Can I Accept a Civil Service Provisional Offer While Keeping My Options Open?
Accepting a Civil Service Provisional Offer Before Making a Final Career Decision
Hello,
I have been offered an HEO role and have been asked to accept the provisional offer while the pre-employment checks are completed.
I am interested in the role, but it would mean taking a pay cut from my current job outside the Civil Service. The checks could take several weeks, and I may hear back from other applications during that time.
Would it be wrong to accept the provisional offer if I am not yet completely certain that I will take the job? I do not want to waste anyone’s time, but I also do not want to turn down a good opportunity before I know what my other options are.
At what point does the offer become a firm commitment, and when should I tell my current employer?
Quick Answer
You can normally accept a provisional offer while the required checks are completed without treating it as the point at which you must resign or stop considering every other opportunity. The important distinction is between accepting the provisional offer, receiving a formal offer with confirmed terms, and agreeing a start date.
Read our Leaving Your Civil Service Role guide before resigning, agreeing an exit date or making another irreversible decision.
Need help with your own situation? Visit Get Tailored Advice or browse more questions in Advice.
What I Would Do Before Committing to a Provisional Civil Service Offer
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Continue reading to see how I would keep the offer moving, compare it with other opportunities and avoid resigning before the important terms are confirmed.
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