Notice Period - Job acceptance advice
 

I need a little advice on this, what would you do? The facts are:

I've accepted another job which requires me to start on the 19th of September and I therefore need to hand in my notice to my current employers.

I am already going to be cutting them short slightly by finishing on Friday the 16th of September but I don't see this being a problem.

However there is a hitch, I have not yet received my contract from my new employer. I have a firm verbal offer and the promise that the job is mine but I feel uncomfortable handing my notice in whilst I don't have that piece of paper.

Time is now running out on getting my notice in and the longer I leave it before handing it in the more I will piss off my current employer.

My options are:

Hold on a couple more days for the contract to arrive

Hand in my notice anyway and just assume everything will be OK in the contract.

I think everything will be pretty straight in the contract but I don't want to do something that could potentially put me in a nasty situation with either my new work or my old one.

I am edging towards just putting my notice in tomorrow and hoping for the best.

Foolish??

Yes

Get a written offer first ;)

IMHO of course

Deffo wait for the new offer before giving notice, your new employer should understand your reluctance to hand in your notice without it.
Most employers are reasonable on notice periods, particularly if you're leaving for a competitor. ;)

D

Must admit Ive done it both ways in the past. If you are 100% sure about your next employer. I.e. He/Shes not messing you about then go for it. But if you are in anyway unsure. Hold out for the postman tomorrow. :)

I think you know the answer already.

A bird in the hand etc.

Lucky guy, I've three months' notice.

K.