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’

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Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jun 8, 2026 10:30 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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  • 01
    Two young men in formal wear shaking hands while sitting in an office, represented by models.
    via Getty Images

    Two young men in formal wear shaking hands while sitting in an office, represented by models.

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

    Six weeks of interviews for a senior marketing role. Three rounds, final one with the VP, everything went fine. Last Tuesday the recruiter called and said they wanted to extend
    via Rogue1433
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    an offer, confirmed the salary we'd discussed, said written paperwork would come within a few days.
    via Rogue1433
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    I told my manager the next morning. Not formal notice, I was waiting for the contract, but I had the conversation. She started adjusting plans around me leaving.
    via Rogue1433
  • 05
    Five days after the call the recruiter emailed saying the position was being put on hold due to internal restructuring. I replied asking what that meant for the timeline. Two days of silence.
    via Rogue1433
  • 06
    I checked LinkedIn. Someone who was in my final interview, a junior analyst who barely said anything during the whole call, updated her title three days after my offer was pulled. Same role. Same department. Exact title I interviewed for.
    via Rogue1433
  • 07
    I dont have anything in writing. My manager knows I was leaving. I dont know if a verbal offer means anything legally or if I just got played by a
    via Rogue1433
  • 08
    company that was never actually going to hire externally and used my process to justify promoting someone internally.
    via Rogue1433
  • 09
    I'm not even sure what I'm asking. I just needed to put this somewhere because I dont know what to do with it.
    via Rogue1433
  • 10
    Businessman (model) looking stressed at the computer.
    via Curated Lifestyle

    Businessman (model) looking stressed at the computer.

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    Successful_Ebb_7556 Just some advice for next time. The order you are looking for is: verbal we are going to give an offer, no action, receive offer, negotiate offer, accept offer, still
    via Successful_Ebb_7556
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    no action. Then clear continigencies like background check. Receive revrabl confirmation contingencies are cleared. Verify start date, insist for 2 weeks notice from the date contingencies cleared. Once the start date is within your range of
    via Successful_Ebb_7556
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    desired notice. Schedule a meeting with your boss. Read the email again where it says the date And time you will be starting the new job, it should be written by now. Attend the meeting and give your resignation verbally and written. Start the new job!
    via Successful_Ebb_7556
  • 14
    MaximumEffortt I never tell my current job I'm leaving until the background check goes through. Generally by then I've also got a written offer.
    via MaximumEffortt
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    Dr_Meme_101 They probably used the external process to benchmark the internal candidate, which is gross but sadly common.
    via Dr_Meme_101
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    QpasaQ A verbal offer with no paperwork is, unfortunately, almost impossible to act on, and a lot of companies know that. You're not wrong for feeling played.
    via QpasaQ
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    The priority now is your current job. You told your manager you were leaving, so have an honest conversation. Something like the external offer fell through during restructuring and you're glad to stay and refocus. Most reasonable managers take that fine.
    via QpasaQ
  • 18
    Enough Passage7926 a recruiter telling you that the employer "wants to extend an offer" is NOT an offer at all, verbal or otherwise. There's no breach of contract here, because no offer was made.
    via Enough_Passage7926

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notice job offer boss workplace-stories employee manager job hiring workplace job search company unemployment quitting
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