There is no good time to leave my current position.

25 Comments

1. AnonymousSeptember 11,2022 at 8:57PM UTC

   Giving notice is always hard! I think the only way to tell your boss, is to be direct. You can convey that this was a really difficult decision and then briefly describe why you are leaving. As for giving more than 2 weeks, I'd argue that 2 weeks is standard and it is plenty of notice to your current employer. Once you give notice, you'll set the wheels in motion to both physically and mentally transition away from your current position. I've found that the time between giving notice and starting a new job can feel strange, stressful, and unfamiliar but also exciting. Once you get over the initial worry and anxiety about telling your boss, you can start to focus on transitioning work and preparing for your new job. However, if you are certain you want to give more than 2 weeks' notice, I'd recommend putting in that request asap with your new employer and commit to a date in which you'll be ready to start with them. If possible, it is sometimes nice to take a couple days (or more!) for yourself between jobs too. Congratulations on your new role!

2. AnonymousSeptember 11,2022 at 9:28PM UTC

   Before you do anything, negotiate another start date. Trust me an additional week or two will not make a bit of difference but if you would like to offer negotiate that with the new company to see if they are open to it. If not then the answer is no.

   I would instead offer a few late nights and weekends to get your old company over the hump. Paid or not paid is your choice.

3. Megan WestrumSeptember 11,2022 at 10:38PM UTC

   Please try to negotiate a later start date, especially if you’re an exempt employee. It sounds like you are in a higher up and accountable role and two weeks may not be enough time for your current company. Consider reviewing your current employer’s handbook on notice of termination. Otherwise, tell the new employer something along the lines of “Thank you so much for the wonderful opportunity! I cannot wait to start here. Due to my current role, it is expected for me to provide a 4 week notice. I am in a higher professional role with managing other team members and feel 2 weeks would be a challenge to train on several projects. Are you willing to be flexible with me starting on x date?

   This new employer should be more understanding about the whole respectful termination status. I am sure they would appreciate you providing your employer a 4 week notice, but the new employer may have the same expectation for you. It looks super professional on your part to do a 4 week notice.

   You may be dreading to share this resignation with your current boss, but do not sweat it! Your current boss will of course be sad to see you go, but they will be extremely proud of you. If they act in a negative matter that is super unprofessional.

   Please make sure to write a positive resignation letter to your boss (email, next one on one, stop by their office, arrange a meeting, etc.). Include the positive things about what you’ve learned, why you loved working there, positive feedback and advice for your team and positive feedback to your manager. Also, include your specific last day to work and any specific requests to ensure there is no confusion upon you leaving.

   Best of luck on your new adventure!

4. rgstaffing@bellsouth.netSeptember 25,2022 at 4:19PM UTC

   Do not do this. Unless you are a nurse or have a contract that says you need to give a 30 day notice. Nobody will appreciate in the new company that you have pushed a start date back. There is a reason that two weeks is standart unless you have a contractual obligation for 30 days. I t is not super professional at all to give a month--says you have a hard time leaving and are not committed to the new job. I would be keeping an eye on this situation if I was the new company....

5. AnonymousSeptember 25,2022 at 11:40PM UTC

   Every company has different policies regarding termination, definitely take a look what your current company. Do not assume 2 weeks is every employer’s standard.

   It is professional to work with both employers, if possible. If the new employer is not willing to work with a later start date, maybe take that as a red flag as in they seem not to be very accommodating . Or if you really want the new job offer and you don’t have the time to put in two weeks for your current employer, do what is best for you to leave sooner.

6. AnonymousSeptember 12,2022 at 12:38AM UTC

   There will always be other projects or reasons to wait. You need to do what's best for your future. If the new company wants you to start in two weeks, I would do so. You're giving notice and can also offer that if something comes up during the interim to let you know and you'd be glad to help. Something that I learned over the years is that everyone is replaceable. The company values what you do but that doesn't mean they can't find a workaround until hiring a new employee. It sounds harsh but that's not your concern. It would be one thing if you were leaving without notice but it's time to focus ahead instead of back while offering to help if needed. Don't feel that you need to do that but if you want to extend the offer, it will help answer questions during the transition. Congratulations on the new job!

7. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistSeptember 12,2022 at 2:34AM UTC

   You can ask your prospective employer if you can push back your start date. See what they say.

   Regarding your resignation - now's your chance to see exactly how great that relationship with your boss really is.

   There's no way around it - you just have to tell them. If they're the boss you seem to think they are, they will be happy for you and wish you all the best.

8. rgstaffing@bellsouth.netSeptember 25,2022 at 4:15PM UTC

   Do not push your start date back. Terrible way to start off. Trust me.

9. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistSeptember 25,2022 at 7:52PM UTC

   In over 20 years of recruiting, I've never had it be an issue if a candidate needed to push back their start date. As long as it's within reason, like not 3 months.

10. Kathryn MontbriandSeptember 12,2022 at 1:50PM UTC

    Great advice from the other commenters. Two tips I'll add about having the conversation with your current boss.

    1) Give some indication ahead of time that you want to have a serious discussion. It can be as simple as a note a couple hours before your next 1:1 that says 'I'd like to have a conversation about my future and career journey in our upcoming meeting' or a note that asks for 15 minutes to share some news about your future. The reason behind this is that you want your boss to be in the right frame of mind to receive the news. I promise they have had people leave before (and will again). Unless you work for a brand new manager they will know how to handle this news with grace. But - if they are planning to have a conversation about your ongoing projects and you spring this on them you likely won't get their 'best self' back.

    2) Frame the decision in terms of what you are moving towards vs. what you are leaving behind. This isn't the time to discuss gripes with your current role or the stress that you are feeling. Instead talk about how you will be learning and growing in the new role and the excitement you feel about taking on this new challenge. Ultimately it's about you and getting your needs met - the current company will find a way to get its needs met even when you are gone. As a bonus - figuring that part out isn't your problem anymore!

