Dear Stephen,
I am currently employed but have been looking for a new job. I’ve been interviewing for the past couple of months with different companies. I finally found my dream job with one of those companies and the regional manager called me with the verbal offer. He went through the base salary, how the incentive program works, he even offered a “guarantee” for the balance of the year, and we talked about a tentative start date… and he said I’d be getting a written job offer. Well, here I am, the morning after, and I still haven’t received the offer in writing, and I was planning on resigning today. What do you think I should do?
I was so excited when I got the verbal offer, I almost went up to my boss and resigned that same day, but then realized I should probably wait until I have it in writing. Should I?
Is that necessary? My new boss did mention that I would receive the job offer by the end of the day when we spoke, but like I said, I did not. I don’t want to be too forward, but what is the protocol I should be following? And what is the norm after you receive a verbal job offer.
Signed,
I Got The Job! I think…
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Dear I Got the Job!
First, let me answer your question, do not, and I mean never, resign until you’ve got the written job offer in your hand!
Very often there is a disconnect between the sales manager who is offering you the job verbally and the HR department that usually must prepare the written offer. So, if you do not get the written job offer by that night or the very next morning, do not be afraid to reach out by telephone or email to the new boss that made you the verbal offer. He or she will not mind. If anything, they will probably appreciate it because chances are it’s just a glitch, and the written offer is pending. This is a great question so let me use it to expand upon getting a new job offer and what’s involved, what to expect, and when to resign.
It sounds like what you received is what is called a “soft offer.” Here’s what you should look for in addition to that soft offer before you resign from your current job:
First, let me confirm again, you must have the job offer in writing, and you should have in writing the compensation program as well as the benefits package which should include all of the scheduled holidays, the vacation schedule, along with the medical and dental benefits, the 401K, PTO, etcetera. There should also be additional information on how the expenses work, what technology you’ll receive such as the laptop, smartphone, and things like that… It’s very important when changing jobs that you see everything in writing about your new position. Most of this should have been explained throughout the course of your interviewing, but very often even the best sales managers don’t understand or detail out things like medical benefits, holidays, and PTO – yet you, as the candidate, will want to know this and have it in writing.
Typically, part of that letter should be that you have 24 or 48 hours to say “yes,” or the offer expires. This is not unusual, normally you sign the offer and send it back. Your next step should then be going to your current boss and resigning, typically immediately.
As you’ve read in this space repeatedly, two weeks’ notice is only an old wives’ tale, unless you have an existing employment agreement that says otherwise. It is not necessary to give two weeks’ notice, it is simply a courtesy on your part. Think of it this way – when you quit, you’re firing the company. And if you’ve ever gotten fired, you will know, no one ever gives you notice, you’re just fired and then out the door. This is the same thing. My suggestion is you just leave your current job, on a high note, asap. If you are going to a direct competitor and you are in sales and you are good, you may be asked to leave immediately anyway.
Let’s talk about counteroffers, nowadays almost everybody gets one. This is because it costs a fortune to replace somebody in this market. Especially in sales positions. Hopefully you’ve thought out whether or not you would accept a counteroffer in the course of your interviewing. I’ve seen counteroffers go sideways many times because, in effect, you’re forcing your current employer to pay you more just to keep you. After 6 months or so, resentment starts to bubble up with that current boss. In any case, a counteroffer should not delay your acceptance of a job offer. You have had all your interviewing time to think this out.
So, the bottom-line answer to your question is only resign once you’ve gotten the written offer in-hand and all of the support information that goes with it. To repeat – get it in writing or you might be putting yourself in the unemployment line.
Signed,
Stephen