Understanding Offer Letters vs. Appointment Letters: When Are They Issued?

Hello all,

Can anyone please tell me what the basic differences are between an offer letter and an appointment letter? Also, when are these letters typically issued to an employee?

An offer letter is just an intimation, and an appointment letter is an agreement between the employer and employee. An offer normally does not hold a legal status. However, the appointment letter shall lead to the interpretation of the terms and conditions of employment, and it is considered as defining terms during any dispute between the parties by any government authority.

An offer may be issued to a candidate who has been shortlisted. An appointment can be issued either at the time of joining or after joining, or in certain cases in advance of joining.

Thank you.

Discussion on this topic has been done many times; please look in the search tab provided on the left-hand side.

You can refer to https://www.citehr.com/55638-differe...ter-offer.html

Understanding Offer Letters and Appointment Letters

Both agree that the offer letter is an important document in the recruitment process. If any candidate is selected for the organization, an offer letter is provided to the hired candidate. It mentions details like position, salary, and other required documents.

On the other hand, an appointment letter is provided after the offer has been accepted by the candidate. It is a document that guarantees the job of the candidate under the defined terms and conditions mentioned in the appointment letter.