3 month notice period

dunno12

Hi,

Just needed some general advice - basically, I'm on a 3 months notice period and I'm currently looking to move on. However, despite getting loads of calls from recruiters who are interested in my services, they're put off by the fact that I'm on a 3 month notice period which seems a bit extreme for a person at my level.

I've spoken to HR about it and they confirmed 3 months which is something that can't be negotiated down in my contract - I'm not sure if it's possible upon my resignation.

So that's situation I'm in at the moment. I want to move on but my notice period is holding me back. Do I risk it and resign without having a firm offer on the table or do I just stick it out until I find an employer who is willing to wait for the full 3 months.

Some advice would be fantastic!

Thank you

InsideInsurance

What notice period did others at your level have to give in practice when they left, particularly people with the same manager as you?

Its up to you if you are confident enough to resign now and hope to find a job in time or not.

3 months isnt uncommon in the line of work I used to do as a perm and so it was less of an issue but did mean that some jobs were simply going to be a non-starter as they needed someone yesterday.

The normal line to take is that you have a 3 months notice period but obviously this may be negotiable and you've known others to successfully negotiate it down (you dont have to name names or give what percentage had etc).

If you have worked there for over 2 years, are certain you will go as soon as you can and have a good relationship with your manager you could have a discussion with them about the prospects of shortening the notice. If you do this though you may be killing your future in the company and so not worth risking if you're only thinking about it.

dunno12

Most of the people who just left had to stay the full 3 months upon resignation and I believe I'm somewhat expected to do the same. Obviously I don't know for sure until I actually hand in my resignation.

I'm not too confident about getting a job despite the calls from recruitment agencies but I'm not sure what else I can do really. I want to move on and this 3 month notice period is taking me out of contention for jobs I'm really interested in.

I think i know the answer - Resignation, but I just wanted advice on whether this would be wise, whether in your experience it would be a good idea.

vroombroom

What's that I hear? You're very poorly and have been signed off for 3 months...?

;-)

Undervalued

vroombroom wrote: »

What's that I hear? You're very poorly and have been signed off for 3 months...?

;-)

Ah, committing fraud!

What wonderful advice. Hard to think of a better way of ending up without either job!

[Deleted User]

dunno12 wrote: »

Hi,

Just needed some general advice - basically, I'm on a 3 months notice period and I'm currently looking to move on. However, despite getting loads of calls from recruiters who are interested in my services, they're put off by the fact that I'm on a 3 month notice period which seems a bit extreme for a person at my level.

I've spoken to HR about it and they confirmed 3 months which is something that can't be negotiated down in my contract - I'm not sure if it's possible upon my resignation.

So that's situation I'm in at the moment. I want to move on but my notice period is holding me back. Do I risk it and resign without having a firm offer on the table or do I just stick it out until I find an employer who is willing to wait for the full 3 months.

Some advice would be fantastic!

Thank you

Sometimes things just can't be helped, I waited this time round specifically I thought to cover holiday and it's got worse (even after getting in an argument with new employer over it) as on going to resign then colleague walks in saying relative was dying, can't explain the awkwardness & unease - my heart sank it was hard enough as it was, keep calm knows how to pick her time, I hate leaving people in it but every time I try and be good it backfires spectacular

I think it is all in the timing, personally, it was strange how winter employers are likely to wait and accept longer notice periods whereas I've found in summer not so (possibly because of more hols etc to cover)

getmore4less

More likley the agents don't want to wait for their money and prefer to pout forward those with shorter notice.

when you say your level if 3months is common then emnplyers will wait forthe right person.

Review your job hunting stratagy.

The other thing with higher level/skilled jobs is that a lot are found through networking, tap into that and make sure your linked in profile is spot on for your line of work.

kwmlondon

The mistake you're making is that you're going to recruitment companies - don't give these people any attention whatsoever. If you apply for a job direct when you speak to the HR people at the company you're applying for they'll have no problem at all with your notice period, nor will your future employers. Recruitment agencies treat the people they are recruiting like s**t. They don't work for you, they work for the employer and just want someone in post as quickly as possible so they get their money, and they will lie to you, put pressure on you, bu*lls**t you, in short, do whatever they need to to get you or anyone else into that job as fast as they can.

Any people who interview you will be held to the same terms as you, most likely, and would never have any trouble dealing with a 3 month notice period as this is how they expect people to have to manage their jobs.

Seriously - don't worry about it, and don't take any notice of anything anyone from a recruitment company says to you. Remember, they have no interest in you or your career or your life and are working for someone else, being paid by someone else and your interests are of no concern to them whatsoever.

asajj

kwmlondon wrote: »

If you apply for a job direct when you speak to the HR people at the company you're applying for they'll have no problem at all with your notice period, nor will your future employers.

.

Some companies only recruit through agencies and you rarely call companies and ask for HR staff when you want to apply for a job.

Notice period is something that would be negoitated towards the end most of the times not when you are applying for a job anyway. Also if they need an immediate start, they may well have a problem with 3-months too.

What's that I hear? You're very poorly and have been signed off for 3 months...?

;-)

How ethical and grown up.

dunno12

"Some companies only recruit through agencies and you rarely call companies and ask for HR staff when you want to apply for a job."

This - I'm finding quite often these jobs that the recruitment agencies are looking to fill isn't advertised on their website. A couple of cases, despite me applying for the job directly through them, i get an email from a Recruitment Agency saying that the company passed on my CV to them so they can handle the initial screening.

I guess I'm going to have to wait it out for a couple of weeks and rethink my job searching technique but it feels like I'm in a difficult position at the moment where I have no choice but risk unemployment for a chance of a better future.

Thanks for the input!

*~Zephyr~*

asajj wrote: »

Some companies only recruit through agencies and you rarely call companies and ask for HR staff when you want to apply for a job.

Most companies recruit through agencies only because they have advertised in the paper / on their website / with Jobcentre/ on LinkedIn etc and received next to no response. Everyone seems to automatically sign up for an agency when they want a new job and never bother going down the traditional route of searching for themselves.

Agencies are the bane of my ruddy life. I've been actively looking for decent staff for 8 months now. Our website has the vacancies clearly displayed and the only direct applications I am receiving are from overseas.

You must remember that agencies will charge the employer anywhere between 15% and 20% of your starting salary just for introducing you. Many employers just cannot justify that as an expense for most of their staff.

If you are a £60k+ earner then an agency fee is definitely justified because of the searching they actually have to do to find a suitable candidate. But really, if you're looking for an average salary - anything less than £35k - you're much better off applying directly. No company in their right mind are going to ignore a good CV just because it came direct. They are not going to turn down the opportunity to save on the agency fee!

If you're looking, just make sure you have a fantastic CV and an outstanding covering/introductory letter. Research a few companies you specifically want to work for, ring their receptionist and, very nicely, ask them who is the best person to address your letter to, and then send it off in the post. On nice paper.