What is an "offer of employment"?

[Fairycupcake]

I am currently working and was looking to move up. I received an offer of employment from a new company, which spells out the conditions pretty much like a contract, only it states that the employment contract will be offered to me two months following the start of the new job. What does it mean?

I am very uncomfortable with this, as once I resign and start the new job, I will have no lever at all to enforce the contractual conditions. It is conceivable that the company is seeking my specialist knowledge, which they might extract within the first 2 months.

I don't want to sound alarmist and defensive to the new employer, but I am not comfortable at all.
Is the "offer of employment" worth the paper it is written on?

I think you seem to be seeing things here, that are just not there.
Everything you have said is totally standard. For top Managers. aswell.

What you said was offensive. You think these' rubbish terms' only apply to 'poxy minimum wage staff' and 'temps'? Er no. They are STANDARD.

They apply to everyone. By tin pot rubbish companies and huge established 100 year old companies.
THEY are STANDARD. The norm.

For top Managers earning 80k or 100k.
I take on a sales rep on 60k plus commission, he gets the same offer letter and a promise that contract issued within 2 months, ( I normally issue within a month).

Everyone has tried to explain this to you. But seem to have failed.

We do not re-negotiate, after 2 months. As a Company we don't do that.
Makes EVER gave you the impression that this company would?

OP, I am sure that this is this company's policy for all levels, I don't think you need to feel like it's a bucket of crap.

It might be worth getting an employment lawyer to read it and comment on enforceability etc, I think you'd get a lot of comfort from that.

"What I hear is that they can change terms like the salary and the place of work after 2 months and I won't have any power to oppose it. I will be in legal limbo and if I don't agree new terms they could dismiss me immediately without notice."

They could do that even if it was a contract you had received. It makes no difference.

I encourage clients to send out a contract with the offer letter and I disagree that waiting until two months is standard everywhere. I don't think it's very good practice either but it is both legal and not uncommon.

Is it possible that they have a policy of contract at two months but are in your case spelling out most of the terms in the offer because they know it's important.

You do seem very quick to ascribe malicious intent here, so my question would be have you any other reason to think they intend to screw you over in some way. Issuing a contract a bit later doesn't make it any easier for them to do this as has been pointed out, but if you clearly believe it's a real possibility for whatever reason I would just be careful about moving anyway.

You don't trust them and I suggest thinking carefully about why that is, because it's unlikely to result in a successful move.

If you are concerned specifically about the risk of relocation, you can ask them in writing to confirm that they do not at this stage see any reason why this would happen. Also you could speak to the person who is hiring you and address your concerns about the contract as well as talking to HR.

It's an offer. You don't have to take it.

If you are not happy then re-negotiate.