When should you put in your resignation?

consumers_revenge

Hi,
Just want to make sure Im covering myself here. Dont want to put my notice in and have anything happen with the new employer where I didnt have something in writing I could claim against I presume?
Forgive me if I sound Naive but very rarely change jobs and not for a while...and in this climate.....
So I applied for a job and have had an 'offer confirmation' email via the recruiter which I have accepted.
Later today I have had an email direct from the employer with a 'We are pleased to offer you the position of' and a contract to sign as well as a new starter form.
I also have to fill in something from a 'staff vetting' company. I presume I wait til this has come back satisfactorily until handing my notice in, but I should still sign the contract?
I know this probably sound really paranoid but I would hate to get caught out.
Cheers.

Marcon

Before you sign the contract, read it. What's the notice period? You need to try and ensure that you have to give minimum notice while the employer gives as long as possible. That way if the job doesn't work out, you can escape fairly readily, but if the employer sacks you (and they can, for pretty much any or no reason, within the first two years of your employment with them) you are guaranteed a decent amount of notice, or payment in lieu.

As to when you sign it - wait until the vetting process has concluded satisfactorily and the offer has become unconditional, including references.

consumers_revenge

thanks.
current employer is 12 weeks, new employer is 1 week within the first 6 months.
yes I will be waiting til all references go through before resigning.

jonnygee2

Dont want to put my notice in and have anything happen with the new employer where I didnt have something in writing I could claim against I presume?

You can't claim against anything anyway. If there's one weeks notice on the contract, then one week before it starts they could tell you they have changed their minds and there's be nothing you could do about it, because they have given contractual notice. You wouldn't get a penny, contract or not.

At the end of the day you need to take a leap - that's what moving jobs really involves, especially in a country where job security doesn't exist for the first two years anyway. 

Most often people give notice in before reference checks are done. Not doing so may make you look a bit nervous or hesitant. A lot depends on how keen they are for you to start, and whether you expect problems with your background checks. If you are delaying, I think at least you need to drop them a polite email saying that's what you are doing and see how they respond.

LittleVoice

consumers_revenge said:

thanks.
current employer is 12 weeks, new employer is 1 week within the first 6 months.
yes I will be waiting til all references go through before resigning.

As notice periods do not have to be equal on both sides, is 12 weeks what you have to give your current employer or what they have to give you?

What starting date is given in the contract document you have received from the potential employer?

consumers_revenge

Current is 12 weeks on both sides.
Really shouldnt be any issues on checks for me .

LittleVoice

LittleVoice said:

consumers_revenge said:

thanks.
current employer is 12 weeks, new employer is 1 week within the first 6 months.
yes I will be waiting til all references go through before resigning.

As notice periods do not have to be equal on both sides, is 12 weeks what you have to give your current employer or what they have to give you?    [answered]

What starting date is given in the contract document you have received from the potential employer?

Does a 12-week notice period clash with the new contract start date, particularly if you are going to wait till you have an unconditional offer?

consumers_revenge

no, I am waiting for the checks to go through then said theres a 12 week maximum from resignation at current place.

AW618

Have you had any discussions on a start date yet?  If  your references are slow coming back the company you are going to will not see that as their problem and might not be willing to wait as long as it takes, particularly if you have a 3 month notice period already.
I've never waited for references to be checked, or had any communication as to whether or not they even have been.

TELLIT01

If the person is confident that there is nothing in any checks being made which could impact on the job offer then I see no reason to wait until after the checks before tendering their resignation.  Likewise with references as many companies these days give little beyond start date and possibly job title.