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Write an offer email that matches the approved terms

Practice: Keeping the AI to your sources. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

You're emailing a verbal offer follow-up to a candidate before the formal letter goes out. Write it in under 110 words, plain text, with the offer itself in the first sentence, the exact approved salary and start date, and the corrected response deadline. Describe the bonus exactly as approved, without guaranteeing it, say the formal offer letter will follow, and leave PTO, holidays and hybrid details for that letter.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Burying the offer. The AI opens with long thanks and praise before the news. Try: Add: "First sentence: we're offering you the role."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each part instead: "5 sentences, each under 18 words."
  • Wrong numbers. Both deadlines and the asked-for salary are in the notes, and the AI may mix them up. Try: Add: "Say 'eligible for a discretionary bonus, target 8%'. Leave PTO, holidays and hybrid days for the letter."
  • Over-promising the bonus. The AI writes 'an 8% bonus', which reads as guaranteed. Try: Add: "Say 'eligible for a discretionary bonus, target 8%'. Add no other terms."
  • Formatting the email. The AI adds bold and bullet lists, which look like a contract. Try: Add: "Plain text, short paragraphs."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Puts the offer first
  • Uses the approved numbers
  • Uses the corrected deadline
  • Words the bonus carefully
  • Sets a word limit

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