Have forgotten the correct order for resignation 🤦‍♀️

[AvonCallingBarksdale]

Hi. I’ve accepted a job offer at an external organisation but it’s been a while since I’ve changed jobs and I’ve forgotten the correct order of what I need to do next!
I’ve had a verbal and (email) written offer which I’ve accepted. This is subject to references and DBS. I’ve not said anything to my current workplace yet and have asked that references aren’t requested until I’ve spoken to work. So is this right:

• the email offer is enough to go on
• i resign
• i let the new place know who to ask for references
• once that’s all done I’ll get my new contract to sign.
• I work out my notice which is 3 months.

A friend has spooked me by saying not to hand in my notice until I’ve signed a contract. But…. I won’t get that until references have been cleared and references can’t be requested until I’ve spoken to current workplace (I def don’t want a ref request to be how my boss finds out I’m leaving!) Advice v gratefully received!

Yes do not hand in resignation until you have a confirmed job offer/ contract. Just say to your boss you have had a job offer and to expect a reference request to come through.

Sorry by confirmed I mean an actual contract. Then a start date can be agreed in line with your notice policy in your current job. Then hand in your resignation stating when you’ll be working until.

Following!

Definitely don’t resign until you have signed the new contract.

I’ve always worked places with a central HR function so haven’t been too bothered about the reference issue as we just get standard references here confirming dates of employment - I’d probably give my manager a heads-up if that wasn’t the case.

Do not resign until you have signed the new contract. You risk having no job if you do that!

Yes as others have said, don't resign until you've signed a contract. I'm job hunting at the moment. I got offered a temp role so I gave a heads up to my line manager that he should be expecting a reference request. I've also let him know about having interviews recently too as I needed time off at short notice. There's nothing wrong with telling them about a reference, the worst case is the job falls through and things are awkward for a bit Vs the worst case of it falling through after you've handed your notice in and you have no job.

Ok, so it’s a kind of 2-stage thing then? I give work the heads up that I’ve been offered a new role and for them to expect a ref request but don’t formally resign. Then once refs and DBS all come through Ok I officially hand in my notice and agree dates. Is that right?
thank you!

That's correct. Tell work that you've been offered a job pending references. Ask I who they suggest as referees. Inform potential new job. Wait for formal job offer. Hand in resignation.

Thank you! I am actually quite competent in most areas but have had a total blind spot with this 😁

Almost right.

You wait until you have it in writing from your new employers that your DBS and references are satisfactory and that your job offers ( which was subject to these) is now confirmed.

Then you inform your current employer and negotiate a leaving date. Your notice period will be in your contact but some companies want you work it, others want to pay in lieu of notice while others put you on gardening leave.

remember to calculate any outstanding leave ( or days you owe then ) or TOIL ( if you get it).

But @N0TMYIDEA I have to say something to my current job otherwise I’m in a chicken and egg situ aren’t I? I don’t want to let the new place request a reference and that to be the first my current place hears of my departure. But without a reference/DBS I won’t get a formal contract to sign.
I work in the third sector - we don’t have in house HR so it’s not possible to keep everything separate unfortunately 😬

I would follow the advice from Lougle, as I agree with you that’s it’s a bit off to let the reference request be the first that your current work hears of it.

I have a different view. HR bod here.

Wait for your contract and sign and return it. The offer is normally issued 'subject to satisfactory references and DBS'. If you are confident that your DBS and references will be okay, hand in your notice then. DBS can take ages to come through, likewise some references, and you will unneccessarily hold up your potential start date if you don't hand your notice in.

This is all normal onboarding, getting the DBS and references during the candidate's notice period.

If you don't hand your notice in and agree a likely start date, it'll make them think you anticipate a problem with DBS or reference.

And they may not be willing/able to accommodate the 5 or 6 month wait for you to start.

I don't understand why you think they won't issue a contract until they have your DBS/references - have they told you that? It's pretty weird to be honest, if that's the case I'd think twice about the job.

@Hollyhocksarenotmessy , no they haven’t said that explicitly, just the standard “the offer is subject to satisfactory references and DBS checks”. I know there won’t be an issue with the reference so it’s kind of a formality. But my understanding is that nothing will move forward until references are in. I’ve had verbal and email confirmation of the offer so far.

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

Trying not to be too specific about the sector but it’s a v small world so getting the exit right is really important.

I work in the NHS and we don't get a formal offer letter until DBS / references / qualifications / professional registration / occupational health / probably other things are all checked and sorted.

Even if you wait to resign until after signing a paper contract, they can still withdraw the job offer with very little remedy for you - especially as it's a conditional offer.

There's already a contract from the point when you accepted the offer anyway.

Whichever order you approach it, you are vulnerable with very few employment rights until you have served two years with the new employer. That's the risk you take when moving employers.

https://www.acas.org.uk/if-your-job-offer-is-withdrawn

@AvonCallingBarksdale I get it! In your position I’ve spoken to my current org as soon as I’ve had my offer, or after I’ve had a follow up chat with my future manager about timescales and practicalities. Come to think of it, I’m not sure I’ve ever formally resigned in a separate or written way! That chat with my current employer re leaving and references has been the start of a process which included dialogue re references, dates, how to replace me etc and away I’ve gone.

@user628468523532453 well, that’s done my blood pressure zero good 🤣

@user628468523532453 but thank you that’s a really helpful link.

Sorry! I was more meaning "don't fret about the perfect order because the risk level is the same regardless".

@AvonCallingBarksdale I know this thread is over a year old now, but I'm in the EXACT same situation (other than DBS check, which I don't need) and so I wondered what you ended up doing? Did you do the 2 stage thing?

@Jobdilemmaz congratulations on the job offer! In the end, I spoke to a member of our SMT and gave them the heads-up but didn’t officially hand in my notice at that point. I knew the reference and DBS would be fine. Without outing myself too much, I then gave the new place the OK to request references and wrote to my Chair, formally handing in my notice. It was all fine - bit of to-ing and fro-ing re notice periods. I am still in the same sector albeit a different area. V important to have had a good exit, which is true of anyone really I guess.
Good luck!

Thank you, really useful, I think I'll use the same approach. I agree, very important to have a good exit and maintain good relationships just in case!