I signed my offer letter a week ago. Had a call with the recruiter, but they did not specify a start date. What’s the process from signing the offer letter to when you start working?
Additionally, how long does it usually take to onboard esp. with visa requirement processing? Is a January start date realistic? Thanks!
Hi there,
the answer depends on a variety of variables. However, the start date is usually specified in the contract (or offer letter) that you are signing - just like the salary, bonus range as well as the office location you are starting with.
The whole visa topic is a mixed bag and depends on a lot of factors:
If the visa process is unclear and its duration not mapped out, that might be a reason as to why you don't know your start date yet as that would be contingent on you obtaining a working permit first. But in any case the firm should give you an indication. Especially if they are willing to (and probably used to) sponsoring visas.
Given that it is December now and you are seemingly still missing so many pieces of information, I would tend to think that a January 2025 start date is quite unlikely.
Best of luck
Hi there,
First of all, congratulations on the offer!
I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:
If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming consulting career start, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.
Best,
Hagen
Hey there,
I'm not sure which firm you got your offer from, but many firms would have a start date in the offer contract. That aside, it does vary from region to region, firm to firm, background checks, cohort batched start dates, and based on other individual aspects (like in your case there may be an additional mobility consideration that involves VISA processing)
Generally, onboarding could be done within a month after signing the offer depending on the statuses of each of the above elements I mentioned above. Particularly, the VISA processing would depend on the country / territory processing times.
All the best
Hi there,
The start date should be in the contract you sign - a bit unusual here.
As regards the visa and start date, you did not specify the region (the tag is "Global") and it could be anywhere from 1 month to 3 months.
In any case, directly follow up with HR on this. Call them to sort it out.
Congrats and all the best,
Florian
Hi there,
Congratulations on the offer! In terms of your question:
Q: What’s the process from signing the offer letter to when you start working? Additionally, how long does it usually take to onboard esp. with visa requirement processing?
The main steps to cover will be clearing the background check and obtaining the visa, if needed. You should also receive the contract to sign relatively soon.
Regarding timing, besides the steps above, it also depends on the company's needs - it might be a matter of weeks or months.
HR should be able to clarify the timeline, so I would recommend reaching out to them.
All the best for a great start!
Francesco
You didn’t mention the firm or the country you’re moving to.
The start date should be included in the offer letter. If it’s not, make sure to get it in writing from the recruiter before signing anything, as it’s an important part of the offer.
Best,
Alberto
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