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Original poster

You need a written formal job offer before you hand in your notice right?

36 replies

jimijack · 14/01/2014 13:23

It's been years since I applied for and got a job so not sure what protocol is nowadays.

At the beginning of November I had an interview and was offered the job there & then verbally.
Didn't hear anything for 4 weeks so I rang them and yes, the job was still mine but they were sorting stuff.

I got a letter from their HR asking for documentation..all pretty standard stuff but it wasn't worded as a job offer.

I can't hand in my notice till I have this can I? Or can I?
WWYD?

OP posts:

flowery · 14/01/2014 13:28

Well you can. But I wouldn't. I would ring the HR person and say there seems to have been a hiccup, but you haven't actually had a formal offer letter yet, so you are unable to resign or send them the documentation they requested at the moment.

BikeRunSki · 14/01/2014 13:31

this

Original poster

jimijack · 14/01/2014 13:32

Thing is I have now asked for this twice.
Also a start date and salary as they are being vague.
I've always worked in public sector, have interviewed and recruited staff and we always have all of this stuff done & dusted within 24 hours of interview.

This is a private company, presumably that's how they do things?

Red flags ate popping up everywhere!

OP posts:

gamerchick · 14/01/2014 13:33

I wouldn't hand your notice in until you've got written confirmation.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 14/01/2014 13:34

I definitely wouldn't hand in your notice.

Ring them and talk to them, lots of places run checks on you before issuing a contract, and it may be that they want the documentation for that. But even if you send the documents, don't hand in your notice until you have a proper offer and a confirmed in writing start date.

eurochick · 14/01/2014 13:34

I wouldn't resign without a signed job offer.

NK5BM3 · 14/01/2014 13:35

I wouldn't do anything at your current place without documentation from the next place. Not in this economic situation!

So, they are saying you have the job, but no start date, no salary (and I presume everything that comes with it, eg pension contribution, perks, holidays etc)? I wouldn't do anything!!

can you talk to the person who chaired your interview panel??

PeterParkerSays · 14/01/2014 13:35

I wouldn't, particularly if they've taken this long to fail to confirm that they're giving you a job.

You can hand your notice in, but there's not guarantee that you'll have a job to go on to.

PeterParkerSays · 14/01/2014 13:37

Oh, and if you're still keen to leave your current job, keep attending interviews. If you get offered a different job in the meantime, that's their loss as they couldn't get their house in order.

oscarwilde · 14/01/2014 13:38

You don't need one, but you'd be an idiot to resign before having one.
And yes, red flags. The job is on hold for some reason. I would wager that the manager who interviewed you is trying to make a business case for the role and their line management aren't keen. If you are planning to leave your current employer, I'd start looking again personally. Sorry.

flowery · 14/01/2014 13:39

It's certainly not standard for a private sector organisation, just for a disorganised organisation, which could be anywhere.

Have you physically spoken to either HR or to the person who verbally offered you the job?

Given their vagueness thus far, I wouldn't resign, and would make sure the new place know you are unable to resign without a written job offer including salary, start date and other relevant details.

it sounds like the kind of offer that might fall through, so hang fire.

IrisWildthyme · 14/01/2014 13:39

RED FLAG RED FLAG - definitely do not hand in your notice, and seriously consider whether you would want to accept a job offer from a company that is so lax about your needs.

Until you have a written job offer and full details of the Ts&Cs in writing you are not in any position to hand in your notice and should not do so unless a period of unemployment and job seeking (and being considered by the authorities to have made yourself intentionally unemployed) would not be a problem for you if it all goes tits up.

JeanSeberg · 14/01/2014 13:41

As an employer, I would definitely not hand in your notice until you have a written offer, including salary and start date.

We had a situation before Christmas where everything was approved to recruit a new member of staff, we made a job offer and then at the 11th hour, head office said we were only allowed to offer a 6 month contract.

Made us look extremely unprofessional but fortunately for the candidate he hadn't handed his notice in.

Anything could be going on behind the scenes at the new company.

I'd also be wary about the documentation they are asking for and be 100% clear that they are not going to approach your current employer for a reference at this point.

WallyBantersJunkBox · 14/01/2014 13:41

No, that isn't how private companies do things.

Please don't resign until you have a formal offer, in writing. If you have agreed a start date with them then it's even more important that they hurry up!

