When do you give notice?

[KentState]

I have a job offer on the table that I'm ready to accept. We haven't set a start date for the new position, but I believe they are very flexible. At what point do people typically give notice? Do you wait until all the paper work and background checks are completed? What if that's not done but a week before you are suppose to start? I would for something unexpected to come up and end up without a job at either place.

 

[xBiffx]

Offers are always contingent on passing pre-employment checks. If you pass, the job is yours. Best to give your current employer as much notice as possible as long as you are confident you will pass the pre-employment checks. If you have reason to believe you won't wait until you know you did.

You should know whether you are going to pass the tests, they are open book for shit's sake.

 

[purbeast0]

i wouldn't give notice until you have signed your offer letter.

 

[MichaelD]

x2 to what Biff and purbeast0 both said. Don't count chickens before the eggs hatch. Don't be this guy: "Screw you! I quit! Ha-ha!" /goes home and opens mailbox "Dear Sir, we regret to inform you that...." OH SH*T!!

Give as much notice as possible though so that you can get a reference from your current job down the line.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I told my last job that I was leaving later that day. I'd finish my job and leave. I did what I needed to do and left. It's wrong but it felt so good.

 

[Phoenix86]

2 weeks is standard, but don't be surprised to get walked to the door as soon as you put it in. As others have said don't put in your notice until you have signed the offer letter.

 

[dainthomas]

Is it an at-will state? You don't owe them notice of your leaving any more than they have to give notice to fire you. And most company's references only indicate that you've worked there. I don't see how not giving a longer notice would affect that.

 

[SunnyD]

2 weeks is standard. As Phoenix86 said - if you live in an at-will state you may screw your sell over.

True story: My previous employer - writing was on the wall, I could either be the glue that held the place together while getting reamed sans lube for shit pay, or I could walk. I chose the latter, got an offer for 50% more money, better benefits and paid relo. I wrote my resignation pending 2 week notice, gave a copy to "HR" (lol) and my manager. My manager knew it was coming. I told my manager I would be more than happy to help train whoever they bring in to get them up to speed and finish up what I was working on. I also offered to work as a consultant after the fact to keep projects going if need be. He was grateful for the offer, but obviously saddened because he knew the owner would fly off the deep end.

So he called the owner of the company to break the news - their last developer was putting in notice. Half an hour later I was told verbatim what the owner said over the phone: "You have one hour to pack your shit and leave." My manager at that time said in retrospect that he should have just "filed" my notice somewhere on his desk and forgotten about it for the next two weeks.

 

[Gooberlx2]

2 weeks is standard, but don't be surprised to get walked to the door as soon as you put it in. As others have said don't put in your notice until you have signed the offer letter.

Yep.

However, with jobs where you might hold some unique responsibility or hard-to-replace skillset, I've seen a month notice being pretty regular.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I would wait till everything is done and official. Your new employer would expect you to give notice if you left them, I'm sure they'll give you proper chance to give notice to your current one. Give 2 weeks, no more no less. I've always figured if you can give more than 2 then go for it, but really, it's safer not to, they might just let you go right away then it turns out you did not get the job or something. So wait till it's 100% official.

 

[thegimp03]

2 weeks is standard. But only do it after you have signed the offer letter.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

I wouldn't give notice until I had a signed offer letter and start date. Basically everything lined up ready to go. Depending on my position and current responsibilities, I'd consider giving more than 2 weeks notice, but in general 2 weeks is fine and in the big picture, it doesnt really matter if you give more. It sounds nice in principle, but IMO its not that beneficial to either party. Clean break. As other people have said, its not uncommon to be told to stop reporting immediately.

 

[KentState]

Thanks for the advice. I was planning on giving 2 weeks notice while trying to start in 3 weeks so that I can have time to visit family out of state. I'm in Georgia, so it's at-will and I can be canned at anytime without cause. I do manage a team, but out of all the IT managers, I never feared losing my job so I documented all that I could and did a lot of cross training. The knowledge that they will lose can not really be transferred any differently in 3 weeks or 10.

My biggest concern was being without two jobs, though I don't have anything in my background to make me nervous. Well, expect a post or two on ATOT.

 

[TheNinja]

It depends what you do for work. But typically, make sure you have the offer letter and a start date finalized. Most companies will allow you to give your previous employer 2 weeks. I find it is best to give 2 weeks to previous employer....no more and no less. It's a good amount of time to transition your work but anything longer and you're just dead weight and it gets uncomfortable.

Whatever you do with any job, don't be stupid and just quit on the spot and walk out saying how you hated the job. Always quit with good feelings and dignity even if you hated the job and hated the manager. The working world seems very small and well connected you NEVER know who ends up working where and what grudges they may hold.

 

[shortylickens]

2 weeks notice is standard. Let your next employer know you are a gentleman and intend to do just that if they accept you.

 

[vshah]

great idea to take time off. it is so hard to come by these days. hell, I'd take 2 weeks between jobs if your finances allow it.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

Thanks for the advice. I was planning on giving 2 weeks notice while trying to start in 3 weeks so that I can have time to visit family out of state. I'm in Georgia, so it's at-will and I can be canned at anytime without cause. I do manage a team, but out of all the IT managers, I never feared losing my job so I documented all that I could and did a lot of cross training. The knowledge that they will lose can not really be transferred any differently in 3 weeks or 10.

My biggest concern was being without two jobs, though I don't have anything in my background to make me nervous. Well, expect a post or two on ATOT.

Its common to take some off between jobs, but be sure to figure out your benefits situation. Health coverage is usually not in effect until the first day at the next job. End of coverage varies. One company covered me till the end of month, another till the end of the next two week pay period. It probably is a factor of when the company pays your premium. You don't really want to lapse in coverage (COBRA is an option too).

 

[KentState]

Well, I gave notice and the business didn't take it so well. Now they are making me drive to our second location which is about 2 hours away due to traffic. I'm a little pissed that they are doing something as childish as this. Says a lot to me about a company and how they treat exiting employees.

 

[sactoking]

Well, I gave notice and the business didn't take it so well. Now they are making me drive to our second location which is about 2 hours away due to traffic. I'm a little pissed that they are doing something as childish as this. Says a lot to me about a company and how they treat exiting employees.

Tax deductible!