I just had my last date at my (now former) job. I'm set to start at Instacart next week. Whoot! I'm wondering if I can/should ask to push back my start date by a week. The reasons to do so are: I get 2 weeks of vacation to relax before I start my job. I'd like to do a bit of travel before I start and the extra week would be huge. I won't have 2 weeks of vacation for a long time, so it's a lot. I get more time to beef up on stuff I should know coming into my job. While I would very much like to ask, I'm inclined not to. Here's why: I'm starting on contract with a fellow contractor and I believe that peer just started today. One week behind him is prob better than 2 The contract I signed goes until late December, so I'm not sure they can push back that date even if my start date is pushed back. I kinda already agreed to the start date. When it comes to negotiating pay, the rule is it doesn't hurt to ask. I know that and benefited from it! But in this case, I'm concerned it does hurt to ask as I don't want to seem unenthusiastic about the job or not looking forward to starting or someone whose word is unreliable. What do people think? Should I ask or just chin up and bear it? Thanks!

This is not really scientific, but I feel like asking for that extra week is rocking the boat a bit too much. It's thrashy for the team to account for that, and the benefit of the extra week seems fairly small unless you're very burnt out right now. That being said, I don't feel too strongly about this opinion. I can easily see asking for the extra week be just fine (and do it as early as possible).

Ask to Push Back Start Date?

Mid-Level Data Engineer at Instacart4 months ago

Instacart

Mid-level Engineer

Onboarding

I just had my last date at my (now former) job. I'm set to start at Instacart next week. Whoot!

I'm wondering if I can/should ask to push back my start date by a week. The reasons to do so are:

I get 2 weeks of vacation to relax before I start my job. I'd like to do a bit of travel before I start and the extra week would be huge. I won't have 2 weeks of vacation for a long time, so it's a lot.
I get more time to beef up on stuff I should know coming into my job.

While I would very much like to ask, I'm inclined not to. Here's why:

I'm starting on contract with a fellow contractor and I believe that peer just started today. One week behind him is prob better than 2
The contract I signed goes until late December, so I'm not sure they can push back that date even if my start date is pushed back.
I kinda already agreed to the start date.

When it comes to negotiating pay, the rule is it doesn't hurt to ask. I know that and benefited from it! But in this case, I'm concerned it does hurt to ask as I don't want to seem unenthusiastic about the job or not looking forward to starting or someone whose word is unreliable.

What do people think? Should I ask or just chin up and bear it?

Thanks!

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44 Comments

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Discussion

(4 comments)

1
Alex Chiou
•Tech Lead @ Robinhood, Meta, Course Hero
4 months ago
This is not really scientific, but I feel like asking for that extra week is rocking the boat a bit too much. It's thrashy for the team to account for that, and the benefit of the extra week seems fairly small unless you're very burnt out right now.

That being said, I don't feel too strongly about this opinion. I can easily see asking for the extra week be just fine (and do it as early as possible).
- 1
  Mid-Level Data Engineer [OP]
  •Instacart
  4 months ago
  Thanks Alex!
1
Rahul Pandey
•Tech Lead/Manager at Meta, Pinterest, Kosei
4 months ago
As a contractor with an "expiration date" on your time at the company, I'd start ASAP.

If you were to join full-time I'd be more ok delaying your start date by a week. But given the uncertainty around your end date, and the urgency that you'll want to show, I think starting at the agreed upon date is best.
0
Mid-Level Data Engineer [OP]
•Instacart
4 months ago
Thanks guys. It's very clear that I should start next week. Clear answers are great!

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