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What sort of company? Mom and Poop with 27 employees? Or fortune 500 with 27,000 employees and you are dealing not only with the hiring VP but also with HR that are aware of EVERYTHING that has been offered to you?
Only you know the strength of the company from your conversations with them...but this is certainly at least a yellow flag....and what earthly difference is one week going to make? You won't even find your way to the john in the first week, let alone contribute anything productive during their "busy season".
But a written offer does not offer you any protection, either.
Agreed, but I'd feel more comfortable with a written offer than a verbal.
Just this past month I was offered a short term consulting job (verbally), waited for the paperwork, and after a week phoned the company again. They were all apologetic and said their budget was cut and asked if I would work for less. No go. Good thing I didn't turn down another offer that had come in that week.
I wouldn't rely on any verbal agreement, and since companies can simply email you paperwork it shouldn't take more than 24-48 hours to receive written documents. If they can't get their act together to do that I'd be concerned about how they operate.
Good luck!
What sort of company? Mom and Poop with 27 employees? Or fortune 500 with 27,000 employees and you are dealing not only with the hiring VP but also with HR that are aware of EVERYTHING that has been offered to you?
Only you know the strength of the company from your conversations with them...but this is certainly at least a yellow flag....and what earthly difference is one week going to make? You won't even find your way to the john in the first week, let alone contribute anything productive during their "busy season".
Today I received a call from a company offering me a job. That's great and all, but they want me to start exactly 2 weeks from today (well, 2 weeks and 1 day because of Labor Day). To do this, I would have to give notice to my current employer today. I could do it but when I asked for the paperwork, they said that takes a few days to process. I was under the impression to never resign from a current job until the next job gives you formal paperwork.
On top of that, I asked for a start date one week later (a total of 3 weeks) and they pushed back on me, saying it was a very busy month for them and they would prefer I start sooner. I haven't responded to that yet. Should I be suspicious?
Tell them you will be happy to report two weeks from the receipt of an official job offer and that to do so earlier would be a disservice and against the agreement you made with your current company.
Everybody wants you to honor your obligations to them, but screw the other guy. They can't have it both ways.
I agree - make yourself available to start 2 weeks from the date of the written job offer and then, only if you agree to the terms stated within the offer. Tentative congratulations to you.
What sort of company? Mom and Poop with 27 employees? Or fortune 500 with 27,000 employees and you are dealing not only with the hiring VP but also with HR that are aware of EVERYTHING that has been offered to you?
Only you know the strength of the company from your conversations with them...but this is certainly at least a yellow flag....and what earthly difference is one week going to make? You won't even find your way to the john in the first week, let alone contribute anything productive during their "busy season".
LOL. I agree with most everyone else OP. Keep your current job until you get a WRITTEN offer letter. I don't agree with those who say it's OK to leave without giving two weeks notice to your current company. I don't believe in burning bridges, so I always give two weeks notice even if I hated my last job. If the new job doesn't appreciate me being courteous to my former employer, they aren't a company I want to work for.
Eh, I can go either way on this issue. A written job offer is worth exactly as much as an oral job offer, although it does prevent miscommunications about pay/title/benefits. I don't think the OP is wrong for taking a hard line approach, but I also wouldn't disagree with giving notice before having the written offer in hand (since they are essentially worthless).
Today I received a call from a company offering me a job. That's great and all, but they want me to start exactly 2 weeks from today (well, 2 weeks and 1 day because of Labor Day). To do this, I would have to give notice to my current employer today. I could do it but when I asked for the paperwork, they said that takes a few days to process. I was under the impression to never resign from a current job until the next job gives you formal paperwork.
On top of that, I asked for a start date one week later (a total of 3 weeks) and they pushed back on me, saying it was a very busy month for them and they would prefer I start sooner. I haven't responded to that yet. Should I be suspicious?
It sounds like they are in too much of a rush. They seem to want the option to bail on the offer if they feel like it. Also look them up on glassdoor.com. It could give you some insight as to what it will be like working there. What they can do than is change things like salary.
If you quit your old job and they change their mind you are the one out in the cold.
A written offer or lack thereof is not a reflection on the company. Out of the boatload of jobs I've held I've had a grand total of 1 written offer.
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Before you give notice
