Offer rescinded 6 days before joining. After I had already served my notice.

This happened three years ago and I still have the email saved in a folder called "never again".

I was at a service company. Got an offer from a mid-size SaaS product company, 75% hike, my first product role. I negotiated my 90-day notice down to 60 with a partial buyout, served it, did the handover, had the farewell cake, collected the "all the best" emails.

Six days before my joining date, at 7:40 pm, an email: "Due to changing business priorities, we are unable to proceed with your offer at this time. We wish you the best."

No call. No one picked up the phone after that either.

I had rent in Hyderabad, and I send money home every month. I sat on the floor of my room for a long time.

What saved me

I called my old manager the next morning. I had left well, with a proper handover document, and he remembered. Within a week the service company took me back on a different project. Lucky, I know. Two months later I cracked the fintech role I am in now.

My checklist now (I send this to everyone I mentor)

1. Do not resign until you have the signed offer letter. If possible, wait until background verification has at least started.
2. Leave well. Handover document, no burning bridges, keep in touch with your old manager. It is not just politeness, it is insurance.
3. Ask HR at offer stage how firm the joining date is, and listen to any hesitation. Keep a second offer warm if you have one.
4. Save 3 to 6 months of expenses before switching. I had 1.5 months. Never again.
5. Take screenshots and save every email. Offer letter, acceptance, joining date confirmations.

If this happens to you: it is not your fault, and it is not the end. Call people. Today.