on a weekday when things are less chaotic
While the time of day and day of the week when a job offer is made is entirely dependent on a company’s internal working structure and onboarding process, it is generally based on two variables. These are the hiring manager’s and the applicant’s schedules.
As a recruiting manager, you frequently have numerous duties and roles to fill at the same time. Job offers are commonly made when there is wiggle room or spare time in between. For applicants, there may be some who are currently working for another company, so schedules must coincide to ensure that prompt responses are made.
The optimum times to expect an offer call are as follows:
- 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Employers may contact applicants between the hours of 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. when the hiring manager’s initial responsibilities have been finished or squared away.
- 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.: Some hiring managers make job offer calls between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., especially to applicants who already have a job and won’t return the call within work hours.
- 4 p.m.: Some recruiting managers prefer to make job offer calls at 4 p.m. to update onboarding and hiring materials first thing the next day or as soon as they hear back. Making the offer close to the end of the workday also enables applicants to fully concentrate on the job offer, and it gives applicants enough time to consider.
The optimum day of the week is usually on a weekday when things are less chaotic. This means that Mondays are out because it’s the beginning of the week, and people are returning from the weekend, so there’s a lot to catch up on.
Tuesday is statistically the most popular day. It is the day following the busiest day of the week, when the most urgent tasks are accomplished, leaving ample time to make job offer calls. This is closely followed by Thursday since employers like to make offers before the weekend since it provides candidates enough time to examine the offer properly.
Job offers are usually made from Tuesday to Thursday between midday and EOD
Although there can be a lot of variation regarding day and time of day, job offers are usually made from Tuesday to Thursday between midday and EOD.
When it comes to the day job offers are usually made, most offers will ideally be extended on Tuesday or Wednesday. For HR professionals, Mondays are usually spent catching up on communications and dealing with anything urgent or whatever has stacked up over the weekend.
You might get a job offer on a Friday, but this is less common as it leaves little time to get things moving before the weekend arrives.
As for the time of day, most job offers will tend to come between noon and the end of the working day. However, HR will often call candidates who are currently employed either during lunch hours or in the evening.
Preferably HR will be extending offers from mid-morning onwards, but most commonly, they’ll be sent out during the afternoon.
All the data points to Tuesdays
In terms of the day of the week when anything related to hiring is most likely to happen, it’s almost always Tuesday. Most jobs get posted on Tuesdays, most people apply on Tuesdays (18.5%), and most hires are made on Tuesdays (21.39%).
Why? Because hiring great candidates is very important and of extremely high priority. Recruiters and managers want to do it as soon as possible. But, you guessed it, Monday is not always possible.
Mondays tend to be those days when you have to deal with some crisis that spilled over from the weekend (or the previous week) or take care of all the boring, administrative details that you need to check off your list before approaching a candidate with an offer.
The time of the day you receive an offer? That mostly depends on whether you’re currently employed.
My rule of thumb, and also a principle most of my friends in HR teams or recruiting agencies follow is: If you know a candidate is currently not working, make the job offer call mid-morning to noon.
This way, if their response is positive, you give your in-house HR team the time to complete all the necessary paperwork to send a formal offer by the end of the day.
If you’re making a job offer to someone currently employed somewhere else, do so in the late afternoon or even in the evening. Help them avoid the awkwardness of answering a call or even viewing an email while they’re in an office they might be set to leave in a few weeks or months.
Most job offers are made in the afternoon or closer to the end of the day
In general, most job offers are made in the afternoon or closer to the end of the day. With that said, timing isn’t strategic; it’s just the way it usually goes. Once you get the green light to extend the offer, try to find time between meetings to schedule a time to chat.
A lot of candidates will tell you to call at the end of the day.
HR, like everyone else, gets right to work as quickly as possible. So here’s the scenario: An applicant successfully completes the interview process and is offered the job. The hiring managers and recruiter meet and agree that Lindsey is the candidate they want to hire.
However, because it is Monday, the recruiter goes to her calendar and puts a reminder to call Lindsey at the end of the day on Friday. Do you believe that’s how it works? What would the point of that be? It’s illogical.
We attempt to make the offer as soon as the employer makes a decision and chooses that one candidate.
I don’t want this candidate to sit around waiting for us while still interviewing elsewhere. The candidate may accept one offer and then accept it elsewhere. Then I’ll have to start my search all over again, which I don’t want to do.
Tuesday seems to be the most common day for job offers to be extended
Time of day
Concerning time, I think it’s a mistake to assume there is a predictable time of day when job offers are made. A much more observable rule is that they happen whenever the hiring manager emerges from under their mountain of emails and phone calls.
Some days I tackle them in the morning. Others I call around lunch. Some days I stay late and call in the evening. There really isn’t a rule. Offers are made when the world calms down for 10 minutes, and I can shut my office door.
Day of the week
Tuesday seems to be the most common day for job offers to be extended, and my own experience backs this up. Mondays can be challenging for hiring managers because they are trying to catch up after the weekend, but by Tuesday, I’m usually better able to concentrate on extending employment offers.
Following Tuesday, you’re probably most likely to get that offer on a Thursday.
This is because I’m looking to make offers before the weekend begins, and people are thinking more about weekend activities. It also allows the candidate to take the weekend off from work or other obligations to examine the offer and make an informed decision.
Most of my offers will go out on the mornings of Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday
Traditionally speaking, most of my offers will go out on the mornings of Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.
- Providing an offer mid-week also gives the candidate a few business days to connect with the recruiter (with questions) as well as the weekend (to talk with family members).
- From my personal experience, I will intentionally block off a few hours Tuesday-Thursday morning and extend as many offers as needed during those times, and then I can reserve the latter half of the days for emails/office hours/addressing candidate questions.
