Christmas temp job

[flavourcucumber]

I struggled to find work for the 3 months after I finished my postgrad degree in September - so from November last year I got a minimum wage job in a supermarket. I hate it. It's demoralising that that's all I could get with 3 degrees. I've suffered with depression.

I was interviewed on Friday for a relevant and good role in my industry and was offered the role on the spot. CEO wants a meeting this coming week, with a view to start role at the end of the week.

I am on a lot of hours in the supermarket this week to cover holiday. I am aware that it will look awful to just quit and give no notice, and it's a headache for the people involved in management as it's quite a small shop and not many people in.

My contract is only 12 hours, but I am doing something like 35 this week coming.

I really want/need this job and I am so excited, I just don't know what to do about the supermarket! I can reasonably work tomorrow, but the meeting is likely Weds.

AIBU to just go in tomorrow and quit and give no notice? Will I still get paid for the last 2 weeks' work?

Or should I tell the CEO I have to work notice? The meeting can't be re-arranged. He told me to just quit and not go back.

As awful as it is I would just work tomorrow and quit so they have a days notice to fill your other shifts.

You can't risk sabotaging this new good job!! Congrats

Ok - have you got the new job offer in writing?
If not, wait...
Go to the meeting and when you have everything confirmed then quit.
Also did the CEO say not to work your notice? That is disrespectful of him - how would react when you want to take the next step in your career and don't give him notice?
You could hand in your notice, after receiving a job offer in writing (read the contract 're the notice period they require...) and then work your 12 contracted hours over the weekend. You keep your integrity, you have done the right thing and you get your dream job.

Don't quit a job without a formal job offer.
In writing.

I would explain you will have to take the Wednesday off. Warn them you may need to quit, and then quit once you have a written job offer not before.
It's a temp job so no huge obligation to them but you need to protect your own position till everything is certain.

Also, before meeting the CEO try and reframe your thoughts about your minimum wage job. I would expect someone to be able to talk about the positives they have gained from the job (customer service etc) and to not think that any job was "beneath them".

@NeverTwerkNaked

I've not said it's beneath me at all.

But, I am overqualified for the role obviously.

Not so sure there is such a thing as being overqualified. That's usually used by employers to justify not employing people they think will leave soon or want too much money.

I agree with pp's - do not leave your current role until you have your job offer in writing.

What does your contract at the supermarket say about notice?

It wouldn't be unreasonable to say to the CEO that you are already committed to your work at the supermarket this week (and that it's a particularly difficult week to be swapping shifts), and so you can't start until next week, in fairness to your current employer (and possibly because your contract won't allow you to). He ought to understand, and he's lucky to be getting someone able to start that quickly. Have a look at your timings for this week, and ask if he's able to work the meeting around those, and perhaps offer to try and get a swap if not.

I agree with PP not to quit anything until you have a firm concrete job offer. Realistically I can't see how you could formally start a job as quickly as this week because usually an employer needs to get references / draft a contract etc first before you start (and I'd always advice getting a contract before starting somewhere).

I wouldn't normally say this but go sick on the day you have the meeting with the CEO. If you get a firm and concrete job offer following this just politely explain to your current manager that you are genuinely sorry but will need to leave at short notice as you can't turn this job opportunity down and it's an immediate start. They might not be very happy but you can't miss this chance. Given it's a Christmas temp job you must be finishing fairly soon anyway?

Go to the meeting but don’t hand your notice in just yet as you don’t have a contract and the new job sounds a bit suspect to me. The CEO hired you on the spot and is happy for you to leave your previous job with no notice?

Part of me thinks it’s great you’ve got your foot on the ladder but another part tells me you’re so desperate you’re not seeing the red flags that this will not be a great company to work for.

Get your foot in the door and start looking for another job as ‘maverick’ bosses are usually arseholes.

Or should I tell the CEO I have to work notice? The meeting can't be re-arranged. He told me to just quit and not go back

This is ringing alarm bells with me. If he tells you to do things like that, how does he treat his employees?
I certainly wouldn't be rushing into handing in your notice until you have a written offer of employment. And then discuss with the suoermarket to work out your notice at weekends.

Give it no mind at all.
The only good thing about working for a large company on crap wages is that you can quit when you want.
Because, rest-assured, they will let you go in a heartbeat if it suits them.
Don't let anything get in the way of you doing your new job. People quit all the time. They'll manage. They have contingency plans for this.
They could, in theory, try to withhold some of your wages in lieu of notice, but I doubt they would
Congratulations. What a great way to start a new year

Get the job offer in writing first, then quit. Well done on the new job OP!

This is ringing alarm bells with me. If he tells you to do things like that, how does he treat his employees?

My thought too.

Once you had an official offer letter and confirmed start date, quit the other job. They will replace you in no time so don't even worry about it

Can't you call in sick?

I can't imagine any decent CEO encouraging you to ghost a job, or pressuring you to start with just a few days' notice. It would be a big red flag for me as to how he runs the company tbh.