Original poster

jimijack · 14/01/2014 13:47

To clarify, it's a new service for which they need to employ a team of 10.
They have interviewed over November and December but have been unable to fill all jobs due to unsuitable applicants etc.
They are down to the last 2 interview dates last week.

Presuming they want all 10 staff recruited before getting the ball rolling with specifics.

They have my info to do a CRB they are on with that.
The salary was a broad number. They have asked for my wage slip to decide what they will pay me.

That was 2 weeks ago.

It just seems disjointed and while I understand why, to some degree, I still have red flags.

OP posts:

Ragwort · 14/01/2014 13:57

So they are going to pay you based on what you currently earn? If this is a 'new service' it sounds terribly disorganised & casual - I wouldn't want to risk giving up a secure job to go somewhere like that. Please think about it very carefully.

WallyBantersJunkBox · 14/01/2014 13:59

My line of work might be quite different to yours, but I have never asked or have been asked for a wage slip to determine what I'll be paid.

Salary has always either been clear to me on application, or I have negotiated within a bracket given.

I understand they're doing checks, but they could still write an offer letter including this - don't most contracts stipulate that the offer is subject to things checking out? References etc?

If it is all so unknown, I wonder if they are fitting faces to positions and are possibly waiting for other interview candidates to accept roles before they can plan out the dept structure?

If that is the case, they shouldn't have verbally offered you a position until all the pieces were in place.

tribpot · 14/01/2014 14:04

They have asked for my wage slip to decide what they will pay me.

Errrr, no. They will pay you what you and they agree is reasonable. Your current wage is really none of their business, although it's usual to quote it when asked about salary expectations.

The red flags here are less about whether you resign without a formal offer and more about whether you would want to work for them at all. It sounds like they aren't making you an offer until they've interviewed everyone, possibly meaning if they find someone they like better they will ditch you.

I'm actually waiting on a formal job offer at the mo, it's taking ages because I was interviewed before there was any budget for the post and the hoops are taking longer than expected. There is no way I'd be hanging around for them if I didn't know the people personally. In your shoes I wouldn't want to have anything to do with this new firm, written offer or not.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 14/01/2014 14:06

It does sound like they've jumped the gun by verbally offering you the job.

And WTF to the payslip request?? They pay you the going rate for the job/what you are worth to them, not the least they think they can get away with based on what you are on at the moment!

Do nothing, and to every request for info just say 'I can't do anything until I have a formal offer from you including salary.'

And consider yourself still on the market. Do you have any other interviews lined up?

nowahousewife · 14/01/2014 14:09

Firstly you don't need a written offer to hand in your notice but as others have said, you'd be mad not to, especially with an organisation that sounds this disorganised.

With regard to the CRB check please make sure they are paying for it and not getting you to pay. However if they do ask you to pay then remember it is yours to posess not theirs.

You most definately should not show them your payslip nor do you need to disclose what you are currently earning. You negotiate with them a salary and benefits that you are worth for the job they have.

Finally this does sound a bit of a chaotic organisation and you should really think about whether they are an organisation you will be happy working in.

Good luck and keep us posted!

JeanSeberg · 14/01/2014 14:10

I really would advise against pursuing this application any further, especially as you are already in paid work.

Start again from scratch.

If they are like this now, imagine what they would be like to work for.

OddFodd · 14/01/2014 14:12

They want to see your wage slip before they make you a formal offer? Sounds very shoddy - I'd be really careful about leaving your existing job ...

zipzap · 14/01/2014 14:44

Another one here who thinks it is all raising lots of red flags. And agreed that it's outrageous to ask for pay slip. Please don't give it to them!

It's up to you if you tell them your current salary - I know lots of people these days ask you to tell them; but they don't want proof from payslips. And I don't know what happens if you don't tell them.

If you refused to give them your payslip (or indeed current salary) but negotiated on the basis of what they had said job was worth, and they then revoked their job offer, would you be that disappointed?

Original poster

jimijack · 14/01/2014 16:29

The salary is below my current wage.

It's a well established and reputable service across the UK. It's being set up in my area brand new.

I have been and looked around and it was awesome, really really exciting.

OP posts:

JeanSeberg · 14/01/2014 16:49

You said they'd asked for your pay slip to decide what to pay you?

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