Employee quits job after getting verbal offer from another company, only to then be told the position got frozen and discover they hired someone else: ‘I don't know what to do’

Bar Mor Hazut • Lead Editor

Jun 9, 2026 7:15 AM EDT

How do you know for sure if you secured a job before you hand in a notice to your current workplace?

Some people learn the hard way the correct steps and their order before quitting a job and starting a new one. Here is a general guide in case you want to learn from others' mistakes:

Step one: Put yourself on the job market and interview for other companies. Don't say anything about it in your current workplace. Step two: After a (probably) long process of applying and interviewing, get to the final stage at a workplace of your choice. Still don't tell anyone at your current job about your intention to leave. Step three: Secure an offer and start negotiating your salary and conditions.

Now, here is where many people make their first mistake. They think that since they got an offer from another workplace, it might be time to tell their current employer that they intend to leave. However, without an actual signed contract with the new workplace, an offer is pretty much worthless, and definitely is not worth the risk of quitting your job for yet. It is only after step four that an employee should even consider handing in their notice:

Step four: Sign the contract with your soon-to-be new workplace and make sure it clearly states a start date that aligns with your timeframe. Then, and only then, should you schedule a meeting with your current employer and hand in your written resignation, along with your notice.

Got it? Good. If you need another proof why you shouldn't mess with this guide on how and when to quit your job, scroll down to read this story, shared on r/jobs Subreddit, about an employee who told their manager they are leaving after only getting a verbal offer from another company. It was only a matter of days before they realized their mistake, but by that point, it was way too late to turn back…

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Got a verbal offer, told my manager I was leaving, position got "frozen" - they hired someone internally three days later

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