3 Month Notice - Quitting before next role

[944fan]

Following from this thread:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I've been applying for some local jobs. I'm currently on a 3 month notice period. Speaking with the agents a lot of said there clients will be put off by this.

There are quite a few jobs out there but no guarantee I will get one, or indeed the right one in that time. I don't want to be in the situation where I resign and two months later am having to take something less than suitable just because I need a job.

Would you quit before you had something else? I have two kids and am the main breadwinner so not really in a position to risk it. We don't have a massive amount of savings to fall back on either.

I may be able to negotiate my period down when I resign but no guarantee that I can at all so can't promise anything.

[Ynox]

Market is buoyant for some stuff.

That said, not sure I'd quit before I had a role, unless I was looking for a contract role.

I was on a 3 month notice once. Ended up negotiating to a 2 month notice. Worked well for all involved.

[Jasandjules]

3 months is fairly normal in plenty of industries.

[Ghost91]

I know it's not very grown up, but you could always not bother working the full notice. Providing you can get a reference from elsewhere if needed.

[944fan]

I get the feeling behind all the smiles and fakeness my boss is quite vindictive so walking out during the notice period is likely to cause a st storm.

Think I either need to take the risk and resign now or just try and negotiate.

[Bungleaio]

You could always ask for gardening leave?

[anonymous-user]

Bungleaio said:

You could always ask for gardening leave?

Not sure how that would help him, he'd still be employed by his current employer, so cant work elsewhere

[944fan]

Yeah garden leave wouldn't help other than getting me away from the madness.

I spoke to a recruiter about it this morning and they said that with my CV and experience it wont take me long to find something else.

My only concern is we are heading towards Christmas where in the past I have found recruitment slows a bit.

[Jasandjules]

944fan said:

I spoke to a recruiter about it this morning and they said that with my CV and experience it wont take me long to find something else.

Yes, but he won't be paying your mortgage and bills if you don't.

Most employers are quite happy with a 3 month notice period, not least if you are slightly senior. They will wait. After all, their employees probably have the same requirements...

[944fan]

Yeah that's a really good point. I don't think he was giving any guarantee just commenting that there a plenty of jobs around and my cv is strong.

I have 14 years .Net development experience and 5 years team lead and there aren't many of me around.

That was my biggest worry is I get nervous 2 months in and lose my bargaining chips and accept something less.

[andy-xr]

944fan said:

I get the feeling behind all the smiles and fakeness my boss is quite vindictive so walking out during the notice period is likely to cause a st storm.

Such as what? If you're going into a new job you'd need to tell them that you're thinking of doing 1 month rather than 3 and it might affect your reference from the old place, and to bear that in mind. If the new place cant accept that then you cant accept an offer from them.

The old place cant force you to work there, if they try through a legal process it's going to be comical because it's not worth anyone's time

[Du1point8]

944fan said:

Yeah that's a really good point. I don't think he was giving any guarantee just commenting that there a plenty of jobs around and my cv is strong.

I have 14 years .Net development experience and 5 years team lead and there aren't many of me around.

That was my biggest worry is I get nervous 2 months in and lose my bargaining chips and accept something less.

You have a PM from me.

[MitchT]

944fan said:

There are quite a few jobs out there but no guarantee I will get one, or indeed the right one in that time.

944fan said:

I don't want to be in the situation where I resign and two months later am having to take something less than suitable just because I need a job.

944fan said:

I have two kids and am the main breadwinner so not really in a position to risk it.

944fan said:

We don't have a massive amount of savings to fall back on either.

You seem to have answered your own question.

944fan said:

I'm currently on a 3 month notice period. Speaking with the agents a lot of said there clients will be put off by this.

Why not be proactive - approach a few companies directly and ask them what their position would be on a prospective employee having to work three months' notice. It may just be the agent not wanting to wait three months to get its grubby mitts on the commission.

[944fan]

I have spoken to a few agents today. Most have said, 3 months isn't ideal but it is what it is and if a company likes me they will wait.

My phone has been ringing off the hook today from agents so I think my skill set and experience are in high demand.

[sc0tt]

944fan said:

My phone has been ringing off the hook today from agents so I think my skill set and experience are in high demand.

Standard agent behavior.

Your "demand" will become apparent with Job offers. Not phone calls.

[Du1point8]

swerni said:

Du1point8 said:

944fan said:

Yeah that's a really good point. I don't think he was giving any guarantee just commenting that there a plenty of jobs around and my cv is strong.

I have 14 years .Net development experience and 5 years team lead and there aren't many of me around.

That was my biggest worry is I get nervous 2 months in and lose my bargaining chips and accept something less.

You have a PM from me.

He does't need new garden furniture, he needs a new job.

Thats the other job, not the real job.

[bigunit00]

Jasandjules said:

Yes, but he won't be paying your mortgage and bills if you don't.

Most employers are quite happy with a 3 month notice period, not least if you are slightly senior. They will wait. After all, their employees probably have the same requirements...

I would say for perm snr roles this is about right. I would say those with less than 3 months notice in similiar positions are in the minority. If you are moving perm to perm (and not perm to contract) it shouldn't be an issue and for me personally if I was making same move I would prefer some time to decompress / get my sh*t together before starting a new role at a new firm as that's likely to be somewhat stressful. I think comment re: recruiters is right. For them those with no notice and can start immediately is probably their preference. Most of them are barely better than used car salesman so make sure you are telling them how it's going to work. You have commitments that need to be met. Make that you first priority. Don't leave it up to them to tell you what you are worth. They generally just take that from the client who ultimately want to get people on the cheap if they can.

[jjones]

944fan said:

Yeah that's a really good point. I don't think he was giving any guarantee just commenting that there a plenty of jobs around and my cv is strong.

I have 14 years .Net development experience and 5 years team lead and there aren't many of me around.

That was my biggest worry is I get nervous 2 months in and lose my bargaining chips and accept something less.

.NET (c# in particular) is crazy at the minute (I am midlands based and the market since christmas has been crazy). Put your CV on a few of the online job sites if you don't have 20 voicemails by the end of tomorrow (with potential jobs that are relevant to you and not just usual new cv spam) i would be shocked.

[944fan]

jjones said:

944fan said:

Yeah that's a really good point. I don't think he was giving any guarantee just commenting that there a plenty of jobs around and my cv is strong.

I have 14 years .Net development experience and 5 years team lead and there aren't many of me around.

That was my biggest worry is I get nervous 2 months in and lose my bargaining chips and accept something less.

.NET (c# in particular) is crazy at the minute (I am midlands based and the market since christmas has been crazy). Put your CV on a few of the online job sites if you don't have 20 voicemails by the end of tomorrow (with potential jobs that are relevant to you and not just usual new cv spam) i would be shocked.

Yep pretty much what I have found. Waiting to hear back on 6 jobs currently that recruiters have put me forward for. I have turned down about that many as well as they didn't sound right.

[andy-xr]

944fan said:

Yeah garden leave wouldn't help other than getting me away from the madness.

I spoke to a recruiter about it this morning and they said that with my CV and experience it wont take me long to find something else.

My only concern is we are heading towards Christmas where in the past I have found recruitment slows a bit.

Ideally, he'd have said 'and it wont take me long to place you'

Recruiters often tell you a load of st in order for you to drop the call from their competitors. They dont do the hiring and firing, they dont have the influence on the decision, they can sway one way or another, but if your guy called up XYZ Company and said 'hey, Joe - my guy 944fan is good' it wouldnt follow that Joe says 'thanks recruiterguy, ask him to start Monday'