Mondays and Fridays are the slowest for offers for a couple of reasons:
- Most PTO days are going to be close to the weekend, meaning approvals are more likely to be impacted by one of those days.
- On the flip side, candidates tend to be more inaccessible on Mondays/Fridays due to personal obligations.
You’re more likely to receive a job offer on a Thursday
Job offers tend to come later in the week. Hiring managers have massive to-do lists to work through – especially in larger companies. As a result, they tend to wait until their schedule fully opens up before they start issuing job offers.
Mondays can be difficult for hiring managers, as they’re usually catching up with a backlog of tasks before they can focus on hiring.
For this reason, you’re more likely to receive a job offer on a Thursday.
This gives candidates a weekend to evaluate the offer they’ve received and to subsequently make a well-informed decision. With this logic in mind, you may be wondering why offers tend to come on a Thursday and not a Friday.
Hiring managers tend not to extend job offers on Fridays because people are usually winding down for the week and focusing more on their weekend plans. Therefore, Thursday is the optimal day of the week to send and receive an offer.
Goal: Tuesday to Thursday; Reality: Friday morning
While it’s the most common to contact a candidate with a job offer from Tuesday to Thursday, it’s not always the case.
Monday is usually the busiest day for HR teams to catch up on work from the weekend and complete any urgent administrative tasks. The middle of the week is usually the best time to reach out to the candidates. However, sometimes there is simply too much to do during the week.
As recruiting managers want to contact the candidate before the weekend to give them enough time to think about the job offer, in hectic times, it sometimes happens that job offers are made on Friday morning.
At LiveCareer, we also consider Friday a great day to spread some good news before the weekend. Candidates are happy to hear that we want them on board and have plenty of time to rethink their decision or simply celebrate their success with some good wine and friends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should you say when you receive a job offer?
When you receive a job offer, your first reaction should express gratitude, enthusiasm, and professionalism. Here are some important points to mention in your response:
Express gratitude: Thank the employer for the opportunity and acknowledge the time and effort they put into the hiring process.
Show enthusiasm: Show that you’re excited about the position and the prospect of working for the company. This underscores your interest and commitment.
Ask for time to review: Politely ask for some time to carefully review the offer and consider the terms. You can provide a time frame, such as 48-72 hours, within which you’ll get back to them with your decision or any questions.
Clarify next steps: Inquire about the next steps, such as signing the offer letter, submitting additional documentation, or negotiating terms.
How long should I wait to respond to a job offer?
When responding to a job offer, you must balance your enthusiasm with the need for careful consideration. Here is a general guide for responding to a job offer:
24 hours: Acknowledge the offer by phone or email within one day and express your gratitude and interest.
48-72 hours: Use this time to review the offer and address any questions or concerns you have. Thoroughly review factors such as salary, benefits, work-life balance, and company culture.
Up to a week: If you need more time to decide, it’s acceptable to request it from the hiring manager. However, let them know your needs and inform them of your decision-making process.
Remember, maintaining open communication with your potential employer is critical throughout the process.
What should I do if I receive multiple job offers?
Receiving multiple job offers can be both exciting and overwhelming. To deal with this situation, you should follow the steps below:
Compare the offers: Evaluate each offer based on your priorities and preferences.
Take your time: Don’t rush the decision-making process. Ask for additional time if needed.
Negotiate: If an offer is more attractive but lacks certain elements, try negotiating with the company to close the gap.
Communicate your decision: Inform each employer of your decision in a timely and professional manner.
Express your gratitude: Regardless of your decision, thank the companies for their offers, and maintain a positive relationship with all parties involved.
Should I inform my current employer about a possible job offer?
Deciding whether you should inform your current employer about a potential job offer can be a complex and personal matter. Here are a few things to consider:
Pros of informing your current employer:
– You can use it to demonstrate loyalty and honesty, which can be vital if you get along well with your current employer or if you are in a small industry where word travels fast.
– Your employer may be willing to negotiate a better salary or benefits package to keep you, especially if you are a valuable employee.
– Notifying your employer early gives them time to prepare for your departure and possibly hire a replacement, which can avoid stress and chaos for both parties.
Cons of informing your current employer:
– If your employer is not supportive of your career goals, they may take steps to prevent you from leaving, such as firing you, assigning you less desirable tasks, or badmouthing you to potential future employers.
– If you do not end up receiving the job offer or decide to decline it, you may be viewed as disloyal or flighty by your current employer or colleagues.
– In some cases, telling your employer about a potential job offer may be a breach of contract or confidentiality if you have signed a non-disclosure agreement or work in an industry that is restricted.
The decision to inform your current employer of a potential job offer depends on your circumstances. If you decide to inform your employer, it is crucial to do so in a professional and respectful manner and to be prepared for potential consequences.
Can I negotiate the job offer?
Yes, negotiating a job offer is a common and acceptable practice. When you receive a job offer, it is a good opportunity to align your expectations with those of the employer. Aspects of the job offer that you can negotiate include:
Salary: Base your negotiations on market rates, your experience, and the value you bring to the company.
Vacation time: You can negotiate additional days off, especially if you have a good track record or are transferring your vacation from your current position.
Start date: If you need more time to join the new company, you can negotiate a later start date.
Remote work options: Ask for flexibility in terms of remote work, partial remote work, or flexible hours, depending on your needs and the company’s policies.
Professional development opportunities: Discuss opportunities for advancement, including training programs, conferences, or certifications that the company may support.
Be professional and respectful in your approach to negotiations. Be prepared to justify your demands and be open to compromise. Demonstrating your willingness to work can help build a positive relationship with your future employer.