Leaving a Job Before I start

[naitch]

This week I have signed a contract for a new job, however at the last minute another interview came up and I have been offered more money for a very similar role. My question is, how big a deal is it to back out of a job contract before you start the job, and what is the best way to do it?

thanks

[buildersmate]

Technically you would be in breach of contract for the notice period of the contract (probably four weeks but it depends on the contract). However the employer is unlikely to force you to work this period. It depends whether you want / need a reference from the existing employer, what sort of industry you work in (word getting round about the way 'naitch' treated his/her employer) etc. If you are going to do it, probably best to soften the blow by telling a white lie (had second thoughts).

[naitch]

I've checked the contract and it says there is a one week notice period within the first month, but it doesnt say whether this applies if you leave before the start date.

The industry is IT so I dont think there is much chance of my name getting out there as people rarely need to communicate between companies. I can tell you it is a massive stress though.

[morg_monster]

I'm sure there are people more knowledgeable than me about this but if the notice period is only 1 week, why not be honest and tell them that you have been offered more money for the same job. They may offer to march that. If they won't cough up any more cash, worst outcome is they want you to work for 1 week - I doubt very much they would bother to force this - why would they want to go to the bother of paying you for just 1 week.

I have heard of people working for just their notice period when first starting as they continued to have interviews after accepting. They would probably rather you told them the truth - maybe they aren't offering a decent salary and someone else might poach you in a few months anyway. I don't think backing out is a huge deal.

[WoWo]

Just ring them up and tell them the situation. There really isnt anything they can actually do so just let them know and get over it. What are your motives, what would happen if they offered to match the same money?

A little story, when i left my first IT job a week or so before I left I went to lunch with another chap who was leaving that day. We had a long lunch break (about 2 1/2 hours) and when I got back my boss had a word with me. She said even though I was leaving I better be careful as word would get around the industry as she knew a lot of people. This didn't bother me particuarly but when I went to my next job, who were a direct competitor working in the same industry nobody had even heard of the company let alone this women.

[naitch]

I probably would go with the original job if they offered me more money as its 2.5hrs less work a week. I would just think that its not the best way to start somewhere new, threatening to walk out on your contract unless they pay you more money.

I do agree that your not going to develop a reputation in IT as its not that sort of industry. What does worry me is the recruitment consultants doing their level best to find out where my new place is and disrupting the deal. I've had them do similar sorts of things before, so I don't trust any of them in the slightest.

[undercovers]

notice period of one week - no problem then, just get it done asap they aren't going to enforce the contract notice period and have you sitting there for one week are they... act now and let them know - it happens all the time - i think thats why companies rarely tell people if they have been unsuccessful in an application these day just in case they need to hire them later on (and pretend that its taken ages to decide etc) ... act fast and i'm sure it will be fine

[gammaray]

You could contact them and suggest that you will accept a weeks wages in leiu of notice as you've found another job. They will be so appalled at the prospect of having to pay you for not actually taking the job that they'll be happy to let you go!

..... I wonder if you could make a career out of doing that..??

[naitch]

I would have thought that the point of a start date on the contract is to state when the contract starts. There's no way they'll have me in for a week though, would be biting of their nose to spite their face.

I am just going to phone them and say that I have had second thoughts about leaving my current role. I want to leave it on as good terms as possible in case something goes wrong with the other job.

[gammaray]

Good Plan! (try the money thing though and let me know if it works!!)

[Famous5]

From an employer's point of view this is horrific.

They will have spent time and money in advertising, writing to candidates, interviewing, paying travel expenses in some cases, and presumably telling unsuccessful candidates they haven't got the job etc, and they have to start the whole process over again.