Reply to: Resignation dilemma

[TheFaQQer]

Option 4 looks good in my case. But I am wondering what should I tell the recruiter/new client when he asks "What's your notice period?" or "Are you still working at xxxx?". I am contemplating one of these,

a). "I have a 2 months notice period which is negotiable."

b). Hide the fact about about my 2 month's notice period and say one of these
i. "My contract is getting over in a week's time and I am available immediately after that"
ii."I have a 1 month notice period which I can negotiate to 2 weeks."
iii."I am not working anywhere and immediately available for a new contract"

It depends ultimately on what you want to do if you find a contract and cannot negotiate to get out early. Are you going to walk from the first place and hope for no reprisals, or tell the new client that you lied to get your foot in the door?

Even the mere pursuit of other commercial opportunities, particularly if in an area that competes with an existing commitment, has landed contractors in trouble. Ignoring clauses and timeframes around termination can be equally damaging , as Andrew Gardener, senior divisional director of Reed Technology has seen.

“It’s really important that contractors check their notice period and ensure it’s accurate when making an application,” he explains.

Clients “like to be able to plan and will often be less than impressed to find that the person they thought could start work next week, can actually not begin until next month.

“Many [end-users]will not be able to wait around for this revised notice period as the nature of contract work often requires it to be done within tight deadlines.”

Linky

[kingcook]

b) iii. I am not working anywhere and immediately available for a new contract"

...is what i would do.

The client doesn't want to hear any if's or but's, or about any other problems you might have.

[Sid]

Your options seem to be

1) Resign now, wait a bit and then look for something else nearer to the end of your permie job.
2) Resign now, find something sooner, negotiate to leave permiedom sooner than planned.
3) Find a contract that will wait for you, and then resign.
4) Find a contract that will wait a little bit for you, resign, and negotiate the departure.
5) Find a contract that will not wait for you, resign and walk without giving the right notice.

With the exception of 3, they all have different risks.

1) You end up with nothing. If the market is booming for your skills, then you should have no problems finding something, though/
2) You end up with nothing in the two months of looking. Or, you find something, but cannot leave early - which means you either miss the contract or leave early (same as 4 really)
3) No risks, but unlikely to happen
4) Permie job won't let you go early, so you lose the contract or walk early.
5) Pisses off permie employer.

How small is your market? I've worked with the same few people a number of times, so pissing off someone who might then slate you to other potential clients is not a good idea.

All you can really do is try to be professional with everyone. When I made the leap, I was lucky and negotiated a much shorter notice period than was in my contract (helped by the contract being badly worded which meant that I could actually walk without giving notice).

Unless you are likely to find a decent contract quickly, I'm not sure I'd be walking from a permie role in this economic climate.

Option 4 looks good in my case. But I am wondering what should I tell the recruiter/new client when he asks "What's your notice period?" or "Are you still working at xxxx?". I am contemplating one of these,

a). "I have a 2 months notice period which is negotiable."

b). Hide the fact about about my 2 month's notice period and say one of these
i. "My contract is getting over in a week's time and I am available immediately after that"
ii."I have a 1 month notice period which I can negotiate to 2 weeks."
iii."I am not working anywhere and immediately available for a new contract"

[TheFaQQer]

I am on a permanent payroll with my agency and I want to change job asap. But my 2 months notice period clause is making my profile "unattractive" to recruitment agents whose clients always want the candidate "immediately on board". Should I resign first and look for a job offer so my availability becomes more and more "attractive" as I get closer to my employment end date;Or to be on the safe side wait for a job offer and then resign?
Advise pls!!

Your options seem to be

1) Resign now, wait a bit and then look for something else nearer to the end of your permie job.
2) Resign now, find something sooner, negotiate to leave permiedom sooner than planned.
3) Find a contract that will wait for you, and then resign.
4) Find a contract that will wait a little bit for you, resign, and negotiate the departure.
5) Find a contract that will not wait for you, resign and walk without giving the right notice.

With the exception of 3, they all have different risks.

1) You end up with nothing. If the market is booming for your skills, then you should have no problems finding something, though/
2) You end up with nothing in the two months of looking. Or, you find something, but cannot leave early - which means you either miss the contract or leave early (same as 4 really)
3) No risks, but unlikely to happen
4) Permie job won't let you go early, so you lose the contract or walk early.
5) Pisses off permie employer.

