To want to negotiate my notice period

[SecondStarOnTheRight]

Not sure where to post this.

I'm wanting to hand in my notice but I have a longer than normal notice period and I'm worried this might be off putting for prospective jobs.

Has anyone else had a long notice period and been able to negotiate a shorter period?

To clarify I'm not in a senior position currently.

How long is your notice period now?

I've negotiated mine down before, or if not possible I've strategically used holiday.

The problem is that you can't negotiate before you hand in your notice because that'll be giving the game away. Likewise, you cant commit to a shorter notice period with a new employer without firming up with your existing employer.

Catch 22. However, if you're not in a senior role and your notice period is longer than 3 months, then I'd be sounding out my peers to see if theirs are shorter and use that as a jumping off point. However you approach the conversation with HR/your manager you'll be setting off alarm bells!

If your notice period is 3 months, many employers will be used to this so I'd crack on applying for roles.

It depends a lot on the type of position you hold, the ease of recruitment and whether you have holiday due too, you could take that to leave earlier.

I have 3 months, not because I'm senior but because it's going to take at least a month or 2 to recruit and I need a month overlap because it's an unusual and specific job that is unique to us

Usually you just wait to resign. So if you have a month's notice, you don’t resign until you're a month away from the time you want to leave.

Its quite normal to have a 3mo notice period and you won't be disadvantaged by that compared to other candidates.

Oh, I misread. You have a longer than usual notice period, not you want a longer notice period. Sorry.

In my recent experience, 3 months is quite common these days. You might be able to negotiate, but it's not guaranteed. A previous colleague was made to work his full 3 months because our manager was a git. It was hard to keep motivated, especially as he'd done most of his handover in 6 weeks.

If you can show the old employer why it would be useful to them for you to go earlier, that will help.

What are you classing as "longer than usual"? 3 months is very common now. 6 months less so, but not unheard of if the position is somewhat senior/niche.

I hadn't realised three months was common. I know it is in some industries but I'm used to 4 weeks.

Yes it's three months period I will have. My employer is aware that I'm planning to leave as its in part for health reasons and they've been made aware of my situation. But for that reason as well, the sooner I leave it would be better for me.

I can't use holiday to shorten the period as it runs by calendar year, so I would only have a few days leave at most by the time I would be leaving with three months.

The job I've applied for is one that I would expect to be busy around the Christmas period and although there is no start date on the advert, I'm a bit worried they'll be asking for someone to start by then.

In uk statory notice is 1 week if worked 2mths to 2 years
after that it’s 1 week for every year up to 12 weeks

Negotiate OP.

People do it all the time - and three months isn’t reasonable for a non-senior role IMO.

I’d tell them you are leaving for health reasons, and therefore the three month period will not work for you - and you would like a one month period and see what they say.

They are unlikely to force you to stay if they think you’re not going to actually be good at the job… that’s why so many people end up on gardening leave.

A one month period is plenty for them to find a replacement.

I’m in a very similar situation to you! I am in a senior position and my manager shot her self in the foot by not making accommodations on health grounds, which puts me in a stronger position to negotiate. It has been agreed I can have a shorter notice period. I think this is fairly standard and can at least be discussed, oftentimes it can be mutually convenient. Good luck!

Thanks everyone. I havent been offered a new job as yet but it's made me feel I can ask for a negotiation. I would have resigned before now but I didn't want to do so without another job lined up.

There's quite a large team who would be able to cover me so wouldn't be a case of having no cover.

I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed for the job I'm hoping for!

I've negotiated 3 months down to 1, and 1 to immediate, before.

Senior manager. Generally speaking, as soon as someone has handed in their notice I'd like them to leave. So I never have a problem negotiating their notice period down and letting them go once they have handed over work quickly.

Less likely when you have a small team and need to recruit to replace. But part of a bigger team, not usually an issue.

Three months seems to be very common now. If you have any holiday owed you can use that so you physically leave earlier. Your tax would be weird for a bit but would sort itself out. Or just ask to be released early.

It depends on the industry. If you senior it will be expected that you have a long notice period though or a no notice compete. How long is your notice?

My notice is three months and it's not a senior position.