Hello all,
No doubt this post will generate some conflicting replies as it has come up many times before, but it's more the legal position I'm interested in.
I had a telephone interview last week for a role. Half an hour later, to my surprise, the agent called to say they'd offered me the job - I'd expected an additional test and face-to-face. I didn't want to accept right away as I was waiting to hear about another role. I stalled for a couple of days but in the end - thinking 'a bird in the hand' - I verbally accepted, 'subject to contract'. Contract duly arrived via email but I have yet to sign or return it.
Inevitably, the other role has now appeared, the rate is the same but the location is better, the length longer and more importantly it gives me a chance to gain skills and experience that the other role doesn't offer.
I know that there are those who will say that it's unprofessional to verbally accept and then withdraw; and there are those who will say that I should just look after number one. Obviously I'd prefer the second gig (or I wouldn't be posting) but I'm wondering what the legal position is. I did say 'subject to contract' and I haven't signed the contract, so can I be bound by a verbal agreement? The contract has been signed by the agency but i noticed that its been dated 31st of January (when the contact is due to start)
Anyway I just wondered if people who know more about contract law than I do could tell me anything
No doubt this post will generate some conflicting replies as it has come up many times before, but it's more the legal position I'm interested in.
I had a telephone interview last week for a role. Half an hour later, to my surprise, the agent called to say they'd offered me the job - I'd expected an additional test and face-to-face. I didn't want to accept right away as I was waiting to hear about another role. I stalled for a couple of days but in the end - thinking 'a bird in the hand' - I verbally accepted, 'subject to contract'. Contract duly arrived via email but I have yet to sign or return it.
Inevitably, the other role has now appeared, the rate is the same but the location is better, the length longer and more importantly it gives me a chance to gain skills and experience that the other role doesn't offer.
I know that there are those who will say that it's unprofessional to verbally accept and then withdraw; and there are those who will say that I should just look after number one. Obviously I'd prefer the second gig (or I wouldn't be posting) but I'm wondering what the legal position is. I did say 'subject to contract' and I haven't signed the contract, so can I be bound by a verbal agreement? The contract has been signed by the agency but i noticed that its been dated 31st of January (when the contact is due to start)
Anyway I just wondered if people who know more about contract law than I do could tell me anything
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