Advice appreciated on handing in my notice....UPDATE...I've done it!

Spud_2

I'm in a slightly delicate situation and am searching for a bit of guidance!

At the start of the new year I was out of work and looking for a job. Two job applications were progressing along together. 'Job X' was a consultancy firm, a very small set-up. 'Job Y' was a large corporate organisation. Both were through 2 different recruitment agencies.

Job X interviewed me first and were very quick off the mark as the day after my interview they offered me a job. I had yet to even take the initial assessment with Job Y at this stage. I therefore accepted Job X as I needed to start work quickly and obviously didn't know at that stage if Job Y would even come to anything.

I was going to forget about Job Y but the agency persuaded me to keep my options open. So after I had started Job X, I had an assessment and first interview with Job Y.

Job Y then came back with a 2nd interview and a job offer immediately afterwards. The offer is amazing and I am SO excited about this job!

Now, my predicament is that I have only been in Job X for 1 week and need to hand my notice in in another week's time. I am on a probationary period which fortunately only means 1 week notice required. I don't want to tell them that I have now had a better offer and am jumping ship, and the agency have strongly recommended I keep the fact I have a new job under wraps. I agree this could reflect badly and pee them off.

I am really unsure how to play this - I'm tempted to tell a white lie and say 'personal reasons' mean I need to hand my notice in so I don't need to divulge anything further. Alternatively I could say that after 2 weeks I feel the job isn't for me. The problem with the latter is that I think it's a bit of a weak argument as how can anyone really judge a job after such a short space of time?!?

I know I don't really owe them anything but I want to try and do the right thing as best as possible.

Any else been in this situation, or anyone have any thoughts? Thanks in advance.....:o

Savvy_Sue

You will pee off the agency you got the first job through, as well as the company you're now with. So my only advice would be to be very sure that the 2nd job really was 'the one' before doing this. Because if it's not, and 3 months down the line you're job hunting again, the first agency probably won't want to touch you with a bargepole.

As for giving reasons, you're not obliged to give any.

I think there is a site called "I resign" or something like that which almost certainly covers your circumstances! I stress I've never been there, so I'm hoping it's a genuinely helpful site rather than one suggesting you tell your manager to put his job somewhere unmentionable!

TAG

How about 'due to unforeseen circumstances'?

It's true isn't it!

Hope that helped.

Oldernotwiser

I wonder if your present company would be agonising half as much if they had found a better applicant for the post since you started working there?

I don't think that it really matters what reason you give or if, in fact, you need to give any reason at all. The agency doesn't want you to explain that you have another job because it may affect their relationship with this company in the future. As long as you approach things in a professional and businesslike attitude you can tell the truth or say that you feel the job is not for you (which is also the truth). "Personal reasons" is a cop out and could lead to repercussions in the future. It's also a lie.
Congratulations and good luck.

Spud_2

Savvy_Sue wrote:

So my only advice would be to be very sure that the 2nd job really was 'the one' before doing this. Because if it's not, and 3 months down the line you're job hunting again, the first agency probably won't want to touch you with a bargepole.

Thanks for your advice. There is definitely no contest between the two. Certainly in terms of renumeration, Y is over double X. There are benefits galore, and most importantly they are lovely people. Career wise it is a no brainer.

This job offer has made me feel on cloud nine ever since so I definitely don't have any doubts :beer: Just want to get this tricky situ out the way.

filigree_2

You might have to warn Company Y that due to the circumstances, Company X could write you a very snotty reference!

Good luck with the new job - just write a straightforward resignation letter and move on.

moggins

I'd just say that you;ve given it a try and found the job isn't right for you. That's not exactly telling a lie

withabix

If you're on a Probationary Period, then so is your employer. Tell them they were unsuitable!

They only pay you - they don't own you.

In this case, they don't pay you enough. End of story.

The Agency will be annoyed as they won't get their big fat 10-15% (minimum) of your annual salary as commission.

Spud_2

filigree wrote:

You might have to warn Company Y that due to the circumstances, Company X could write you a very snotty reference!

Good luck with the new job - just write a straightforward resignation letter and move on.

Thankfully that's not an issue - I have told Y I am in "a temporary arrangement with 1 week notice" and as Y had my CV prior to me accepting X job, they don't even know the name of the firm. They will go for a reference from my previous firm who I was with for 4.5 years. Hope that's not too confusing.......Phew!

Thanks for everyone's tips. I agree that a straightforward response is required and at the end of the day they won't be made up I'm leaving so soon, but business is business.

CFC

I think you'd be best off telling most of the truth, but altering it slightly so they don't get too upset. Along the lines of:

I went for the interview ages ago but they were unable to progress the candidates while they reviewed the job internally - gave up hope, and was offered this job and accepted it - other company has unexpectedly come back with an offer - don't mention the money, but play up the fact that it is your ultimate dream job and fits in 100% with your future career aspirations and apologise fulsomely for the inconvenience you have caused.

Any employer understands about jobs fitting in with future career aspirations, and it's so much more refined than talking about extra money

Astaroth

As others have said, you are under no obligation to inform them of a reason for handing in your notice even if common practice is to do so.

The natural concern you should have however is the fact you will have to put company X on your CV etc and with some companies (like my employers) we would not be willing to give you a job unless company X gave you a non-negative reference for your time there.

Of cause the other option is to be open with them, tell them about the offer you have had from company Y and see what their response is... they may be able to find you a better role/ increase salary etc.

Whilst benefits and job security can be better in a corporation -v- start up you should also consider promotion... in large corporations you often get people who have been in the same role for 10+ years and likely will still be in the same job in another 10+ years so your chances of getting their job is fairly slim where as a growing, young, dynamic company can give a lot of opportunity whilst they expand for people who have shown the potential in the early days.