Can a firm cancel your offer before your start?

boutique firms cancelling offer offer tier2
Neue Antwort am 31. Dez. 2020
7 Antworten
1,4 T. Views
Anonym A fragte am 19. Nov. 2020

Hey guys,

I accepted recently an offer from a boutique/tier 2 company in europe to start as an analyst.

For various reasons, I asked to start in March which they accepted without issue. But given the current situation, I am worried that they may change their mind and cancel their offer at any time between now and march if their situation gets bad. On the legal side, I already signed my contract and everything but I'm not sure whether or not this covers me from getting "fired" before even starting.

So my question is : can my offer be cancelled? Can i do anything to prevent it?

Thanks in advance

(editiert)

Übersicht der Antworten

Upvotes
  • Upvotes
  • Datum aufsteigend
  • Datum absteigend
Beste Antwort
Henning
Experte
antwortete am 19. Nov. 2020
Bain | passed >15 MBB interviews as a candidate

Firms often include clauses in offers that make them conditional - things like Force Majeur (e.g. COVID), red flags in the background check (i.e. you lied on your CV) and sometimes even more broader reasons would allow them to terminate the contract in those cases. Read the offer and contract carefully for these type of claues.

Do you have any reason to believe they would try to do so?

War diese Antwort hilfreich?
Anonym A am 19. Nov. 2020

Thank you very much Henning for the advice. I don't think they would try to do so. They were extremely nice and patient during the entire process. So I don't think they would want to do that unless they get in an unconfortable situation because of the pandemic and the business isn't good enough to staff all of their consultant.

Adi
Experte
Content Creator
antwortete am 19. Nov. 2020
Accenture, Deloitte | Precision Case Prep | Experienced Interviewer & Career Coach | 15 years professional experience

Hey,

If the contract is "unconditional" (i.e not subject to any checks, reference etc) & signed by both you and the employer, then its a legally binding contract of employment as per EU laws. A conditional offer can be withdrawn should you not meet any conditions laid out or if the market situation drastically changes and the role you were hired for is no longer alive. If not, it becomes a legal issue & you can sue.

I suggest you make yourself aware of the local employment laws in your country/region and keep in regular contact with the company and specially the manager who hired you.

All the best!

War diese Antwort hilfreich?
Anonym A am 19. Nov. 2020

Dear Ali, thanks a lot for your answer. It really helps me a lot. It seems that even in the contract is "conditional" a fair reason shall be provided to terminate the contract. I'll follow your advice and try to get more information regarding the status of my contract and the local employment laws. Luckily enough, the HR of the firm are very nice and responsive. Thank you very much once again!

Vlad
Experte
antwortete am 19. Nov. 2020
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

As for MBBs - they would not do that. With Tier 2 it's a bit more complicated and I would be careful. Be ready at least that they might change the start date

Best

War diese Antwort hilfreich?
Anonym A am 19. Nov. 2020

Thank you very much for the advice Vlad. It indeed seems safer to be careful. Regarding changing the start date, I saw on the forum than during Q2, some companies offered some compensation when they postponed the starting date. Do you know if it was rather generalized or only MBBs did it? Thank you once again. Best

Clara
Experte
Content Creator
antwortete am 20. Nov. 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

It´s tricky to tell you without knowing the company, since it can vary a lot. Do you want to share? In MBB for instance or Big4, almost impossible, if so they can push a bit the start date.

Hope it helps!

War diese Antwort hilfreich?
Anonym A am 20. Nov. 2020

Hi Clara thanks a lot for your answer. Well i would prefer to not disclose too much if possible but it's one of the main tier 2 company. I know that they are still recruiting but they decided to slow down the process apparently.

Ian
Experte
Content Creator
antwortete am 19. Nov. 2020
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

Unfortunately, the very blunt answer is yes they can cancel your offer. They could also delay your start date (like MBB did).

This happened to a lot of people in Q1/Q2 last year. There have to be unprecendented circumstances (i.e. force majeur triggers), but, as you know, we have seen that.

Like with anything in life, don't count your chickens before they hatch

Sorry to be so blunt! You should be ok BUT you should always hope for the best and plan for the best. March is a long way away...make sure you're doing something while you "wait".

War diese Antwort hilfreich?
Anonym A am 19. Nov. 2020

Thank you very much Ian. I really like your honesty. I prefer the full blunt truth rather than conforting sweet words as it allows me to prepare. Unfortunately i can't start earlier as i'm already staffed on a mission. I'll keep in touch with them every now and then. Thank you very much

Antonello
Experte
Content Creator
antwortete am 31. Dez. 2020
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi, I have never seen it from MBB. the only chance is to be postponed

Best

Antonello

War diese Antwort hilfreich?
Gaurav
Experte
Content Creator
antwortete am 30. Nov. 2020
Ex-Mckinsey|Certified Career Coach |Placed 500+ candidates at MBB & other consultancies

Hi there!

Honestly, they can, in cases when a candidate lied in a CV or if there are unexpected conditions.
I think that in your situation it is very unlikely because it seems like you agreed on all the details. I would recommend you to contact the HR manager and ask for all details.

Good luck!

Do you need any further help?

GB

War diese Antwort hilfreich?
Anonym A am 11. Dez. 2020

Thanks for your answer Gaurav. I contacted the HR earlier to keep in touch and they told me that everything was fine and that they will not cancel my offer before the start.

Henning gab die beste Antwort

Henning

Bain | passed >15 MBB interviews as a candidate
196
Meetings
6.622
Q&A Upvotes
28
Awards
5,0
30 Bewertungen
Wie wahrscheinlich ist es, dass du uns einem Freund oder Kommilitonen empfiehlst?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
0 = Nicht wahrscheinlich
10 = Sehr wahrscheinlich