Back story:

Was laid off almost 12 months ago. About 4 months ago I took a job to keep the wolves away, and have never been real satisfied and continued to look for a way to resume my career.

Today:
I accepted a job that will resume my career and I am very excited about the new position. I have signed an offer letter and they need to do a background check, drug test, education and previous work confirmation prior to starting. None of this concerns me outside my previous boss having a tendency to talk negatively about previous employees.

So brings me to my question. Having been through a number of mergers and layoffs in my young career I am nervous about timing my 2 weeks notice prior to the new job being an absolute done deal. Should I give 2 weeks ASAP to start the next chapter or wait for everything to be finalized?

"I'll hang up and listen."

Wait.

Seen far too many people screw themselves by making decisions (put in notice, make big purchase based on new salary, etc...) before the ink was dry.

Wait

I'd wait, giving two weeks notice to your current employer is a really nice luxury that is not a requirement.

If you're willing to not worry about potentially burning that bridge, wait and then quit.

Wait it is.

TMF said:

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You must watch out for you and only you first. You owe nothing to the companies. You might burn a bridge if you have to leave after 1 week, but you and they are not obligated to give two weeks. Hope it works out.

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TMF said:

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You must watch out for you and only you first. You owe nothing to the companies. You might burn a bridge if you have to leave after 1 week, but you and they are not obligated to give two weeks. Hope it works out.

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I've been burned early in my career by being loyal and not putting me first. Sadly it has made me a little jaded. Thanks for the advice.

TMF said:

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You must watch out for you and only you first. You owe nothing to the companies. You might burn a bridge if you have to leave after 1 week, but you and they are not obligated to give two weeks. Hope it works out.

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True that. Always consider yourself first. It took me a long time to really understand that a company was made up of people looking to advance their own agendas. Employers won't think twice about leading you to the door the same day you produce your notice.

Wait until the ink dries. Be in charge of your own agenda.

I'm in a similar boat. Just took my drug test today. I was planning on putting in my two weeks tomorrow. I have no reason anything would happen before my start date as June 5th. But all y'all saying to wait, maybe I should also wait it out some till next week

AggieStout said:

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I'm in a similar boat. Just took my drug test today. I was planning on putting in my two weeks tomorrow. I have no reason anything would happen before my start date as June 5th. But all y'all saying to wait, maybe I should also wait it out some till next week

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Our company (large) tells all hires to not tender a two week until you got an "all clear" from our HR. Don't want anyone to get in a bind if something strange happens or there's a delay in screening procedures.

I mean, in torn between the two. I think the "respectable" thing to do is offer up your two weeks once you're cleared by the other company.

But if this current job is just a placeholder, and there is zero likelihood negative actions taken by you here could come back to bite you, then I'd have no problems walking out on the day I gave notice.

Some day you will be filling out a job application and they will ask for employment history. Just quitting is something you will have to explain during the interview process.

When I was interviewing potential employees, if they just quit a job, I asked they to give me the circumstances behind the abrupt departure. Sometimes it was warranted I.e. Illegal activities by superiors, but if there was no legitimate reason, that was a hurdle that they had to overcome.

I'm not saying this is the perfect scenario, but having a job and being offered a career, I wouldn't hold that against a younger person if they told me the truth. "I quit without a 2 week notice because that was my only option for receiving this position while also protecting myself." A little selfish, but come-on, company loyalty isn't around anymore and the suits would cut his legs off and fire him as soon as they saw reason.

The application asked "reason for leaving". I always asked for them to tell me about the details of their "reason for leaving". You would be surprised what folks will tell you in that setting. I had a guy tell me he quit because he was tired of working 8 hours per day. We were looking for full time employees. He didn't make it to the next round.

I guess it's because I'm in a different profession, but I haven't filled out an "application" for a job since I got out of grad school. But I am also guessing that some major companies require something like an application.

I get that. I haven't filled out an application sine 2003. I didn't fill out an application at my current employer. Heck, no drug test or physical for that matter.

For the most part when I was hiring, it was an inside/outside sales position or a warehouse/laborer position. I'll let you guess where the "I quit" folks generally fell in those two categories.

I've just always been one that believes past actions dictate future behavior. I wouldn't be interested in a person who "quit" because who is to say that they wouldn't do it again leaving me in a bind. With over 13 years in a management position, I've only had 1 guy quit and he didn't last until lunch on his fist day. That was an interesting situation, a cdl driver didn't think he should have to secure his own load. That was a fun day because I ended up in the delivery truck until about 6:00 pm to pick up the slack.

Not all industries are the same. I would never just drag up on a mom and pop organization.

I work in maintenance in an industrial setting. No notices are given by anybody and that's expected. I once put in a notice and was laughed at told that wasn't necessary.

In my current position I would tell my direct boss before quitting. Heck, I would tell him before I even applied or interviewed anywhere else. But we have a great working relationship. I wouldn't tell HR or the company anything before already being hired by the next company and would let the next company dictate my start date. If it was less than 2 weeks then so be it.

i don't know if it's because i'm watching veep right now but that's the first time i've laughed out loud at a job network post.

well now that staff has taken a hatchet to this thread the post i was laughing at is gone as is the context.

Excellence
Integrity
Leadership
Loyalty
Respect
Selfless Service


Forgetting one of these, Real Ag?

Maybe I missed something, but I did not see your new offer requires you to start immediately and not give your current employer proper notice. When the offer is official (in writing), give a 2-week notice.

You are also free to give 2 weeks notice but say that you would prefer to leave as early as they are able to let you go once you get your free and clear. Depending on job it could right out the door that day or they will want 2 weeks to help train new person or something. End of the day it is a courtesy that you shouldn't respect to the degree that it hurts you starting out in your new place.