Potential new employer doesn't want to wait my notice period

Izzy8484

Hi all,

I need some urgent advice.

I had a couple of interviews at a company I liked.

However, my problem is the following:

They said they really liked me etc. however, my salary requirements were too high (say 5k higher than what they offer).

They said what really bothers them though is that they need someone to start immediately and I have a two months notice period (I am mid-senior level).

They said they could offer me closer to what I asked for if I can start sooner (the lowest figure I asked for, not the highest).

They already said in the interview that this is an urgent hire and expected me to have a 1 month notice period and not two.

I feel this is some type of blackmail. I would leave my current employer in the lurch because I speak a language no one else does and risk my integrity altogether. My notice period would definitely not negotiable plus I do not want to talk to my employer on this conditional offer alone. I feel that if they are difficult about this, what else would they be difficult about.

What are your thoughts on this?

kaflinkle

In the interview, didn't the notice period come up? Most, if not all interviews I've been on, someone has asked this.

Anyway, that's irrelevant now but from what you have stated, it looks to me you have not much choice but to stay in your current job unless you want to breach your notice period, which I wouldn't do personally.

Saying that though, I know people who have done this and they seem to be okay.

Out of curiosity, what language do you speak that no one else in the firm does?

Izzy8484

Yes the notice period came up in the interview and I could see their faces drop. They expected that I had 1 month at most.

I do not want to out myself but a language that is not too outrageous in terms of available people that speak it in the UK yet some companies have problems hiring someone with it, mainly because the industry is quite specialised. My current employer has two clients that require this language.

HappyMJ

Izzy8484 wrote: »

Hi all,

I need some urgent advice.

I had a couple of interviews at a company I liked.

However, my problem is the following:

They said they really liked me etc. however, my salary requirements were too high (say 5k higher than what they offer).

They said what really bothers them though is that they need someone to start immediately and I have a two months notice period (I am mid-senior level).

They said they could offer me closer to what I asked for if I can start sooner (the lowest figure I asked for, not the highest).

They already said in the interview that this is an urgent hire and expected me to have a 1 month notice period and not two.

I feel this is some type of blackmail. I would leave my current employer in the lurch because I speak a language no one else does and risk my integrity altogether. My notice period would definitely not negotiable plus I do not want to talk to my employer on this conditional offer alone. I feel that if they are difficult about this, what else would they be difficult about.

What are your thoughts on this?

Why 2 months notice? That's quite long notice. I would not have expected a potential employee to have such long notice either.

You can give one months notice but you will effectively be in breach of the contract and any losses incurred by your current employer can be recovered from you.

Re: the salary. Sorry but if they're not willing to pay what I'm asking they can look elsewhere. Not sure what percentage £5k is of the package value but to me for a full time position that would be about 10% and therefore be quite a lot. If it's just 1% or 2% I could let it go.

So...on this one...I'd thank them for the offer and keep looking.

Sagz_2

Have you any holiday days you can take to shorten the notice period?

Or you just have to weigh up the pros and cons of leaving your secure job for a lower paid new job.
Do you have dependants?
Can you cover mortgage / rent / general expenses?

Do you like living dangerously

bod1467

OP doesn't say the new job is lower paid than the current one; just that the new employer wasn't willing to offer the salary requested. (OP might have been asking for £10k more than current salary, so the £5k higher might still mean OP would get a £5k pay boost).

Izzy8484

Yes sorry I was not clear.

The lowest figure I asked is still 7 k higher than my current salary. If they meet me in the middle and not dead on the lowest figure I asked for, it is about 3-4K more, not that much

I based my requirements on all the job opportunities I have been approached for recently. I also know that my current employer does not pay me enough based on this. I do not want to trade like for like if you know what I mean.

pinkshoes

The urgency that the company have would set alarm bells ringing for me. Why is it so urgent? Why can they not wait? It can sometimes hint at an unorganised employer.

What is their staff turnover like?

Lots of jobs have 3 month notice periods!!

HappyMJ

Izzy8484 wrote: »

Yes sorry I was not clear.

The lowest figure I asked is still 7 k higher than my current salary. If they meet me in the middle and not dead on the lowest figure I asked for, it is about 2-3K more, not that much

I based my requirements on all the job opportunities I have been approached for recently. I also know that my current employer does not pay me enough based on this. I do not want to trade like for like if you know what I mean.

Then as long as you like where you're working, but for the money, I'd be talking to your current employer and asking for more money.

If you like living dangerously then if they refuse I'd hand in the required 2 months notice and then find another job. You might be out of work for a month or two depending on how you can time it. It's very dangerous if your budget can't handle a month or two with no pay but it could get you the £7k more than you get now.

It looks like you're in demand so I would go for it. You never know this opportunity might still be available in 2 months when you can offer to start straight away.

AylesburyDuck

I'd be going with my gut instinct on this, you were the only person there and able to comment, IF you thought it seemed like blackmail then it probably is.
Quite rightly you are already considering future behaviour from them, and this is even without starting.
Personally i'd not compromise my integrity, especially seeing as the money wouldnt even be quite to your likeing.
Edit, cross posted, i can now see salary although not perfect is better than current job.

shortcrust

Offering someone more money for an earlier start date is not blackmail.