To not hand notice in until I see the new job contract?

[Celia24]

I've been offered a job in writing with the position, salary and start time outlined.

I don't know any of the other t&cs, pension, holidays etc

They have said they understand I'll need a few days to speak to my manager. In the next breath that they will send the contract within a few days.

AIBU to tell them I'll give notice once I have the contract?

Nope. Don't give notice till you have seen the contract and are happy with it.

Ultimately it is of course up to you and how quickly you want to move, but I don’t think i’ve ever waited for written contract to resign- just written offer. Can they clarify those terms in an email, would that be enough?

That seems sensible to me.

@Superstoria I think if they told me those terms in email that would be fine

I'm sure standard stuff but id feel nervous accepting until I know more.

Definitely get a contract first, and ideally a lawyer to cast their eye over it too.

Or they could just read it themselves - like 99% of the population...

But maybe I'm in the minority as I've never considered doing this?

A written offer seems okay to me though, its not like you'd really get much more security with a contract. If they are going to pull the plug they'll do it either way. You have to be the judge of what sort of company they are as to your comfort levels.

definitly wait. I held on a while until contract came and saw the salary on it was several thousand less than the advert. Turns out they had made a mistake in the ad but point-blank refused to honour it even though they really wanted me to work for them!!

Even an offer can get withdrawn, nothing is cast in stone but if wait for the contract and all the t&c' s so I was happy with them before I gave notice.

Ridiculous comment. I've always relied on the written offer to hand notice in. But I've always worked at places that have most policies publicly available.

Waiting for the contract is sensible, they should understand that you're unable to hand in your notice until you have this. The contract details annual leave, sick pay (discretionary or otherwise), pension, location of working, duties and so on. I wouldn't resign from a role without these details - you're sensible to wait, it's only a couple of days.

My last contract was 20-odd pages long and required NDA's etc - I appreciate that's not the norm, but personally I would never sign anything legally binding without getting expert advice.

(Retired) professional recruiter here, OP; as I used to tell employees don't even think of handing in your notice until you have it all in black and white

Hopefully it'll be all above board, but it's surprising how often little "mistakes" can creep in between what folk are told verbally and what's actually in the contract - and IME they're almost never in the employee's favour

I mean there's nothing to stop them pulling a formal offer before you start, you don't really have any rights at this stage, whether you've seen the actual contract or not. But if there may be certain clauses in the contract that would stop you accepting the offer - are there? then if you wanted to be super cautious you could wait to see the contract.

Definitely wait for the contract. I got caught like that once. Despite being a normal office, start time was 8.30 (which they hadn't mentioned) and I had primary school run to do.

It avoids any misunderstandings.

Now I look back at the offer email, it suggests they will send a formal contract only once I clarify what my start date would be having handed in my notice.

This is because I said I may be able to negotiate it and they'd prefer me to start earlier although also said they will wait.

That clashes with me wanting these details beforehand.

I mean, I am sure it will all be standard stuff.

If I'm too cautious I might lose the offer?

But this is important

It's normal to wait to see your new contract before you give your notice in, in case there are items that need to be negotiated.

The start date in your new contract can be left blank for now and inserted once it's been agreed.

If you give a start date that is more than your minimum notice, does it get round this?

I agree about being cautious. Something like whether wfh is in the contract (if applicable) is important to some people, for example.

I never hand in my notice till I have the contract, although i do give an informal heads up that I am considering it.

I've seen people be really caught out by handing in their notice earlier.

Definitely wait. Dh was offered a job, contract never came through, it was always, 'so and so needs to view it, HR are querying something, there is a short recruitment freeze but you are guaranteed the role, it is yours'. He would have been without a job as clearly this contract will never come through.

Just suggest you agree a later start date but if you are able to agree an earlier one by negotiation then you will let them know and the contract can be carried?

or (depending on your relationship with current employer) give your current employer an informal indication of what you are thinking about and ask if they would agree to an earlier departure in principle, then agree with new employer before formally signing the contract and handing in your notice (this was my approach but I had a good relationship with current employer)

@SpaghettiWithaYeti I see, so just agree the later start date and then say it can be negotiated after?

I think the point is I don't want to even tell my employer about my plans until I have more offer details beyond salary and role.

Who gets a lawyer to read over a standard work contract? The OP hasn’t said she has been in a big negotiation for some massive deal. It’s a standard job offer and employment contract. What an insane comment.

Until you’ve signed the contract, they can withdraw the job offer. Don’t hand in your notice until you’ve confirmed your new employment.

Yeah - I think I can't accept this job without the offer letter

I think I can demonstrate job keen I am but just need the offer points clarified.

I do think they really want me (so if seems!) ao hopefully won't be an issue.