How to Delay Start Date for New Job in 2023

Reasons to Delay Start Date New Job

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Can you Delay your start Date When Joining A New Company?

Yes, while you can delay your start date, extending beyond that timeframe is not recommended. Common courtesy and the standard for giving notice to an employer is typically two weeks (depending on the role).

Usually, the new employer wants you to start ASAP, and your current employer would like you around a while longer to wrap up projects, train your replacement, etc. You don’t want to burn a bridge with your old employer or get the new one angry, so what do you do?

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exZnxcinO1A

How to Delay Start Date for New Job

1. Start by thanking them for the opportunity.

Your immediate response should always be enthusiastic to show how pleased you are with the job offer their company has just made to you.

2. Ask the new employer if beyond two weeks is feasible for a start date.

Be straightforward with the request and ask if you can push back the start date due to X reason.

If there’s no hesitation after asking for an extension, you have the green light to start at a later date. If there’s some hesitation or pushback, I would stick to the original 2-week notice.

3. Wrap up by mentioning the new ideal start date.

If they are good with a delayed start date, thank them again for their flexibility and send over the ideal start date/time that works best for you.

Email Samples to Postpone Start Date

Email Example

Dear [Recipient's Name],

I am incredibly thankful and excited about the offer to join your esteemed team as a [Job Title]. I am eager to contribute my skills and experience to the benefit of your organization.

However, due to some personal obligations that have come up unexpectedly, I am wondering if it would be possible to adjust the proposed start date from [proposed start date] to [new start date], which is a few weeks later. This will ensure that when I begin my journey with your team, I will be fully committed and able to devote my undivided attention to my responsibilities.

Please let me know if this adjustment to the start date is possible. I apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and flexibility.

Looking forward to your response.

Best Regards,
[Your Name]

Email Example

Dear [Recipient's Name],

I hope this message finds you well. First off, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for extending the offer for the [Job Title] position. I am enthusiastic about the prospect of joining your team and contributing to [Company's Name].

However, I would like to kindly request a slight modification to the start date mentioned in the offer letter. I am committed to completing a few ongoing projects scheduled to conclude around [new start date]. I believe it would benefit both parties if I could start on [new start date], so I can fully concentrate on my new role and responsibilities at [Company's Name].

I trust that my request will not disrupt any plans, but if there are any concerns, I am more than happy to discuss them and arrive at a solution that works best for everyone.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Wrapping Up

There are several reasons you might need to delay a start date. Still, the most common is that your current employer needs a bit more time to transition your position over correctly or that you are waiting to hear back about another job you had previously interviewed for.

Regardless of the reasoning, try to be respectful of everyone's time. The worst thing you can do is get your new manager angry before you evart!

We hope this helps, and good luck with the new job!

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Tags: how to push back job start date, delay start date new job, asking new employer to delay start date, how to push back start date, postpone start date new job email

Author: Reid is a contributor to theJub. He's an employment and marketing enthusiast who studied business before taking on various recruiting, management, and marketing roles. More from the author. | Author Profile

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