don;t sign it untill your going to start the job. if they have offered you the job they cannot take that back

yeah probably just employment law bit dodgy i hope you get away with it employment law normally goes with the employee's favour any way

I have to sign a contract of employment before I can commence work though.

One of them wants it returned within 10days. Its so competitive that they want to know and if I'm not quick I might lose out.

I am going to sign it anyway. They can hardly drag me kicking and screaming into there to work!

Also, its unlikely that they will sue for breach of contract. There must be loads of graduates in this sort of situation.

i would think that you would have to do a standard time for them even if it is two weeks for leaving but you should read your contracts thoroughly personnaly i wouldn't do it (training to be a legal secretary)

Id check with your local careers centre. Try Yellow Pages or www.yell.com

I wouldnt sign a contract though. Surely any reputable company will have a trial period of when you start, normally 3 months that you both see if you like each other. After the period has past (and your still there!) THEN consider signing a contract.

Legally you cant back out of a contract if you sign the bits of paper.

Right, I graduate this year and have a couple of job offers secured. The trouble is, they both want me to sign the contracts now.

However, I have a few more interviews/assessment centres coming up, one of which is for my first choice job.

If I were to sign the contracts, does anyone know where I would stand with regards to backing down and taking another job? They are September starts and I would be able to give them at least a couple of months notice.

Any ideas? If not, where can I research this kind of thing?