Reply to: How to leave a permie job on "good terms"

[BolshieBastard]

As has been said, best be upfront and straight about it. If you want the contract role you have to be prepared to move fast unless the client is prepared to wait.

So its possible you may leave on good terms but its also possible you wont. Whatever, just live with it.

The reference from the permie job may not be as glowing as you expected though. Despite what many think, an employer could give a warts and all reference provided it was truthful. The idea an employer cant give you a tulip reference is a bit absurd frankly.

[Pogle]

Be upfront and honest with current employer, don't burn your bridges, cos you never know they may be looking for a contractor in a year or so. I was asked to do a contract with my previous permie employer about 2 years after I'd left and very easy and lucrative it was too.

[OrangeHopper]

I never stand in the way of someone try to leave. What is the point? A person's life is far more important than any disruption they may cause to a company because they have chosen to work elsewhere.

[deckster]

Hand your notice in, hope your contract is delayed (they usually are), and phone in sick for any overlap. Buy everyone lots of cake and a few rounds in the pub, and send a LinkedIn request to your manager.

Right, as this is going to be really convincing and not piss anybody off at all.

[swamp]

Hand your notice in, hope your contract is delayed (they usually are), and phone in sick for any overlap. Buy everyone lots of cake and a few rounds in the pub, and send a LinkedIn request to your manager.

Remember if you're any good your old work pals will want to keep in touch with you. This may include your former manager.

[kingshuk]

How would you know? Well I assume that contractors are varied people some may have experience what I am going through now and some not. And I have a good relationship with my current company I don't want to leave them on bad terms because of references as well as wanting to leave in a professional way not in a fight. I am sure somebody might have been through this on the forum?

Since you don't have any holidays accumulated yet, try speaking to your manager and see if the notice period can be shortened. That is if you have a good relationship with him.

I have moved in and out of permie jobs several times. Always served full notice period if it was insisted. Once managed to shorten a 3 months notice period to one month.

It never pays off to leave in bad terms, I work in the City and find that everyone knows everyone else. Bad reputation spreads very quickly and can lose you contract with just a one liner mail or word of mouth. Doesn't have to be a bad word in the formal reference letter. I have seen this several times in the past.

[nomadd]

Hi guys

About to Leave my permie job after acception my first contract.

However have to leave without the full notice (1 week, possibly 2 at most).

Had to do just this when my first contract was offered: the contract was mine, if only I could start in 2 weeks, max.

I had a chunk of work left in my permie job which I assured them would be completed before I left. I also had a mate of mine who wanted the job, so I recommended him and he got it.

Even so, the last day or two was a little "cool" with the manager - as he'd already lost a lot of people going contract to the same client - but it all worked out OK in the end. Mind you, he did say "I wouldn't survive long in contracting" and that there was "no chance of getting my old job back." That was 1989, and I've been contracting ever since... Never did ask for my old job back.

[Fred Bloggs]

Speaking from my current role as a permie manager <ducks>...

Anybody who is up-front about their plans, tells me they want to leave (why would be nice, but not totally necessary), gives me their preferred date and a plan for completing & handing off any outstanding work will be seen off with a merry wave and best wishes for the future.

Somebody who acts all cagey, slacks off for the last few weeks and springs it on me that they've got a contract starting next Monday and I can lump it will be straight onto the tulip list.

Start off by being straight up with your manager and they'll almost certainly be reasonable. If they're not then by all means leave them in the lurch, but give them a chance first eh!

I think most managers would repsond to that kind of approach.

[Clippy]

Thanks deckster, that indeed sounds very reasonable and I think the best approach. Honestly is always best. I never intended on leaving them without offering to give them a smooth hand off. Lets see what happens next week

Thanks

fnar, fnar

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Thanks deckster, that indeed sounds very reasonable and I think the best approach. Honestly is always best. I never intended on leaving them without offering to give them a smooth hand off. Lets see what happens next week

Thanks

[deckster]

Speaking from my current role as a permie manager <ducks>...

Anybody who is up-front about their plans, tells me they want to leave (why would be nice, but not totally necessary), gives me their preferred date and a plan for completing & handing off any outstanding work will be seen off with a merry wave and best wishes for the future.

Somebody who acts all cagey, slacks off for the last few weeks and springs it on me that they've got a contract starting next Monday and I can lump it will be straight onto the tulip list.

Start off by being straight up with your manager and they'll almost certainly be reasonable. If they're not then by all means leave them in the lurch, but give them a chance first eh!

[oracleslave]

You're about to leave and break the terms in your permanent contract and want unknowns on a forum to help you minimise the impact this will have on your employer without being privy to your or the employers circumstances. I work with a laptop, not a crystal ball!

Put yourself in their shoes, how would you feel?

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Ironically, this is probably the one contracting question where you won't get a useful answer on here.

That is: how would we know? We're contractors.

Or have you assumed we all walked out of a permie role to be contractors?

How would you know? Well I assume that contractors are varied people some may have experience what I am going through now and some not. And I have a good relationship with my current company I don't want to leave them on bad terms because of references as well as wanting to leave in a professional way not in a fight. I am sure somebody might have been through this on the forum?

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Thats hardly going to leave on good terms now is it?

[RichardCranium]

Edit: removed 'cos it was a bit tuliptier than it needed to be.