Verbal offers

[whyme]

I am chasing my first contract and got a verbal offer last week. The job does not start for another fortnight, so when would I normally receive the contracts to sign? Have been chasing it up, but am being told there are problems getting finalised details from the client (Govt. role, so might be true)

Until I get it on paper, I don't have a job. Is it worth applying elsewhere, in case this one disappears?

[Rebecca Loos]

yes - treat your verbal offer as "something that may or may not materialise". In the meantime, look around, and if you find something better, take it.

[privateeye]

even if you do get an offer by contract look for the clause which says something similar to "the agent may terminate this contract anytime prior to the start date" - a trick played by agents to stop you going anywhere else in cas ethey actually do get a contract when in fact they haven't already.

In any case if there is no contract don't assume it is in the bag, Govt departments are slow so it could be true. I always accept offers with words such as "subject to viewing/agreeing an agency signed contract"

[malvolio]

Yeah, keep looking. It's not a job offer until you have a contract to sign in your hand.

[whyme]

Thanks for the info. I'm getting a little frustrated with the catch 22 situation.

Obviously, I don't want to wait around for a job that never happens, but if I do walk away at the last minute am I going to get blacklisted by that agency?

[ratewhore]

Wouldn't worry about that. Plenty of agencies around...

[malvolio]

Quite right, do not even begin to think of them as anything other than suppliers. By all means be friends with individual agents - good ones are valuable resources - but at the company level it's me first every time.

[cojak]

Always add "subject to contract" when you accept (verbally or not).