What's the Real Difference Between an Offer Letter and an Appointment Letter? Let's Discuss!

zuni
Hi All, I want to know the difference between an Offer Letter and an Appointment Letter.
priya420
Hi All, I want to know the difference between an Offer Letter and an Appointment Letter.

Offer Letter

Once you are selected, they will provide you with details on CTC (Cost to Company) and the joining date.

Appointment Letter

Once you join, they will provide you with the appointment letter.
Dnyan2001
An offer letter means the company has selected you for a particular job but does not confirm that the job is yours. It signifies that the company will either appoint you or reject you for the position.

On the other hand, an appointment letter is when the company officially appoints you to a specific job, confirming your joining for that role.

Regards,
Dnyan
Damu Prabhakaran Nambiar
Hi Zuni, I hope your doubt has been clarified by the comments from other members. I would like to provide a layman's perspective on the matter.

Understanding Offers and Appointments

An offer is simply a decision that arises from a discussion or meeting with an employer, where the individual is satisfied and formally conveys acceptance under specific conditions. The recipient of the offer then has the choice to accept or reject it. Similarly, the person making the offer can retract it if not accepted within the specified timeframe. At the point of offering, there is no established relationship between the parties involved.

Once the offer is accepted, and the individual becomes part of the organization, they receive an appointment letter detailing the specifics of their role, Key Result Areas (KRAs), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and other employment conditions. At this stage, there is no option to accept or reject as the acceptance of the offer was based on these conditions. This marks the establishment of a relationship between the employer and the employee.

I trust that this explanation provides you with a clearer understanding.

Best regards,
Prabhakar
boss2966
As explained by Mr. Prabhakar, the offer letter is only an offer to appoint you. It will be confirmed only after your acceptance, whereas the appointment letter is issued to an individual after acceptance of the offer given to them. The offer will be given before assuming the duties to confirm your acceptance. The appointment will be given after assuming the duties as an employer.

With warm regards,
S. Bhaskar
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