To ask - when would you hand your notice in?

[gingerhairedhippie]

I have been offered a new job, but I haven't received anything formal such as the contract or job description yet.

I have to give 4 weeks notice at my current job but I don't want to hand in my notice until I have received the new job contract (and read it to make sure there is nothing disagreeable).

Am I being too cautious?

YANBU - wait for the contract
YABU - resign without contract

Completely normal not to hand it in until you’ve got the offer in writing

Sensible in my book.

Never ever hand your notice in before you have a signed offer letter / contract,

Wait for the contract.

Do not hand in your notice until you have received and agreed to a written contract.

They will be aware of your notice period I assume so if they want you by a certain date they'll have to pull their fingers out

Remember that a contract gives you (almost) no rights before you start work, and many employers don't even issue them until you arrive.

I'd wait until they have done reference checks, and put something solid in writing (pay, hours, AL etc).

Wait for the contract, when you've read it, and know there are no nasty surprises then had in your notice.

Don’t forget to make your last day a Sunday rather than a Friday. You get paid a bit more then!

Never hand notice in before you have the new contract.

I agree that the contract is pretty worthless until you start but you can sometimes get a shock (terrible annual leave and sickness policy I’m looking at you).

During my 20 years in recruitment I always advised waiting for the contract

When I have signed offer letter/contract.

I had an offer rescinded once because right as I was about to sign the contract there had been a balls up with the approval chain and the salary they offered hadn’t actually been signed off by the department director. They had to backtrack and it was a whole mess which ended up in them shelving the role until months later. They were very apologetic but it made me very skittish for future job hunting. Could’ve been a nightmare if I’d already resigned for my other role.

*from

@StoneofDestiny

Never hand notice in before you have the new contract.

This.

A guy senior to me did this years ago and bad quarterly results, resultedĺ in his offer being rescinded.

He was married with a newborn.
His replacement had been quickly appointed internally, and his job was effectively gone.

He had been trying to be decent by giving them early notice.

Just awful.
So upsetting.

I would never do it.

Wait.

But that example could have happened even with a signed contract

@Useranon1

But that example could have happened even with a signed contract

Definitely possible.

He went in early to facilitate a new employer and to give as much notice to his old.

Very unfortunate.