Contract position, how long does it usually take to start?

SteveFT

I was offered a contract position on October 29th. We discussed pay and I was told to put my two weeks notice in. Normally, I would be more firm and request something in writing. However, I don't have a lot of power in this negotiation process. On top of that, I know the guy who recruited me through a friend.

I let them know that my last day was coming up at the beginning of next week. The recruiter told me that he was just waiting to hear back from the company regarding my start. I have not (to my knowledge) signed anything authorizing them to run a background check. The only paper I signed was a non-disclosure. There is a small chance some clause was buried in there, but I did not see it in my quick scan.

In any case, does 2+ weeks seem like a reasonable time frame after the recruiting company and the company I will be working for have negotiated? My father has experience in hiring contract workers and said that it can be held up a number of reasons. Should I be concerned that I have not received a formal request for a background check? I'm really kicking myself in the butt for not reading the non-disclosure more closely to see if that was included.

My last contact with them was Wednesday (7th business day since we officially negotiated pay and I accepted.) At that time, I was told that they were still waiting on the company. I asked about additional information that they might need and was told that they would contact me if they needed anything.

Thank you.

403Forbidden

Considering you don't have an official offer letting in your hands (From what I have read I think that is the case) you are in a real bind here. If you quit your previous job without an offer letter from a new employer then you could very well find yourself trying to ask for your old job back. Recruiters have a way of saying they're going to offer you a job, or get you an interview but never give you an offer letter and hope someone else will take the same job for less money so they get more commission which sounds like what happened here. To me it sounds like they were ready to offer you the job and someone else came in and said they were willing to make less and they are going ahead with that person. Never put in your two weeks unless you have an offer letter in hand, any employer will completely understand (if they are worth anything) if you let them know you'll need two weeks to settle things up with your previous employer before going to work for them and it should say so in the offer letter.

networker050184

So you already put in your two weeks? If so man, bad move. If not do not put in your notice until you have a solid start date. It can takes months to get someone on loaded once the whole background and internal hiring process is done which can take a while on its own.

pert

Please tell me you didn't put in your notice already. If you did not, then don't do so until you have something in writing. If they never provide something in writing then don't give notice until you actually start.

coreyb80

I feel the OP. I was in an almost similar situation where I got the call confirming I landed the gig and was good to go. Only issue was that they wanted me to put my 2 weeks in, but I didn't even receive the offer letter until a few days later. Needless to say I didn't put my 2 weeks in until I got and signed the offer letter. I hope the OP didn't put his 2 week in just yet.

tjh87

I went through this recently. I was told by the recruiting company that the company selected me for the position. I asked for something in writing before putting in my two week notice, but was told that they (the recruiting company) don't normally do anything of the sort. I was hesitant just like you. I ended up going for it. Everything worked out. The only difference between our situations was that I HAD an actual start date. Not sure if this is a common thing for recruiting companies or not. It is a tough spot.

Khaos1911

Yeah, I didn't read the other replies, but don't quit you current job until things are final and in writing from the new company.

oebankole

Huh, Please dont quit your job for uncertainty.
Main reason am so not a fan on contract jobs.

Hammer80

1. Recruiters lie!
2. Recruiters lie!
3. Recruiters lie!
4. HR lie!
5. Do not ever trust a damn thing unless its in writing, ever! If its not on a piece of paper then it's not real.
6. Anything regarding official start time, official title, promotions, timeline of promotions, pay, bonuses needs to be in that offer letter. If it's not the company can always renig on their promises, once they have you there is no reason to fulfill their promises unless it was stated in the offer letter.

Tremie24

Hammer hit the nail on the head.

I wouldn't trust recruiters for a second, I know there are a few good ones, but most of them don't even know what they are doing.
I had a recruiter submit for a job, and it was suppose to start on a Monday, and then I get a call from the recruiter saying they the company has postponed the project. So anything could happen. Had the same recruiter submit me for a job, she said it would be a few days before I would hear back about an interview, and then I never heard from her again. Like I said anything could happen.

Forget signing papers, have you had an interview for this contract job?

Danielm7

I really hope this works out for you! Many years ago I got stuck in a similar situation, turned out the recruiter was telling multiple people they got the job, then dragging them along, then when a job would open she would be the first one with people available. She lost her job, I had already left mine... lesson learned, get EVERYTHING in writing

SteveFT

I did give my two weeks, but fortunately I received a call last night informing me of my start date. I will be starting on Monday! While I know that this was not a wise decision, there were a few details I left out. The recruiter was someone that my friend know (their vendor). He is not truly a "recruiter", but more of someone who occasionally finds people for the companies that he has sales relationships with. I used the term "recruiter" because I felt like that was the best way to describe the relationship. He personally drove with me over to the interview to introduce me to the company. I also feel like I had a great interview with them.

I was given a verbal offer, but I should have probably asked for it on paper at that point. That being said, it was a friend of a friend and he offered me a very fair wage. All of this probably still doesn't excuse putting in my two weeks without a starting date or a written offer. Luckily, it worked out for me this time. I have learned my lesson from the two weeks of sweating.

One thing that I will also mention is that I know a close family member who signed a written offer, but was told a week or so later that they had hired someone internally. From his research, he realized that he had no legal recourse. Even if he had any, I'm sure it would be thousands upon thousands of dollars to take it to court. My family member still feels like an employer is less likely to do this with a written offer. I suppose it also puts details like pay in writing.