11. AnonymousSeptember 14,2022 at 12:05PM UTC

    Great advice, thank you. I’m debating whether to put in my two week notice on Friday or Monday. My manager is the type who will reach out to me on weekends (my off days) for unimportant things. I have full confidence that she would contact me over the weekend if I submit my notice on Friday. I don’t want that. However, my 1:1s are on Friday and our team meeting is on Mondays. Would it make a difference if I asked her for a 10-minute meeting on Monday and submit my notice then?

12. Kathryn MontbriandSeptember 14,2022 at 12:24PM UTC

    If the timing works for you, do it on Monday. Two things to consider :

    1) will it be eating at you over the weekend if you wait until next week? If that is a yes, might be worth it to get it over with now and deal with the consequences.

    2) make sure your boss knows you are serious and do need 10 mins on Monday - don't let her deflect.

    You got this - sending you strength!

13. AnonymousSeptember 14,2022 at 2:37PM UTC

    Awesome, thank you so much for this! I want to use the weekend to finalize my transition plan instead of rushing to finish it tomorrow. Other than that, I have no qualms about submitting my notice on Monday. Thank you so much for the positive vibes and well wishes! Sending them your way too :)

14. Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume WriterSeptember 12,2022 at 2:49PM UTC

    I can only tell you that I gave my previous employer a considerable amount of notice, thinking I was being noble and kind. But when it came down to it, I didn't want to start anything new that would then be handed over to my successor - nor did I have all that much to finish because I had stayed on top of my work. My body stayed around until the final day, but my mind left sometime after about two weeks...

15. Lara Ivey KauchakSeptember 12,2022 at 3:29PM UTC

    Two weeks is plenty of time to transition. You can always offer that they can call you after you leave if they have any questions. After 2 weeks, you will be mentally ready to start your new role. This also forces them to actively transition and not wait more weeks.

16. Tiana MumfordSeptember 13,2022 at 12:07PM UTC

    Good day,

    I would start off my telling her how you value your relationship with her and then ease it in . It would work out either way .

    Thanks

17. Nadine BonnerSeptember 13,2022 at 1:55PM UTC

    It is always dangerous to forget that it's just a job.
    As much as you like your current boss, he's just your boss. It is a business arrangement. Tell him you've accepted a great opportunity, and if he's such a good guy, he'll be happy for you. I get where you are coming from. I was with a nonprofit and stayed an extra two weeks to finish a magazine I was editing before moving on to my new position. Fortunately my new boss was very understanding. The magazine was all ready for the printer when I left. The kicker is -- they never published it. In fact, as part of a cost-cutting initiative, they scrapped it. I could have been in my new job and making more money two weeks earlier. The moral is -- do what is best for you and don't look back.

18. Kiki SperrSeptember 13,2022 at 2:47PM UTC

    Hi! As a fellow not-for-profit professional, I understand your struggle in succession planning and wishing the best for a soon-to-be-past boss. In my last transition, I made a highly-detailed plan for the next upcoming project in hopes of giving my boss about one month in lead-time to get a new employee in the role and support them in completing this project as painlessly as possible. When discussing my departure with my boss, I was able to give her these tangible next steps instead of leaving her in the lurch. Leaving is never easy, but by telling your boss what you can do for her before you leave can soften the blow!

19. Gwendolyn FreeSeptember 13,2022 at 3:38PM UTC

    You stated you are ready for the new opportunity, right? Put in your two weeks notice and move forward!

20. AnonymousSeptember 13,2022 at 4:22PM UTC

    Take the new opportunity on their deadline. Otherwise you risk losing it. You can offer to help your old place if needed AFTER you get through the hectic onboarding at the new place!

21. AnonymousSeptember 14,2022 at 11:59AM UTC

    If a new job can’t move your start date by one week, that’s level of inflexibility is a red flag to me. As if one week will make or break the entire future of the company. If it was so urgent, they should have started their hiring process much earlier. OP, don’t go at this from a place of weakness.

22. rgstaffing@bellsouth.netSeptember 25,2022 at 12:50PM UTC

    In my world, 3 weeks notice is a huge red flag because more times than i even want to think about, the candidated does not leave their company. This gives the old company time to make a counter offer which we all know is career suicide. I don't work with candidates who cannot give or who choose to not work with the standard 2 weeks notice. They rarely leave.

23. AnonymousSeptember 20,2022 at 1:45PM UTC

    I recently switched as well and gave the standard two weeks. During those two weeks, I made myself crazy completing projects, creating status and instruction documents and even STARTING and finishing new projects that I just really wanted to have done before I left. All set-inflicted. And guess what…none of it mattered. Despite all the planning I did, my former colleagues were still frantically texting me during my first week at the new job because they either forgot or ignored all the planning I did. None of it mattered.

24. rgstaffing@bellsouth.netSeptember 25,2022 at 12:47PM UTC

    Two weeks is standard and your focus needs to be on your new job. Write a nice letter of resignation thanking him for the opportunityh but youhave received an offer that aligns with your career goals.

    It happens all the time...

25. AnonymousSeptember 25,2022 at 5:04PM UTC

    No boss is receptive of resignation no matter how cordial you go about it.

    I remember in one of my resignations my boss did not only take my resignation well but he was still not satisfied with me working beyond my two weeks notice open ended until they find a replacement. That open ended up to 6 weeks notice. Whilst my prospect company was super understanding, my then current boss was still not satisfied with me leaving even after giving 6 weeks notice. So, do what ever you do to cover your tracks in aid of leaving a good name for yourself. However bare in mind no resignation is comfortable or really accepted.