Reading a job offer and employment contract before you sign: a full checklist

Resmi.ID Team · 4 min read · Updated 29 Oct 2026

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Offer letter vs employment agreement

An offer letter usually summarises the position, salary, start date, and status. An employment agreement sets out both parties' rights and obligations in detail. Some companies combine the two; others send the contract after you accept the offer.

If you've only received an offer letter, ask when the employment agreement will follow. For fixed-term (PKWT) employees, the agreement must be in writing, in Indonesian and in Latin script.

Checklist of what to verify

1. 1The partiesThe company's legal name, address, and your name must be correct.
2. 2Role and dutiesThe position matches what you applied for, with clear duties.
3. 3Employment statusStates PKWT or PKWTT, with the term if it's a contract.
4. 4ProbationOnly for permanent roles, and at most 3 months.
5. 5Pay and componentsBase pay, fixed allowances, and variable allowances itemised.
6. 6PaydayWhen and how you will be paid each month.
7. 7Hours and overtimeSchedule, shift system, and how overtime is calculated.
8. 8Work locationOffice address, remote options, and possible transfers.
9. 9Social securityRegistration with BPJS Ketenagakerjaan and BPJS Kesehatan.
10. 10Leave and benefitsLeave entitlement, extra insurance, and other benefits.
11. 11Start dateYour first day and which documents to bring.
12. 12Reply deadlineWhen you must accept or decline the offer.

Clauses worth reading twice

• Penalties or damages if you resign before the contract ends. Understand the amount and how it's calculated.
• A service bond after training. Make sure the type of training, its value, and the bond period are clearly written.
• A ban on working for competitors after you leave. Check its scope and duration.
• Holding your original diploma or documents. This practice puts you at risk; ask why and think about it seriously.
• The phrase "other terms follow company policy" with nothing attached. Ask for a copy of the company regulations referred to.
• Different pay in the offer letter and the contract. The figure in the final document must match what was agreed.

How to ask questions without awkwardness

Asking about the contract doesn't make you difficult. Good HR teams appreciate careful candidates. Send your questions in writing so there's a record.

Sample wording: "Thank you for the offer, I'm very excited. Before signing, may I confirm two things: is the Rp500,000 transport allowance included in the wage used to calculate THR, and is this position PKWT or PKWTT?"

If there's something you want to negotiate, raise only the one or two most important points, with a clear reason. For example, a later start date because of your notice period at your current job.

Comparing two offers

If you hold more than one offer, compare them as a whole, not just on salary. Put them in a simple table: take-home pay after deductions, fixed allowances, employment status, commute time, learning opportunities, and the team culture you sensed in interviews.

A slightly lower salary can be the better deal if the role is permanent, BPJS is registered from day one, and the office is much closer. Conversely, a high salary on a three-month contract with no clarity on renewal needs careful thought.

Accepting or declining politely

Whatever you decide, reply before the deadline and in writing. To decline, keep it short: "Thank you for the opportunity and your time. After careful consideration, I've decided not to proceed. I hope we can work together in the future." A good relationship with HR can be useful later on.

Electronic signatures

Many companies now send contracts to be signed electronically. Under the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE), electronic signatures are legally valid as long as they meet certain requirements, for example that the signature data is linked only to the signer and any change after signing can be detected.

On KarirResmi, companies can send job offer letters signed electronically through docs.resmi.id. You can read the full content first and keep a PDF copy once it has been signed.

Before and after you sign

• Read every page and attachment, not just the first page.
• Check the figures against your interview notes or negotiation emails.
• Never sign a document that is blank or incomplete.
• Keep the final copy signed by both parties.
• Note your start date and the HR contact for your first day.

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