Dotting the i's and crossing the t's

Congratulations! You’ve received a permanent offer of employment!

Beyond the excitement, you may find it can take two to three weeks for everything to be finalised depending on the company so sometimes this stage of the process can feel a little tedious and lengthy.

With this in mind, we have put together a list of the stages you may typically undergo within the process of receiving an offer to starting your new job, so you can be fully prepared!

Verbal Acceptance – Once given the offer, you will often be asked for a verbal acceptance of position in order to get the ball rolling..

Formal Offer Letter – This letter will outline your job title, salary, and welcome you to the team.

Receiving Your Contract – This will normally be sent to you by HR or, in smaller companies, a Director. It will likely include:

• Job Title
• Responsibilities
• Place of work
• Predicted start date
• Salary
• Sick pay
• Holiday allowance
• Notice period
• Probation period

There are also documents that may be sent separately such as reference request forms, details on any benefits offered, including pension and healthcare schemes, and a Company Handbook outlining various policies such as NDA’s, confidentiality agreements and usage of company equipment.

If offered, bonus schemes may not be detailed in the contract or handbook but the terms may be worth discussing with the hiring manager to establish if it is based on personal or company performance – often it is both!

Read the details and ask the questions. This is the time to ensure that your contract is agreeable, and always ask for clarification if you are unsure.

Once you are happy with the terms, you will just need to sign and return.

References – Typically, once your contract is signed, companies will reach out to your designated references for a professional reference. Occasionally, they will ask for them prior to sending a contract. We often advise you to use prior workplaces as opposed to your current one, if they are not aware of your job search.

Handing In Your Notice – This can be the most difficult part if your current employer was not aware you were hunting for a new role, this is where we often meet the curveballs of the process.

You may receive a counter offer if they are in the position to give one, aiming to keep you in the company. Do not feel pressured to accept this if you believe you’ve already made the right decision.

They may ask you to extend your notice period. Read your current contract prior to this and ensure that you give either the required amount of time, or an amount you are comfortable with beyond this. If you do not want to stay longer, then you do not have to.

Leave on good terms! The industry is small, you may find yourself working with some of the people again, so keep this in mind when you are planning to leave.

Agreeing A Start Date – Once your notice has been handed in, you can agree a start date for your new role. We always advise a break between jobs. Sometimes this process can be stressful and a busy time, saying goodbye to old colleagues and hello to your new team, having a few days gives you a chance to be fresh and revitalised.

You can come across hurdles but if you have used a recruiter in finding and securing a new position, they are there to help you throughout this process and see you over the finish line, so don’t feel like you can’t ask questions and seek advice.

We want to ensure this is as stress free and smooth sailing as possible giving you the ability to celebrate this opportunity and new chapter as the exciting event it is!