to think if she wanted the job, she would be replying more quickly

[Thinkingthisthrough]

Run a small business. Interviewed 20 people locally for a PA role and made a decision yesterday to take someone on. Sent her quite a formal email at 10am saying she had got the job at the salary she wanted, and could she send me a copy of her national insurance/identification etc and confirm when she could start (we need ASAP), so we can get things moving.

Got a reply at 10am this morning saying. "Hi how are you? I'll have a look for my passport and nat insurance number."

There are other candidates who would be just as good, but we chose her because she was bilingual. AIBU to feel that she is not that bothered? Should I contact someone else? If I'm NBU then what do I say to her if/when she eventually gets back?

"But a PA SHOULD be checking her emails regularly"

well, technically a PA should get on with her job, not checking her private emails constantly during the day . Even an amazing PA is entitled to have a life and can have plans one evening that don't involve checking said emails. However, she really should know how to write a professional email.

Surely if you retract the job offer now, there could be legal implications? (Disclaimer, I'm not a lawyer/solicitor/anything to do with law), but surely you've entered a legally binding agreement unless you stated in the offer that you require a reply by x date confirming or otherwise her ability/willingness to accept the offer made?

I think, unless you indicated a level of urgency in the entire recruitment process, your potential PA gets to have time to think about your offer.

She's confirmed she's received the offer. Now she's considering if she wants the job, I'd assume she'll negotiate the offered contract in the next week or so.

I just like to say I have never received a job offer by email, they always phone and discuss what they need on the phone. By emailing you taken that away, I realize you also didn't give her a date you needed the passport by...asap could mean anything.

But if she'd asked to be contacted by email? Like the OP's candidate?

I am confused as to why so many people assume the OP is mostly making a fuss about the time frame here. She mentions it, but it is fairly obvious that if a candidate had replied appropriately in the same time frame, it would have been fine.

The issue is that this woman is messing her about with a vague reply, and also being unprofessional.

Why doesn't she want to be contacted by phone? Where is she that a phone call would be awkward? Maybe she's working ATM?

Certainly sounds weird, I'd have thought someone applying to be a PA would be fine taking a phone call as that's what a PA will be doing a lot of?

A PA should be very easily contactable, I expect my PA to respond to me within 10 minutes of sending her an email or text. I think you should re consider offering her the job.

I think it would be really bad to rescind the offer now.

Natty she isn't her PA, she's very possibly someone else's at this point. Do you honestly expect your PA to be checking her email every 10 minutes? How on earth does she ever get anything done? Anything needing an immediate response requires a phone call.

"hi how are you? " is a completely inappropriate and downright odd way to respond to an email offering her a job.

You say she is bilingual- is English not actually her native tongue? Seems unfortunately like she has problems with register and I would not have much confidence in her PA abilities if she is to be given free rein to communicate with third parties on your behalf. It's probably not great to rescind the offer but I doubt she'd have much comeback if you did. Listen to the alarm bells.

I think she would be having a lucky escape if you were sort of boss who would offer her job then retract offer based on one email tbh.

She sounds very airy fairy! And who has to look for their passport and NI number, surely you know where these things are! I would be extremely concerned at the casualness of her reply. She should mirror the formality of your offer. (I used to be a PA)

At least she didn't sign off with an x.

Did you ask her to confirm that she accepted the role? I always call and follow up with an email referring to the phone call and asking for confirmation in writing that they accept the job and are content with the T & C.

She asked to be contacted by email but then didn't check her email for 24 hrs? I mean, even if she was working, she didn't check her email on her phone all evening? Really?

I say she's waiting on another job offer and is buying time to see what the other crowd offer.

I'd retract the offer.

If someone isn't able to reflect the tone of an email, or word an email so she doesn't look incompetent, she's not the PA for me.

It's not worth the hassle to progress with someone you are questioning before she starts.

Okay, okay, so she wanted to be contacted by email. But the fact remains that she's received a job offer from someone who appears completely uninterested in working with her, but just wants some paperwork sent by return.

I wouldn't want to work with the OP at all. Yes, this might not be the right candidate, and she might say 'hi' and really be in the wrong line of work altogether, but even the right candidate can expect to be treated with a modicum of friendliness in what is a small firm, not a massive corporate entity?

I say she's waiting on another job offer and is buying time to see what the other crowd offer.

ElspethFlashman I agree with this entirely and have done this myself in the past however like you say if she'd opted for e-mail communication you'd expect her to be more on the ball and it still doesn't excuse her blasé response to OP's offer.

YANBU about her writing style and professionalism. I would have replied 'Hi , first I would like to say that I'm very grateful for the job offer. I have my passport and NI numbers and will make sure I email them to you as promptly as possible.' Same meaning, better way of saying it. However, I think YWBU to remove the offer. You've already offered her the position and she's said she will get the numbers you need to you, I don't think it would be fair to remove the offer at this point.

That said, I've recently been offered a job and only started replying with 'hi' when the employer did so, I would hate to come across as too casual and uncaring. I don't think ther's any issue in not giving you the numbers right away, but I do agree her writing style leaves something to be desired.

Have you called her yet op? She's had plenty of time and you can gauge her reaction on the phone better than an email! Is she currently working? Did she indicate in your interview when she'd be able to start?

Formal job offers are formal (the clue is in the name ) It's nothing to do with friendliness, it's important to have a written trail confirming start dates, times, etc. The OP has done nothing wrong.

If I received a response like that from a prospective new start then I would give them another 24 hours then call to see if they did actually want the post and when they were available to start. Regardless of her preference for email, her email communication is sorely lacking and I would want to determine the cause.