Defining Your New Role and Responsibilities:
Something often overlooked when signing a new contract is defining your exact responsibilities. It is imperative when reviewing your contract that you can clearly see your roles and responsibilities, as well as having the correct job title- this will save you future headaches when you are starting out in your new position.
If the company has several separate units that make up the business, ensure that you are signing the contract with the correct employer, although this seems obvious it can be an easy mistake to make. This will avoid another business that you don’t work for, having any issues in the future with your employment contract.
Make sure to raise any concerns with the contract with the HR contact or hiring manager before you sign anything.
The Salary and Other Benefits:
The salary within your offer may be what you wanted, however, it is still important to make sure you understand how the salary will be paid, and what other benefits you may be entitled to. It is essential for you to understand the payment structure used by the business as this can differ drastically between companies, as well as the payment method used.
You may also want to check how further financial incentives can be achieved within the role, for example, is the commission or bonus structure based on performance? If so, how is this measured? These details may seem picky but they may be very important further on in your role, it will ensure there are no surprises when it comes to payment.
Any other taxable benefits should also be ironed out before the contract is signed, for example, a company car or pay review after passing your probationary period. This can be very important when working out finances and so is an important part to be clear about from the start.
Holiday Entitlement?
Being clear about the allocated holiday is very important, even if you have no upcoming holidays. Regardless of the information as outlined in your offer, it may still be worth double-checking as being able to take breaks is important in making sure you feel refreshed and happy.
If being able to take time off during certain periods is important to you, for example, Christmas, it may be wise to ensure that time off during this period is something you are not be prevented from doing.
Work Hours and Location
Although this may seem insignificant, it may be important when thinking about your work-life balance. This is where reading the fine print should be taken seriously, the term ‘work all necessary hours’ is one where you should consider your new responsibilities against the hours to determine if this seems doable for you.
In addition, you should review the terms of where you perform your duties and if this is likely to change in the future. If flexible working is important to you and was something you spoke about in your interview but see no mention of this in the contract, you should flag this before you sign.
If flexible working is necessary for you to perform your duties well, whilst juggling your family commitments, it could be a deal-breaker if this benefit is not something that is available to you.
Notice Period
Even if you see your new job as a viable long-term career, things can change and it’s worth reviewing the terms listed under your notice period and any restrictions after you leave. For example, if there’s an abnormally long notice period or terms with regards to how long after termination of employment that you can work for a competitor, then it’s wise to negotiate or at least discuss these terms with the hiring manager before you commit to something that later down the line you may come to regret.
The above factors are really important when it comes to signing your new job contract so consider them carefully, you can read about other factors you may not have considered when being offered a job here.
