So you want to leave your current job...

[lozina]

Do you give your 2 week notice now and then start looking for jobs and schedule interviews while you are unemployed?

Or do you start looking for a new job now, schedule interviews on days you take off from current job- all while not telling your current employer anything until you know you have a job to go to after you resign and give 2 week notice?

This is what I am wondering right now. I need to move on but have no experience resigning, this has been my first and only job since college.

 

[pontifex]

2nd option unless you can afford to be out of work for an extended period of time.

 

[blackdogdeek]

start looking while employed. schedule interviews for early morning, lunch time or evenings.

it's always better to leave a job to start a new one rather than leave a job hoping to find a new one.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Always easier to find a job when you have a job.

Only after you have an offer in writing do you give your two weeks notice.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: lozina
Do you give your 2 week notice now and then start looking for jobs and schedule interviews while you are unemployed?

Or do you start looking for a new job now, schedule interviews on days you take off from current job- all while not telling your current employer anything until you know you have a job to go to after you resign and give 2 week notice?

This is what I am wondering right now. I need to move on but have no experience resigning, this has been my first and only job since college.

Depends on whether you're burning bridges at Job #1 or not.

Personally, I wouldn't be comfortable quitting a job without another one lined up to start - ie: written offer in hand, acceptable wages and start date.

- M4H

 

[FoBoT]

you should get another job before you quit, if possible

unless you are rich and don't really need money

 

[purbeast0]

2nd option.

I was doing that for a while around last september, but nothing turned up, so I decided to hold off the search until the end of 2006 cause we get a huge bonus at the end of the year.

I'll be looking somewhat soon once this main project is finished. I never let my manager know about anything and would use personal hours to take half days and what not. I don't know if they had any idea I was looking, but I didn't really care either.

I'm early in my career and at this point, it's all about the money. I now have 2+ years experience in the software industry, and I'll make a decent amount more starting fresh somewhere requiring atleast 2 years experience than I will make staying here.

 

[lozina]

OK cool, I was worried that it may be considered 'taboo' to start looking for a new job ahead of time.

What do you tell your interviewers for the new jobs? What if they want references? You wouldn't want your current employer know that you are actively looking for a new job yet so you don't want the interviewers calling him for reference...

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

I'm early in my career and at this point, it's all about the money. I now have 2+ years experience in IT management, and I'll make a decent amount more starting fresh somewhere requiring atleast 2 years experience than I will make staying here.

Fixed for my situation

 

[j00fek]

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
start looking while employed. schedule interviews for early morning, lunch time or evenings.

it's always better to leave a job to start a new one rather than leave a job hoping to find a new one.

:thumbsup:

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: lozina
OK cool, I was worried that it may be considered 'taboo' to start looking for a new job ahead of time.

What do you tell your interviewers for the new jobs? What if they want references? You wouldn't want your current employer know that you are actively looking for a new job yet so you don't want the interviewers calling him for reference...

I actually told the people that I couldn't give them references from the people at my current job. Since it was the ONLY job I've had in the field, it kind of posed a little bit of a problem.

But after talking to them, she said I could give my references to old jobs (having nothing to do w/software engineering) as well as some of my peers at my job (ones I told I was looking for a new job), and that they would make their decision, and if they wanted me, they would then verify my managerial references on my list.

It was kind of a weird way to do it, but it worked. Either way, it never got to that point because I turned down their offer. It was making exactly what I'm currently making. Why the hell would I switch jobs if I'll be making the same $$ I'm making now?

That also taught me another lesson - never tell the people you are interviewing with how much $$ you make. If they ask you how much you currently make, tell them straight up that you feel it's irrelevant. It took me a few phone/face to face interviews before I had the balls to actually say that.

 

[lozina]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

I'm early in my career and at this point, it's all about the money. I now have 2+ years experience in the software industry, and I'll make a decent amount more starting fresh somewhere requiring atleast 2 years experience than I will make staying here.

Yeah I'm in a similar situation. I am in software development and have 5 years experience. More if you count internship experience.

I waited too long probably because I got too comfortable at my current job. I certainly don't want to burn bridges- I am on great terms with everyone here and still like the work but I feel I should be making more money at this point and I really want to "expand my horizons". And time is short- no one wants to hire and old programmer...

 

[SuperNaruto]

im it director in ny operations for a hedgefund.. ill be working till i find one.. i have an interview next wed.. hopefully its a one time thing... call in sick, everyone in my office is sick hahaha

 

[blackdogdeek]

Originally posted by: lozina
OK cool, I was worried that it may be considered 'taboo' to start looking for a new job ahead of time.

What do you tell your interviewers for the new jobs? What if they want references? You wouldn't want your current employer know that you are actively looking for a new job yet so you don't want the interviewers calling him for reference...

be honest with your interviewers. tell them that you are currently employed and that it may not be possible to give references from that job (at least from your supervisor).

believe me, it won't be the first time the interviewer has experienced this reponse.

 

[blackdogdeek]

Originally posted by: lozina

I waited too long probably because I got too comfortable at my current job. I certainly don't want to burn bridges- I am on great terms with everyone here and still like the work but I feel I should be making more money at this point and I really want to "expand my horizons". And time is short- no one wants to hire and old programmer...

don't sell yourself short. i got this job last year when i was 35. and i don't have a wealth of experience.

being intelligent and being able to communicate effectively go a long way when managers realize good programmers can learn to adapt quickly to new technologies or methods while good communication and social skills is more difficult to learn.

communication is especially important when dealing with users.

 

[crownjules]

I need to start working on my resume. I've been a contractor at my current job for 2 years now (desktop support) and I feel it is time to move on. I've been overlooked several times now for full time employment and that really irks me - especially when they hire on a guy that has zero desktop experience after I had been here for a year and have proven myself.

Of course, there are also monetary concerns that fuel my decision. I got my tax forms in the mail the other day and feel that, as a contractor, I'm not being properly compensated. Not that my pay is shabby, but it's probably comparable to a full time employee except that I don't get their awesome benefits (stock options, 401K plan w/matching, yearly bonuses, better healthcare plans, paid vacation, etc).

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: lozina
OK cool, I was worried that it may be considered 'taboo' to start looking for a new job ahead of time.

What do you tell your interviewers for the new jobs? What if they want references? You wouldn't want your current employer know that you are actively looking for a new job yet so you don't want the interviewers calling him for reference...

No, not taboo at all. It's pretty much the normal way things are done unless you have a lot of cash and plan to take a lot of time off traveling or whatever before you get another job. There are big disadvantages to quitting first, then looking for a new job. First, you will have time and money pressures which may make you appear desperate and force you to take a less than ideal job offer. Second, the potential employer is going to be much more willing to hire someone who is currently employed, because they can be pretty sure that you are doing a decent job for your current employer. If you quit first, they are likely to wonder why things didn't work out.