Understanding the Difference Between a Joining Letter and an Appointment Letter: Can You Help?

Hi everyone, can you please tell me what is the difference between a joining letter and an appointment letter?

Thank you.

Hi,

An offer letter issued for joining, appointment letter, or joining letter is the same, which is issued on the date of joining.

Hi,

An offer letter is an official document that formally confirms the details of an offer of employment. An Appointment Letter is a legally binding document that confirms that an organization has offered a position to an employee, and they have accepted the terms and agreement in exchange for a salary.

A letter of appointment is issued by the employer to a prospective candidate selected for a particular post. The joining letter is a letter given by the employee to the employer accepting the terms of appointment and is given on the date of his joining the establishment.

When a person is finally selected for a post, the company sends an offer letter or appointment advice confirming his selection and asking him to join duty within a specified period. When the person joins duty, he has to give a joining report thanking management for appointing him and provide all certificates and documents to finalize joining formalities. The company then issues an appointment order after checking and completing all formalities like induction, joining kit, etc.

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Understanding Appointment Letters

An appointment letter is issued by the employer when selecting a candidate, out of several, for a position in the organization. This occurs before the candidate starts working. Typically, the candidate resigns from their current job based on this letter. Sometimes a candidate may approach multiple employers and receive job offers from different sources, leading to negotiations with potential employers. In such cases, the candidate may present the appointment letter to a new employer to negotiate a higher salary. To prevent this situation, some employers issue an offer letter without specifying the salary. The candidate can then resign from their current job based on the offer letter, and upon joining, the employer provides the formal appointment letter.

Clarifying the Term "Joining Letter"

There is no such thing as a "joining letter"; instead, it is referred to as a "joining report." When an employee joins a new employer, various departments such as accounts, security, department heads, workers, union, canteen, and transport need to be informed. The candidate who has joined does not play a role in preparing the joining report; it is typically the responsibility of their superior.

Regards, Vibhakar Ramtirthkar
Consultant