To not want to resign from my current role until I have a contract for new role?

[Rugrats2026]

Hi All,

I accepted a job offer verbally and over email last week. I said I would need to sign a contract before handing in my notice. New manager said yes, they’ll get a contract over to me.

My start date was going to be the end of August, which would give me a couple of weeks off before my new role.

However, on Tuesday I was asked to start a week earlier, which would give me 1 week off, fine. We are now at the end of my working week though (I don’t work Fridays) and I still haven’t got a contract. I’m aware that unless I hand my notice in today, I won’t have served my 4 weeks notice by the time my new role want me to start.

Am I being awkward saying I won’t resign until I’ve seen a contract?

Absolutely not. You’d be very foolish to do so.

No you're not being awkward. They have only offered you the job verbally. Until you have received confirmation in writing (letter or email) that you have been formally offered the job and received your contract, which you then have signed....no I wouldn't be resigning.

To resign now would be foolish. Make whoever has recruited you aware that until you have received your confirmation of the job offer in writing and the contract, you won't be resigning from your current role. Explain that you have to give 4 weeks notice to your current employer, and that you won't be able to start when they want you to become of the notice period, if they don't pull their finger out (might need to put that slightly more politely!).

Thanks. I think I’ll have to ring my new manager and say that. I mean, I’m pretty sure they know as it’s easy to work out the dates.

They do have a reason for the delay in contract as it’s a term tine + X weeks role and they’re trying to work out how I can fulfil that whilst starting when I will. Ultimately though, they were always going to have this problem advertising and appointing for the role when they did as most people will need to work 4 weeks notice.

I don’t want to let them down and not start when they need me to (potentially making the above problem worse) however I cannot get out of working the full 4 weeks for my current employer either. Plus, it would’ve been lovely to have had a week off between roles.

This is their problem to solve. Send an email reiterating that today is the last day to get your contract and notice period to work for their preferred start date.

Can you take annual leave from your current employer to start with your new one if they don't get sorted in time? Absolutely don't give notice until you've got the contract. They don't have the incentive to get it sorted if you've given notice.

Do you have an official job offer in writing? If you do then I would go ahead and hand in your notice. The thing is, even with a contract you can still be let go anytime within the first 6 months/ probation period for any reason. So a contract isn't a guarantee of anything right now.

You are not being unreasonable at all - I wouldn't resign until I had something official for the new role.

Never resign until you have signed a contract and got written confirmation that they have received it!

If it’s a job in a school it’s not unusual to receive a contract after starting work, but in your situation I wouldn’t risk it.