What should I check before I sign a work contract?
A contract is the one document that decides what happens when things go wrong. It is worth thirty minutes of attention before you sign, not after.
- Session length
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Matched on
- Your field
Three things worth knowing.
Read the practical clauses first: pay and when it is paid, hours, place of work, probation length, notice on both sides, holiday, and sick pay.
Then read the ones that bite later: restrictions on working elsewhere, who owns work you create, confidentiality, and anything about repaying training costs if you leave.
Querying a clause before signing is normal and expected. An employer who reacts badly to a polite question about notice has told you something useful.
A sequence that works.
- 01
Read it once, fully, before replying
Never sign in the room. Ask for a day.
- 02
Mark anything you do not understand
Plain questions, one line each, in a single email.
- 03
Check the leaving terms
Notice, probation and restrictions matter most on the day you want out.
- 04
Keep a signed copy
Along with any offer email that promised something the contract does not.
What to avoid.
Signing on the spot to seem keen
Assuming a verbal promise survives without being written in
Skipping restrictive clauses about future work
Not checking who owns work you create outside hours
Losing the only copy of the signed agreement
The things people ask first.
Can a mentor give legal advice?
No. Mentors explain what clauses usually mean in their industry and what they would ask. Legal advice needs a qualified adviser in your country.
Is it risky to negotiate?
Asking a clear question about one clause is routine. Most reasonable employers expect it.
What if I never received a contract?
Ask for one in writing. In many countries a written statement of terms is a legal requirement.
Get this answered for your situation.
A mentor who does the job you are aiming at can tell you which of this applies to you.