Conditional offer and notice

Moneysaver199

I have received a conditional offer of employment and the start date on the letter is in line with my notice period if I were to resign this week.

Obviously because the offer is conditional (on reference), I feel I shouldn't be handing in my notice until the offer is unconditional. I have explained this to them, but they have confirmed the start date and that my notice period from now allows me to start on that date. I have looked online and it seems to be that it's unadvisable to hand in notice when only in receipt of a conditional offer.

I have no reason to think my reference will be an issue, but it will be very brief as it's a large company and I know for a fact that's all they provide.

What would you do in this situation? I'm feeling a bit under pressure with the timeframes, plus I have a further complication with my current job as I could potentially be redeployed (or let go). Part of me would like to see how that pans out (I should know next week however that's too late for this other opportunity), and the new job offer is slightly poorer in terms of benefits (leave, pension, health & dental), however I had hoped more for a better working environment (which obviously there are no guarantees though I did get a positive feeling at interview).

Any thoughts?

AJ1982

How many times have you moved jobs? I ask as I assume you have been through this process before so just do what you did then.

My advice, conditional offer is generally always subject to references. So when you are "job searching" they could not take a reference. Now your current employer knows your leaving, then expect the reference request. So this is the right way to go.

Ignore the potential lay offs, unless you are talking confirmed mega bucks, take a job which you know will be long term.

Moneysaver199

I have only moved jobs once, and I was made redundant so it was very clear cut.

I have read a few things saying never to hand in notice based on a conditional offer, in case it falls through and you have handed in notice. I understand that reference would then come in before notice which is also a problem.

I think the job perhaps isn't perfect enough for me to take the risk now. A couple of small things have happened in the process that have rung small alarm bells.

The potential lay off situation is something I also kind of feel the need to see how it pans out. There's more to it, I can't say too much about it but I had applied for the other job thinking I'd have known about that situation in time, whereas the new job offer has come about rather quickly. Too quickly in fact.

LittleVoice

Moneysaver199 wrote: »

I have only moved jobs once, and I was made redundant so it was very clear cut.

I have read a few things saying never to hand in notice based on a conditional offer, in case it falls through and you have handed in notice. I understand that reference would then come in before notice which is also a problem. What is the problem? You advise your employer that a reference request is on its way and so they await it. They are more used to receiving reference requests than you are in changing jobs. Or are you concerned about how they will react?

I think the job perhaps isn't perfect enough for me to take the risk now. A couple of small things have happened in the process that have rung small alarm bells. No job is perfect (or very few are and anyone who has the perfect job for them is very lucky).

The potential lay off situation is something I also kind of feel the need to see how it pans out. There's more to it, I can't say too much about it but I had applied for the other job thinking I'd have known about that situation in time, whereas the new job offer has come about rather quickly. Too quickly in fact.

I would not allow the potential employer to pressurise me into doing something (resigning) which I didn't want to do. They will think they can always make you do things against your own, better, judgment.

AJ1982

Moneysaver199 wrote: »

The potential lay off situation is something I also kind of feel the need to see how it pans out. There's more to it, I can't say too much about it but I had applied for the other job thinking I'd have known about that situation in time, whereas the new job offer has come about rather quickly. Too quickly in fact.

Sounds good, stick around and get laid off, in favour of a new job!

Moneysaver199

LittleVoice wrote: »

I would not allow the potential employer to pressurise me into doing something (resigning) which I didn't want to do. They will think they can always make you do things against your own, better, judgment.

You ask am I concerned how they will react. Yes, very much so (due to the part of this situation that I'm not going into, as it will affect the outcome). The redeployment could be a better option, but if a reference request comes in I believe it will be off the table. It's not as simple as waiting around to be laid off instead.

Yes, I do feel a bit pressurised to sign. I pointed out I couldn't hand in notice based on a conditional offer, but they just want me to go ahead and sign (immediately).

I realise that because I'm not explaining the full situation it's hard for people to advise, but when I google about resigning with a conditional offer in hand, I am finding things saying not to do it. Wait till it's unconditional. That's my main question, but my situation is further complicated with another problem.

It's a horrible situation to be in, it's quite a financial decision, but that said I can afford to have a career break as well so financially I'm not pushed to rush into a job offer. I shouldn't have applied really, I should have waited till the other stuff was clearer, but I didn't think it would go so quickly either!

AJ1982

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

Forget the pressure, if you want the job then take it. Get off the fence and stop finding excuses. Assuming you have no blotches on your disciplinary record then do not worry about getting a bad reference.

If the reference is taken up with your current employer BEFORE you resign, then how do you expect to continue in your current working relationship with your employer should you decide not to take the job. They will know your looking / want to leave. This is why you don't give references until a job offer. I consider employer references a formality rather than an obstacle.

Assuming you accept the job, you resign immediately giving enough notice to match with new start date. Current employer receives a reference request. I dont think this will be the first or last one they have seen. People leave companies.

getmore4less

You are in catch 22 if the refference request will mess up things where you are.

If you think there is a redeployment option that would have you stay could you persue that with the current employer now and just delay the acceptance(based on notice after the references are acceptable)

Is the payout worth having?

if not then it seems to be redeploy or leave an how you can manage the timing.

BJV

OP have to say if this was your dream job you would not be asking us what to do you would of already handed your notice in. I think the matter is more to do with if you want the new position.


Ref conditional references. Do not honestly see a problem. Providing that you have not done anything silly then your old employer can not give you a bad reference.

Moneysaver199

Thanks. Yes it's total catch 22. Reference request will mess it up, but I also can't delay the acceptance. Makes me think new employer may be too pushy, and that could be ongoing. They won't let me delay acceptance till after reference.

I also think I'd be hounded for reference info as soon as I put in acceptance if I did. I don't think I could delay that by enough (would probably need to be a full week).

Not about a payout technically, it's another thing that I don't want to go into on here.

I honestly wish I never applied for the job, then I wouldn't have this decision. My gut is telling me to let the job go because I am getting bad feeling about feeling forced into it (both them pushing and me thinking it's another job to walk into).

AJ1982

If you keep messing the new employer around and insist on these conditions, your decision will soon be made for you. I am not sure how more clear myself or other forum members can be on the reference situation. If you dont understand us feel free to ask for clarification, rather than coming back (text removed by MSE Forum Team) that you want their to be an unconditional offer.

You are in no position to make such demands, you are a simple mortal like most of us here. You are not a key manager / director, you are not a shareholder. Stop making demands and take the job or tell em you are not interested. Every job is demanding, you dont get salary for sitting arounf scratching yourself.

Of course the new employer is being pushy, companies dont waste money interviewing people because they are bored. They have a pending/instant need for a replacement / additional resource. They have obviously taken a shine to you and they want you. They want their resource problem solved an they want to know. Its a fair request.