Things You Should Know Before Signing a Job Contract

New job? things you should know before you sign that contract.

Congratulations! After so much effort, you have finally received your job contract. Whether this is your first job or you are an experienced professional, the thrill of new work may encourage you to scan through the contract and sign on the dotted line.  

Depending on your degree of expertise and sector, your job offer might be for an extended period of time. While your prospective employer may dismiss it as a formality, you should never simply scan and sign anything without going into the specifics.  

Here are important things to know before you sign

Job title and duties

Before you read any further, are you signing up for the role you applied for? This may seem silly, but many employers call the same job different things internally and externally. For example, a Lead and a Manager might sound the same, however, the job description is different.  If the title has changed since your interview, ensure the job description is familiar.  

Salary, benefits, and bonus

How much do you actually get paid? What’s the gross, and what do you take home at the end of each month? Most people mix the gross and net salaries and are left wondering where the difference went when they receive their first paycheck. 

Furthermore, some organizations offer complete benefit packages to their permanent staff. In this case, you may be eligible for a pension, an HMO, and other advantages. As part of your new employment, you may potentially be eligible for incentives.

Always ask questions when you are unsure, and make sure that all perks are in your contract.  

Date of hiring, probation period, and working hours

See the Latest Sales Job vacancies in Nigeria Today

Most companies simply copy and paste this area, so you may wish to skip it. It is critical to keep track of your start date and the length of your probation period.  

Most businesses utilize this probation time to determine if you are a good match for the firm, and you are also given the opportunity to determine if the organization is a good fit for you. 

Also, be sure that your contract specifies your working hours; will you be working from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.? Is it from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.? It’s usual to work a few additional hours at your leisure, but you shouldn’t work much more than you’re contractually required to.  

Leave Allowance and other forms of leave other than annual

Everyone needs a break, so in addition to understanding your yearly leave limit, make sure you also know about other types of leave, such as sick, casual, or study breaks. 

Look for any restrictions, such as certain seasons of the year when you can’t take time off or time limits on the length of your absence.

Examine your contract to see whether you may roll over your leave and if your company would compensate you if you work during your leave.  

Nondisclosure, non-circumvention, and knowing when to leave

Restrictive provisions normally do not apply while your employment with a company, but only when you opt to quit or are fired. 

However, you must be informed of the contract’s conditions before signing it.   

• Will you be able to link up with a competitor?
• Can you work for a company that subcontracts to competitors?
• How long will it be until you may discuss the specifics of the projects you worked on while working for your employer?
• How long should your notice period be before you go on leave?

Holidays

You cannot take vacations at your leisure, therefore if they restrict you when you may take them, you should discuss this with your employer. Keep an eye out for the following:

When the Christmas season begins. Is it, for example, from January 1 to December 31? This will determine how much vacation time you have remaining in the first year of your career.
For example, during the Christmas season, there will be a lot of activity.
Is it possible to carry over any unused vacation days into the next year?

Notice

Check your notice is not unduly long or short. For most employees a notice period of one to three months is usual. A notice period that is too long could hamper your being able to take up a new job, and too short a period may not give you enough stability.