postponed starting date after resigning from current job

Hey,

Indeed this is an unfair situation you are describing here!

It is not common but not unprecedented either. I've relocated to the UAE from Europe, and came to learn that the companies operate in a very different way here, which may shock you when you come from country with stringent laws and regulation to protect employees. That being said, the market conditions are indeed quite bad in the Middle East currently. One of the leading firms fired ~100 consultants this review cycle, it is a strong signal. So I am not that surprised.

What should you do? 

1. Assess how long you can afford and wouldn't mind staying unemployed. This will set a goal for the negotiations below
2. Try to negotiate your starting date, they can always make an exception. Reach out to the connections you have inside the firm (could be your interviewers), expose your situation and get them to push internally.
3. Discuss with your current employer, if they are stretched and you have a good reputation, they are likely to be okay with extending your contract (or signing a new one for a specific period)
4. If 2 and 3 were not successful, consider applying elsewhere both for short-duration projects (e.g., freelance consulting to bridge the 2 jobs) and full-time jobs

Good luck!!

Hi there,

This is a super unfortunate situation. Sorry to hear that!

Middle East hiring has significantly slowed down at the moment unfortunately and some larger firms are even letting go of consultants. 

It feels like the opposite to the rest of the consulting world where I can see some more positive signs again.

There are a couple of things you could do (some in parallel):

• Discuss your situation with the firm you have the offer from. They might be able to have you start somewhere else for a while or put you in touch with the relevant office. They might also be willing to pay a certain compensation (if you don't ask you will never know)
• Discuss it with your current employer that you would like to extend your time for a bit to bridge the period
• Look for alternatives and go for interviews with MBB and other Tier-2s. You clearly have the skills already.

All the best,

Florian

Hi there, 

Q: I was informed that my offer has been postponed to March 2025. What should I do?

Sorry to hear that, I can imagine how frustrating the situation is. 

I would recommend the following: 

1. Reach out to your new employer and explain the situation and the fact that you left your job to join. Ask if they can make an exception and let you start as agreed. If there are no options for your current office, ask if they can let you start somewhere else or provide financial help for the period in between, given they changed the contract terms
2. If it doesn’t work and you are ok with that, ask your current employer if they would be fine with prolonging the contract or hiring you as an external consultant given the situation (there are no guarantees this will work but no harm in trying)
3. If that also doesn’t work, you can look for a temporary job in between (or even a new job, given the new employer doesn’t seem very reliable) 

Good luck!

Francesco

I would:

1. Ask the new employer to review their start date, or at least anticipate it to a more reasonable date (e.g. September)

2. Ask the new employer to financially support / compensation you for this situation

3. Ask the former employer to take you back. You may (or not) consider negotiating staying with them for a longer period, if that is relevant for them (including rejecting the offer from the new employer).

4. Look for internships or short time assignments (e.g. freelance) that would allow to bridge between the 2 jobs.

5. Apply to other firms in the region

I am suggesting this in a sequential way (but you may change the order if you prefer). The 5th you can do in parallel with 4.

There's also the option of legal action, but you would have to consult with a legal advisor for that. However I doubt it is worth the trouble.

It is a difficult situation to be in - and challenges in consulting are abound these days.

First line of defense - you should try to negotiate a smaller extension to the start date.

Second line of defense - you should approach a labor law consultant of the middle-east country you are selected into - to find some resolution. Chances of any success are slim, but worth a try.

Third line of defense - try to join back your original job if possible.

Fourth line of defense - try to look for a new job altogether.

Happy to hear you out and discuss more details - pls feel free to message.

Hi there,

First of all, I am sorry to hear about your situation!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

• First of all, I would advise you to contact your current employer and explain the situation. They might still have opportunities available for you or be able to extend your leaving date.
• Moreover, start looking for temporary or consulting jobs that could bridge the gap until your new start date.
• Lastly, I would highly advise you to finalize the offer - getting confirmation of your start date is worth nothing (as you have experienced) until you have the contract in your hands. To be completely honest, you should have waited for the contract to be signed in the first place.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen