What can I do with a 3 month notice period?

[BrowneIssue]

Just stand on your desk and drop your pants, then roll up and light a spliff.

That should see you marched out of the door pretty quickly ...

But what do you do when you subsequently need a reference from them?

(I often find this the hardest part of a contract: leaving the incompetent, whinging permie gits with a happy smile when all I want to do is torch the place with them in it.)

[DaveB]

When I decided to go into contracting I was on a 3 month notice period. I applied for contracts anyway and lied through my teeth about availability if the agent asked. In interviews I told the client I was on 6 weeks notice as I was fairly confident I could negotiate that with my permie manager based on remaining holiday etc.

As far as I can tell it's the agencies who invariably want you to start yesterday so they can start getting their commision. Clients are generally more relaxed about it and it takes time for them to go through the hiring process internally before you can start anyway. Very few clients will want you on site within a week of an interview. Most would be quite happy with a month, possibly longer if they like you.

Do what you have to do to get the gig and worry about the details afterwards.

[youwhut]

One weekend at the beginning of September, I discovered that contracting could be for me. On the Monday I handed my notice in, knowing that I had a two month notice period. I immediately started looking for contracts and was interviewed over the phone on the Tuesday. I was offered the contract on the Wednesday. Now was the time to negotiate my leaving date. I managed to negotiate one month. Everyone was happy with this.

I was lucky, but you could do the same.

[BrowneIssue]

There is no law that says you must accept a contract if it is offered to you. You could start applying for contracts and going to interviews, just to see if your CV works and get your interview technique up to scratch.

Once you start getting offers, hand in your notice and stop applying for contracts (restart applying when you are down to 1 or 2 weeks notice).

Turn the offers down with "Sorry, my permie employer upped my salary to stay". Nobody will be any the wiser.

You boss will twig you are going to interviews ... but who cares? What harm can it do given you are going to leave within 6 months anyway?

You will get interview practice, get feedback on your CV and find out if the market wants you. Spend the time inbetween setting up your ltd co., finding an accountant, and all the other preparatory stuff.

NB: NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give an agent your current employer's details as a reference while you are still there. They WILL use your CV to find the good matches on their database, call your boss to say you have another job and intend to leave without giving notice, then fax/email your boss the CVs of your replacement. You will be sacked, replaced and sitting at home jobless and wondering what the hell happened. THIS REALLY DOES HAPPEN TO PEOPLE.

I'll say it again: NB: NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give an agent your current employer's details as a reference while you are still there.

[Dow Jones]

3m: Blimey!

What are you - a trader?
It's called golden handcuffs in some cases and includes some so-called gardening leave (paid)
Is it mutual - ie same for both sides - if so, it's binding.
Check what you may lose when you leave on not-so-good terms (ie bonus, pension, etc) against what you might gain from venturing to the unknown.
If you are hell-bent on it, start looking and if you find something worth in the next month or so (doubt it as now it's the nadir for recruiting), then your only recourse is faking some illness or some bereavement that has caused you extreme depression. I would go as far as saying to fake your own demise, but this has lately been done to death (literally)

[TheFaQQer]

Find something to go to, then go.

Don't tell agents you're on three months notice - tell them you have a four week rolling contract, but might be able to leave sooner.

This relies on you not needing a reference from your current gig, having good enough skills to get plenty of work without that reference, and not wanting to work with or for those people again.

I left my last permie job after two weeks notice (meant to give four), but I'd already told them I was going to go and they had lined up a replacement. But I was VERY lucky that it worked out like that - some places, if you tell them you are looking, will just kick you out there and then.

Best of luck with it all, though.

[NetwkSupport]

Im sure that by a new EU law you only have to give 1 weeks notice regardless of whats on your employment contract.

Failing that just go off sick for 3 months.

[lukemg]

Common dilemma this,
Just hand your notice in - If you can't get a contract after looking for 3 months, forget it, you will never be any good at this. If you have any skills/ability there will be a perm job out there for you. Note - NEVER tell an agent you are on 3 months notice, you will never hear from them again AND make sure the agent thinks you will definitely leave the permie job. Loads of perms dip a toe in the contract water, attend interview then brick it over the 3 months contract and losing the p!ss poor pension from the perm place and turn it down, agents left in the cack and looking a chump
If you have saleable skills, send out a few CV's to jobserve roles that are a good match, make sure you indicate you are available immediately(yes I know its a lie), you will easily guage the market by the calls you get back or interviews - if you get none, you are wasting your time, get trained etc.
You can easily withdraw your application at any time.
IF you get offered a job, which you really want, have a straight talk with your boss, say it is a great opportunity you really dont want to miss out on, promise 4 weeks proper handover and weekends etc if required to help after you are gone, phone support etc etc.
If they are any way decent they will agree to this and part on good terms. If not, just walk. Forget references, get the address of the HR dept and refer all reference requests to them - they will respond with dates and a job title - end of.
GOOD LUCK

[NetwkSupport]

lets face it - what are they gonna do?

worst case, they wont pay you....but just line up leaving with your next payday.

they wont sue.

[SueEllen]

Im sure that by a new EU law you only have to give 1 weeks notice regardless of whats on your employment contract.

There isn't.

And even if there was if you have a contract of employment it would state your notice terms.