Handing in notice without firm job offer/contract

lauren1749

Hi,

I received a job offer on Friday. However this job offer is dependent on providing a reference from my current employer.

I have no problem providing a reference, however I have to hand in my notice and have nothing in writing apart from an e-mail detailing salary and reference request.

I have only been with my current employer 7 months and work directly for one person. I don't think he will take the news well.

I have provided 6 references from previous employers and I have never been put in a position that a contract is dependent on a current reference.

A former manager has advised that he would not expect anyone to hand in their notice without a contract in place and then do a reference check with current employer there after.

I do not feel comfortable handing in my notice in advance of receiving a firm job offer/written contract. Is there anything I can do or would I be better off just forgetting about this job offer.

Thanks
Lauren

CSSE09

You'd be mad to hand in your notice without a signed contract.

lauren1749

Thank you CSSE09. That is exactly what I was thinking.

I have outlined my position to the recruiter on the references and they have provided reference details in relation to previous employments; However the company has contacted me directly on this.

What can I do. Can I advise them that I am reluctant to hand in notice without a contract to sign and suggest that they could contact my other references for now if they wish.

CSSE09

That's the best way to reply, you know yourself how the current employer will take the news so there's no point rocking the boat. If they've any cop on they'll know that's more than reasonable, if they push it than look elsewhere, it wouldn't be a good place to work if the management operate like that.

posy2010

The civil service expects references from current employer too. It is crazy.

lauren1749

Thank you all for your responses to date.

I trust that the safest thing to do in advance of handing in my notice would be to request a contract and advise them to contact my previous employers (May 2017).

I understand the brief e-mail received titled "Offer Letter of Employment" is not sufficient to hand in my notice with current employer. The e-mail includes "This offer would of course be pending reference checks. If you could please send 2 references of which 1 would need to be from your current/most recent employer following your notice period, as well as from previous employment"

followed by a second e-mail stating" Once your notice is handed in, if you could please provide contact details for a reference from your current employer"

lauren1749

Thanks Mr. S, that sounds the best way to respond. Hopefully things will work out. Thank you.