[gennatay]

I have a quick question.

I accepted the verbal offer for a new position and I emailed and returned the offer letter Friday. I go into the office Wednesday to sign a paper copy, do the drug test, fingerprint and sign papers for the background, educational and employment check. I know that all of these will come back fine. My start date is January 7th. At this point, does it really matter when I give my 2 week notice? I can give it tomorrow (Monday) and say my last day is December 31st. This give me a week off to be with family. Or I can give it after Wednesday and have just the weekend before I start. Help please!

[abacus]

Congrats on the offer. I had a similar dilemma. I called my recruiter and asked how long the background check typically takes and whether I would be notified when complete. It was a tricky situation because I worked for a current client and the firm notified my employer before they even extended the offer in order to preserve the business client relationship. She said that I was already being scheduled on clients and that unless there was something completely unexpected that warranted further conversation, it was already pretty much a done deal. I ended up giving my leave shortly after that conversation. My references still haven't heard from the firm, so I'm a little nervous, but I have been scheduling travel for training and just attended the holiday party and all seems to be in order.

I guess a lot of it depends on your current employer. If something happens and the offer is pulled, would they let you stay? I don't feel like the offer will be any more official Wednesday than Monday. You won't be able to give a full 2 weeks if you wait for the results to come back, so I say give your leave Monday. You could even have your last day be next Friday and still satisfy the 2 week requirement. Or you could work through 1/2 and get more holiday pay and still have some time off before you start.

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[gennatay]

I'm pretty sure they would let me come back, its a small department. but it would be awkward.

Thanks for your help. Its a government (city level) job and I heard that those background checks take a little longer to come back. So either way, I have to give my notice this week.

[musicamor]

As a professional courtesy to an employer, the minimum amount of notice you want to give is 2 weeks; that is standard for almost every job I can think of. There may be extenuating circumstances that prevent you from giving such a notice, but they should be extreme and uncommon.

With that said, I understand the predicament you both find yourselves in. I would caution to err on the side of professionalism no matter what course of action you take.

Congrats on the employment offers!

Texas CPA - licensed in 2012!!!

[Author]

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