How small is your market? I've worked with the same few people a number of times, so pissing off someone who might then slate you to other potential clients is not a good idea.

All you can really do is try to be professional with everyone. When I made the leap, I was lucky and negotiated a much shorter notice period than was in my contract (helped by the contract being badly worded which meant that I could actually walk without giving notice).

Unless you are likely to find a decent contract quickly, I'm not sure I'd be walking from a permie role in this economic climate.

[northernladuk]

Professional Attitude was to be available for the paying client when they need you, there is no room for loyalty or emotion to your current permie employer

Don't agree sorry. That is mercenery attitude not professional. Professional attitude is to stand by agreements you signed in good faith (amongst other things) in this instance.

[SimonMac]

Hardly a professional attitude.

Professional Attitude was to be available for the paying client when they need you, there is no room for loyalty or emotion to your current permie employer

[d000hg]

If you got the stones resign but not give two months notice, what is the worse that they can do?

As a permie you can't be sued, reference may be an issue but if you go to HR for a reference rather than your line manger they may just give you a stock "worked from xxx to yyy and was titled zzz"

I agree with simonmac, iiwy I'd resign anyway, they're really not going to sue for breech of contract.

Hardly a professional attitude.

[MarillionFan]

I would also resign. I have gone contract to perm twice in the last 15 years when it has suited before resigning later and going back contracting.

Apart from my first time(which was a walkout), the one thing I have always ensured the last two times was to have surplas holiday(2 weeks on one, 3 weeks on the other). This can give you an option during your notice period to jump into a contract by using it up if the opportunity arises. If it doesn't arise the company has to pay you for that holiday and that goes a little way to providing you some financial cover while you look.

[The Spartan]

WHS I was quite lucky when I went for my first role as I hadn't long been in my new permie role and was still in the probationary period and therefore only had to give a weeks notice. Mind you though I was up against it in the sense that I landed the role about a week before my probation was up.

Make sure you're got some collateral to tide you over, I didn't and it is/was the biggest worry I have. Saying that if you skills are in demand you'll be fine

[d000hg]

If you do resign make sure that you are backed up with some cash, to keep you going.

Absolutely. Do NOT go this route if you depend on finding work immediately.

[Alphafemale]

I agree with simonmac, iiwy I'd resign anyway, they're really not going to sue for breech of contract.

[SimonMac]

If you got the stones resign but not give two months notice, what is the worse that they can do?

As a permie you can't be sued, reference may be an issue but if you go to HR for a reference rather than your line manger they may just give you a stock "worked from xxx to yyy and was titled zzz"

[sharper1]

I just made the move into contracting from a permanent position and also found my notice period counted against me so decided to risk it and resigned. I had savings to keep me going and landed my first contract after 3 weeks.

[rd409]

Agree with NLUK about not doing anything unprofessional as I want to keep good relation with my current agency for future references. So, would like to resign on good terms :-).
Most times recruiters ask if my notice period is negotiable.
What's the best way to negotiate the notice period with my agency for an early release? If personal reasons do not convince them and instead they ask me to compensate for a part of notice period should I negotiate with a prospective new employer to pay it off? Though I do not claim that my skillsets are unique and highly in demand!!

Most often the employers let the employees go early if they want, because no one prefers a bum on seat with 0 productivity. They would rather want a quick handover. Offer them flexible handover, and say you would be available to do handover to your replacement after you have left, if they are not able to find a quick cover. Of course this would have to suit you both, but then if you show some flexibility, the employer would hopefully be willing to compromise as well.

Last but not the least, do not forget: you are a permie right now. The company should not be able to ask you to compensate for any part of notice period. The only compensation they might have, is to not pay you the salary for unserved notice period. Good that you have started thinking as a contractor though.

Good luck.
Dave.

[BolshieBastard]

IMO, the market is pretty quiet right now. In fact, Id say it's very quiet.

I'd try a different approach for the time being such as;

If you are in a new leave year, try and save your leave and use that to offset the 2 months notice period.

Is it possible to renegotiate the 2 month's notice to 1 month or 4 weeks?

Leaving on 'good terms' is all well and good but you have to think of yourself. As a last resort, find your new job, give your notice and leave. OK you wont get a good reference but you are wanting to leave after all and quickly.