Does it really take long to sign a contract after saying yes to verbal offer?

Question

I was interviewed for this big company for an entry-level position back in Feb. Got to the interview with the manager and got an email telling me congratulations and the HR will help me with the succeeding steps. But then a week after they emailed I'm kept for future consideration.

Then in May, the manager texted me if I'm still interested and I said yes and then she interviewed me again and then the HR asked me to go to her office and is offering me the job. I asked when the start date is.. she said I'll know the start date once I say my end date on m current job. I said I'll text her what my decision is.. few hrs later I said yes, and then I talked to my boss and said I will resign.

The next day I got worried, because I already resigned and haven't signed anything yet. I talked to the HR personally and told them that I'm stressed out and I need reassurance that I really got the job. She said they were processing my papers already, and I'd be able to sign probably around end of June.

I texted her my end date a week after. She said "ok thanks this is noted". On June 30, I texted her and ask what the status of my processing papers thing and she replied that the agency will contact me within this week for the requirements. So I'm reassured again.. twice.

But now I am still worried. It's Friday already, and my end date is July 15.

I understand that they're a big company, and I guess they're super busy, but it's hard not to worry.

So my question is, if you get a verbal offer and said yes, they don't necessarily have already the contract available right away, right? So can it be normal to take a LONG time for you to sign your contract?

Answer 1

I think what you are experiencing is a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand does. It's a big company, and it sounds like its a position of less importance to them, so its more likely to be down prioritized. Possibly there are some confusion regarding who handles what. It's happens at big companies, but this kind of screwups are really bad.

Usually the time between giving a Yes and signing contracts is very short. Like a week. They want you to start as soon as possible and they cant start to make plans for you until they have a contract. So it's in both parties intrest to get a signed contract as soon as possible.

What they did wrong was to not properly handle hiring of new employees, and quite frankly, that is a warning sign to me.

What you did wrong was to resign before having a written contract, and quite frankly thats a big mistake you should never do. At this point, they can offer you a contract with half the salary you discussed and basically say "take it or leave it".

Answer 2

It does sounds a bit scary to be where you are - between jobs and unsure exactly of your new job's start details.

What you probably want to do now: Email or write to both your new manager and HR, asking them to confirm your start date. Perhaps something like this:

Dear {INSERT HR AND MANAGER NAMES HERE},

I'm just dropping a quick note to check what my start date will be, and when you expect my contract to be available? As discussed with {INSERT NAME}, I've handed my notice in at my current job, and I'll be finishing on the 15th. Is a start date of 16 July suitable?

I'm looking forward to starting my new role!

Regards,

{YOUR NAME}

How to handle a similar situation in the future:

I've been through a long recruitment recently as well. I applied for the job in March, interviewed April, and only got the official offer in late June.

Before I got the offer, I'd been asked what my start date could be. I handled it by saying something like this via email:

Since my notice notice period is X weeks, I'll need at least X+1 weeks from a written offer of employment, after any background checks are completed. Assuming the offer is made today, the earliest I'll be able to start is {INSERT CORRECT DATE HERE}. If the offer is made later, this will need to be adjusted appropriately.

As it stands, I have a confirmed start date with the new company, which I am looking forward to joining soon :)

Answer 3

Normal is a rather imprecise metric. So instead of answer whether this is normal or not, I will answer what I think your two questions should be.

• Question 1: Should I be making plans on what to do if I don't have a contract with a defined start date in hand before my end date?

• Answer 1: Yes, you should be making such plans, and you should be making them now, not waiting until your notice period is up. I would at the minimum keep looking for other positions and possibly (depending upon your relationship with your current employer and reasons for leaving) feel out your current employer on extending your departure date and/or remaining with them.

• Question 2: What should I have done to avoid this situation?

• Answer 2: give the start date as relative to your new contract. Basically, "I want/need Z amount of time after handing in my X weeks of notice. After I have received and reviewed your contract, I will sign it and return it to you. Immediately after sending the signed contract I will submit my notice."

For question number 2, giving your notice is a bigger deal for you than you starting for them is for them. Presumably, if you fail to accept their offer, for whatever reason, they can go on to their second choice candidate. And if you push back the date all they have most likely lost is opportunity. While if you don't start, you've lost out on what is probably necessary ongoing income. It is entirely appropriate for them to shoulder the minor uncertainty associated with passing the contract back and forth. Particularly, since most of the potential problems are on their end.