To not hand notice in until contract signed and references passed

[Jobadvice1]

Recruiter with job offer putting pressure on me to provide earliest start date for new role

What is the etiquette here

Is it okay for me tell them I only feel comfortable handing my notice in when I’ve been given a contract which I’ve signed and confirmation I’ve passed referencing. I’m worried to risk handing my notice in before this.

sorry I sound stupid but how would I phrase this to recruiter professionally? Is this a normal request?

They haven’t given me any contract yet or told me about their referencing process. Today sent me a chaser to confirm my earliest start date

References these days are tombstone type

Sandra Bloggs worked at this company from [date] to [date] and her job title was [job title].

I don't imagine you'd have lied about that so nothing to worry about. Unless you said you were a VP when you were only a Senior Manager or something then should be no problem

I’ve just had a situation where I resigned on a verbal offer and the written one a week later came through with 2 pays grades lower, a lower title and fixed term.

Luckily old job just reversed the resignation with a load of smiley faces in the message and said it was wonderful news!

You’re probably right to be concerned with financial services. Although I wasn’t carrying out a regulated function, my employer to be used the same vetting agency for me as either they or the FSA (as it then was) did for Approved Persons!

Or unless an applicant had been somewhat elastic with dates…

Don’t ask if it’s ok. Tell them thats what your notice is when you get a contract and start date

Sorry AI but ‘feeling more comfortable’ is not strong enough. OP needs to say she’s not willing to resign without a signed contract. And the waffle about being excited just wastes time.

Excellent

Thank you! I always find adding "I'm sure you understand" to stuff is brilliantly polite professional code for

you are daft to even ask you fool

and usually works a treat

Yes, wait. For my last job I was given written confirmation from my new employer so I went ahead and handed in my notice as my manager-to-be asked me to. Two days later I got a letter from her HR department saying ‘Do not compromise your position by resigning from your current post until we have cleared your references.’ I was beside myself with worry and only actually got confirmation from the HR department two days before I started the new job!

Exactly, and it might nothing to do with referencing being truthful or not.

How quickly your references respond is out of your control really, and you could end up with a gap of a couple of weeks with no wages.

I am a recruiter with 15+ years experience and I will say that it sounds like the one you're dealing with is very unprofessional. I always advise candidates not to resign until they have the contract.

I would reply with something along the lines of "If you are able to get me a contract today then my start date will be XZY. It will naturally be delayed if the contract is late."

Yes, this is the problem. I've always had to resign first to agree on my start date to have in the next contract. Always had an offer by email, but I suppose it can always be withdrawn.

'feeling more comfortable' isn't strong enough, but 'not prepared to' isn't very polite. Why not 'I really can't...'.

Some people/employers still give real references.

Too ‘nice’ IMO. Flip it back. “I can confirm my notice period is four weeks. So my starting date would be four weeks following confirmation I have passed referencing and receipt of the new contract . Can you let me know when that is likely to be?”

The magic words "on or after" with a side letter when the actual start date is finalised.

And as the OP has as yet only got a conditional offer she would be very wise not to terminate her current contract untli the other party is in a position to ensure their specific performance bits are locked in.

Do not allow the recruiters bully you.
They don't care about you, just their commission.
Contract and confirmation of references approved before you resign.

Red flag if they push back on you protecting yourself.

The recruiter has since emailed me asking to “confirm that you are happy to take the offer and we can prepare all documentation”

^stupid q but just wondering if I confirm that doesn’t mean I have to hand in my notice yet? Also if I say yes/ confirm in writing over email, is it still acceptable for me to drop out when sent a contract (in case terms change within contract)

This email from recruiter is replying to me after I had said “My notice period is xyz, I could confirm an exact start date after having a chance to review the contract if that’s okay. In the meantime a provisional date…”

(Edit email back eg ) Yes I can confirm I am happy to proceed. Please go ahead and prepare/ send over the contract.
[ You can contact X for a reference phone no xxx or
As discussed HR will be able to provide confirmation of my period of employment but company policy it to not issue further details ot a character reference ]

The UK courts recognise that employment is a Master ( employer has the most power) Servant (you have much less as you are giving up selfauthority to earn money) so you cant be held to contract terms that ever discussed/agreed to during the negotiations. So if anything ods or off was included you dont have to sign.

And until you get a signed contract you should not hand in your notice.

However if the new employer contacts your current one your manager will be aware you are job hunting.

Thank you

They now want me to sign a formal attachment letter which says
“Please note that this conditional offer is subject to satisfactory background screening checks being received.
Can you please signify your acceptance of this offer by completing the below section of this page and returning a signed scanned copy to (xxx email address).

On receipt of your acceptance, I will have a contract drawn up and sent to you.
If you have any questions regarding this, please do not hesitate to contact me.”

would it be okay for me to sign and reply with something like:
“I can confirm I accept the offer.

Just to flag, for me to meet the provisional start date of 26th August I would need to have passed referencing by 25th July before giving notice to my current employer”

From my previous email where I said I could confirm earliest start date after contract and gave a provisional date in meantime, the recruiter hasn’t really acknowledged this.
I’m just very anxious as I’ve found job market tough and had two job offers withdrawn this year (due to budget cuts not my fault).

1.Sign and reply ‘I accept the offer’.

1. Wait for the contract and confirmation of references. As @Hedgedone sensibly advised.

3 Check throughly and sign and return contract. 4.Hand in your notice to your current employer. I feel for you OP but you are tying yourself up in knots. Start dates are meaningless until the steps above are followed. That’s possibly why the recruiter has ignored your mention of the provisional start dates? Start dates are often flexible to accommodate the four steps I have detailed above. If the recruiter wants you to start on a very particular date then it’s up to them to expedite that. It’s not on you to resign from your current job without all the possible safeguards in place.

Sorry random numbers in post but everything I say still stands.

Fill in and return what was asked.

Wait for the contract and review it.

Do not hand in your notice until you are given an unconditional offer as in they confirmed your checks are done and OK and you will work and get a paycheque.

The start date is not "your problem" their HR needs to work the 31day maths from their end. As in if we need J1 in the job by X date
• we need to have done our job on time or
• remove the conditions and hope for the best or
• push the start date out to match the notice period.

Reference checking / vetting is usually pretty comprehensive for almost all Financial Services roles these days, and most employers outsource this to professional vetting services hence there is a cost to them. This is why they want you to accept their offer before they kick off the vetting process. It’s normal to say you accept their offer subject to reviewing the offer letter (which is usually a combined offer letter and contract). They won’t produce the offer letter until you verbally (or via email) confirm you accept the offer. This is quite normal. Basically:

Employer makes offer (verbal / email)
Candidate accepts (or declines of course)
Employer prepares offer letter (which needs signing at their end before it can be sent)
Candidate receives formal offer letter, reviews, signs and returns
Employer kicks off reference checking / vetting process
Employer confirms all checks are passed (or if not, what they are waiting for / there’s an issue with)
Candidate resigns

Most FS reference checks / vetting will check employment going back 6-7 years (although some employers go back longer), check highest level of study direct with the uni / school, check any professional qualifications with the awarding body and run a credit check. Plus right to work and electoral roll of course. Some will also check for negative press / social media. If you have any gaps in employment of 3 months or longer, they will probably want evidence of what you were doing during that period (so evidence of study, benefit receipts, travel etc).

Edit: FS checking can be nerve-wracking even when you’re used to it. Just hang in there. If you are aware that problems will be identified (for example, you have a CCJ or you’re not on the electoral roll), flag it to the recruiter NOW. Better you raise it than they find out themselves.