Can I negotiate the day I start my new job? PLease help!

[LaCerbiatta]

I've just been offered a job, but I need to give a two-month notice in my old job and I have until the end of the week to give them my decision so that would mean starting mid December. The problem is my present contract runs out in the end of December and I always assumed I would start a new job in January so I booked my Xmas holiday from the 15th of December till the 5th of January. I work in academia now and it's pretty common to do this and because I'm foreign and all my family is back home we always have a long break at this time. However I don't think I can just tell them this... I asked if I could start in January and they said they would like me to start in December.... What do I do??

tugamommy I am far from an expert but I think you need to accept the job and be honest and say it like you said it here. Unless of course you want to cancel the holiday (which being a foreign myself I am pretty sure it is the last thing you want to do).
I'm sure they'll be fine with it. There's not much work going on in academia during the holiday period is there?

I hope someone with more expertise (sp?) will answer you.

Thanks Pippi, the problem is I'm moving out of academia into industry where I fear thisng aren't as relaxed....

Cancelling my holiday really is the last thing I want to do... How depressing would it be to see dh and dd go off home and me stay behind on my one around xmas time??

on my own

It's 2 weeks. Ime in business that's nothing and a company won't lose the right person for the job because of it. So in your position I'd stand firm and say you can start in January. Be firm and polite. Say you've booked the break, it's over xmas anyway. They would LIKE you to start, they can't ORDER you to start. While they want you and oyu haven't started you're in a strong negotiating position - stick to your guns.

They've offered you the job so they want you. They've already invested time and effort in interviewing you and making an offer. Don't ask btw, phrase it something like

"As discussed at interview,[I assume they know this, did you discuss at interviw?] I need to give my current employer two months notice, which I am happy to do as soon as I have received your written offer. As I have holiday booked over Christmas I am available to start my new role with you from x January. I look forward to seeing you then." or something along those lines. Don't ask, tell them that's when you can start!

Thanks everyone. Yes www, they knew at the interview about the 2 month notice. They have firmly said they would like me to start before christmas, but I find it really strange because if I count the 2 months from signing the contract (which sounds reasonable to me) it will really be around the 20th.... What's the point?

the point for them is that they might be train you before xmas to be fully working by the new year. However i am with WWW for the sake of two weeks I doubt it they would let go of their best candidate. after all you did not know about this job when you booked your holiday.
good luck and let us know.

If find someone you really like and you need them then you want them to start tomorrow! That doesn't mean you can't stand firm though. It is not unusual to be able to negotiate a shorter notice period (we often do this in the NHS, when peole can have a notice period of up to six months) so I'm not surprised they are hopeful, but if you are clear they really can't insist, or you should be able to negotiate around the holida (ie have it as unpaid leave or something).

start date is usually jointly negotiated once all your paperwork etc is in order- do not see why it would be a problem, as the post is already vacant - be straight and explain your predicament