Accepted offer but still no contract....

[Robinho]

...after 2 weeks. No start date, just a lot of IP disclaimers signed, and security checks yet still the pretense that i'm going to be starting there at some point and they're just confirming the start date. Now i have a new offer, less prestigious client/work, better money and have until Monday to decide.

Now of course the first one looks very likely dead so i will obviously take this new one unless anything changes in the next 24 hours. But what if the agent hasn't been stringing me along? what if the client really was just slow getting their tulip together and i get a call asking when i can come to start?

[kal]

...after 2 weeks. No start date, just a lot of IP disclaimers signed, and security checks yet still the pretense that i'm going to be starting there at some point and they're just confirming the start date. Now i have a new offer, less prestigious client/work, better money and have until Monday to decide.

Now of course the first one looks very likely dead so i will obviously take this new one unless anything changes in the next 24 hours. But what if the agent hasn't been stringing me along? what if the client really was just slow getting their tulip together and i get a call asking when i can come start?

Don't run your life based on 'what ifs', otherwise you may well end up with nothing. You have leverage now, tell the agent he has 24 hrs to get it sorted or its dead in the water and you will take the other offer, nothing concentrates an agents mind more than potential loss of commission

[northernladuk]

A delayed start date doesn't mean it's dead. It happens a lot. Exactly what is the situation with the current option? You have signed the contractand returned it? What security checks? SC? Have they given you a date and it's late or they haven't given one at all. If you are going to breach your contract you need to get the details right.

[TheFaQQer]

A bird in the hand will crap on your wrist.

Take the one that you know is there.

[TheFaQQer]

A delayed start date doesn't mean it's dead. It happens a lot. Exactly what is the situation with the current option? You have signed the contractand returned it? What security checks? SC? Have they given you a date and it's late or they haven't given one at all. If you are going to breach your contract you need to get the details right.

You can't breach the contract if you haven't got one with agreed terms.

[northernladuk]

But that is what we don't know. I am assuming if the OP is waiting he has signed something. Same goes for all the security checks etc.

[sal]

Don't run your life based on 'what ifs', otherwise you may well end up with nothing. You have leverage now, tell the agent he has 24 hrs to get it sorted or its dead in the water and you will take the other offer, nothing concentrates an agents mind more than potential loss of commission

+1

[malvolio]

But that is what we don't know. I am assuming if the OP is waiting he has signed something. Same goes for all the security checks etc.

If it is SC, nobody can hurry it up but it only takes a couple of weeks anyway. However, not having clearance doesn't mean you can't start work, it only means the agency and possibly the client don't understand the clearance rules properly (if at all), and it's quite possible they won't give you a formal contract until the clearance comes through rather than waste everyone's time (which they are doing for no good reason...)

Same applies, to a large extent for other clearances. mostly in Finance, but normally you won't get the gig there without the history regardless

Personally I'd take the open one and tell the other lot you can't afford to wait so sorry but I'm out.

[Robinho]

In fairness it does say in the title that there's no contract, and in the first line that there is no start date. Just verbal acceptance, credit, reference and criminal record checks - all fine (not sure if the CR is finished actually but i can reliably say i don't have a CR). But there's been no movement this week, so most likely the client is either very slow, or i'm back up. Additionally i was originally told i could start before the CR check had finished.

Presumably they have no recourse if i tell them to stuff it.

[malvolio]

In fairness it does say in the title that there's no contract, and in the first line that there is no start date. Just verbal acceptance, credit, reference and criminal record checks - all fine (not sure if the CR is finished actually but i can reliably say i don't have a CR). But there's been no movement this week, so most likely the client is either very slow, or i'm back up. Additionally i was originally told i could start before the CR check had finished.

Presumably they have no recourse if i tell them to stuff it.

Not in your direction, no. The agency or the hiring manager may get a talking to...