Hate job, can’t get another due to notice

[MochaMad]

I hate my job. Been there since January and there are all kinds of issues which are engrained in the organisation and will never change. Mostly about inadequate training, constant firefighting and management disorganisation.

I’ve flagged up issues with my managers and they make a half-arsed attempt at listening and then nothing changes. Everyone moans about the same issues. Staff turnover / retention is awful. I do not feel motivated to try to change things and would rather leave quietly.

My contract was changed when I was confirmed in post at 6 months - to 2 months notice. Not really normal for an average admin job and I can’t really explain why this is the case without revealing where I work. Anyway - it’s a problem.

I have been applying for jobs since July and almost got two but the reason why I didn’t was the notice period. Someone else had same skills etc but was only on a month or less notice so they got the job. I have now been to 5 interviews.

Two colleagues have left in the last year without a job to go to and then they managed to find something within their two months notice. I can’t afford not to work and the thought of handing in my notice with nothing planned is rather scary.

I don’t know whether to just hand in my notice and hope for the best or just carry on looking for an employer who isn’t bothered about the notice period.

Make approaches to temping agencies in your area and see whether they will have anything short notice-they probably will. Hand in your notice, spend your remaining holiday days going to interviews, tell the agencies you will be available by a certain day, I'm sure they will get you something if you don't have anything by then.

Whst country are you based in? If in the UK, surely you can leave without working your notice. There will just be some kind of small penalty and they will be annoyed. You can quit and walk out that day. It sounds like the likelihood of a lawsuit against you is small due to the cost - this is assuming you're not in a high-powered role. Maybe time it so you leave the day after you've been paid? In practice, they might just refuse to pay you again:

https://www.slatergordon.co.uk/newsroom/can-i-walk-out-of-my-job-without-working-my-notice-period/

I would look at temping. As PP says sign up with some agencies, hand in your notice and keep applying for jobs. If nothing suitable has come up by time you leave you can get temp work until you find a permanent job.
Good luck

There is no way they would take you to court over this, for an administrator. I would just leave after a month of notice.

When does your annual leave run out? Is there a closed period over Christmas? Both of these things could reduce the time period for your notice.

I would really push job hunting in November. We have often waited until after Christmas for new starts because it's easier to get them going properly in January rather than have a few random days and then a gap and start all over again.

I would just find a new job and offer a months notice. What are they going to do about it?

I would put in writing your giving them a months notice and your leaving on x date.

You don't have to work your notice! It may affect your reference but if you explain to your prospective employer they should understand.

I am involved in lots of recruitment. Although I dislike longer notice periods, it has never been the deciding factor in making an offer. Maybe a contributory factor but not the sole one.

This.

For the right person, I've never known a company not be willing to wait.

Go on the bank team at a care home- pretty much pick any as the vast majority are understaffed. Or do a few. Alwats eirk available, work pretty much when you want half the time.

Just take the 2nd month as unpaid?

go on the sick. What kind of admin role requires a 2 month notice period? A month is the norm and even these days I’ve found that’s frowned upon lol

I had this, our company was bought out and they increased our notice period from 4 weeks to 12 weeks and recruitment agencies told me I wouldn’t even get interviews because no one would want to wait 3 months for an admin role. I spoke to a nice manager and he told me they wouldn’t hold me to a 3 month notice if I could prove the new job wouldn’t wait that long. I didn’t end up leaving but others have since and have either gone off “sick” once they handed their notice in or just left after 4 weeks, it’s not worth the cost to hold you to it and it would look really petty to other employees.

I’m in an admin role in higher education with an annual cycle of events, hence once confirmed in post (in theory fully trained by that point) they don’t let anyone go. My colleagues who have left this year all had to work the two months notice, only shortened by their untaken leave. I doubt they’d treat me any differently. It’s possible I can get it down to six weeks. But it’s still officially two months notice on the applications surely?

I have heard that people in other departments have gone off sick and then given notice. Never gone back. But I do worry about references and sickness records for a new employer.

The admin roles I’ve been applying for have all been in local government, many applicants and they’ve wanted someone to start in post ASAP. I had feedback twice that I’d done well at interview but someone else could start sooner.

Had another vile day at work today and I’m expecting tomorrow to be worse. Not sure at what point I’ll crack and have to take a sick/stress day.

I’ve a couple more applications in, so I’m going to try to keep my head together over the next few weeks and hope I get a job offer. But at some point I may just have to hand in my notice and hope for the best.

I like the temping idea and will investigate - haven’t been a temp ever. There might also be Christmas work I can find.

It’s awful that I took this job with the best of intentions and it’s turned out to be such a nightmare.

That's awful. DP and I both have THREE months notice! It suddenly went up in our latest jobs and it seems lots of other companies are doing the same.

So you may find it eases at some point as more companies adopt massive notice periods.

Thought it would be HE with that notice period. Given what you've said I doubt it would appeal to you to look for an internal job elsewhere in the same institution? Although you should be aware that different Departments/Schools/Colleges/Admin Sections can have really different cultures even within the same institution, they tend to love taking on internal candidates and often have policies to encourage this, and they will not be phased by their own notice period - so perhaps worth considering. If you are currently supporting in an arts department, say Eng Lit, try looking for a role in a science or engineering dept or vice versa. If you are working centrally in admissions, try for student pastoral support, or fundraising, or HR. Or move from a department to central admin - basically the biggest shift you can find!

Also, I have always known departments to be willing to negotiate on the notice period. If you are certain this is not the case, work out how much annual leave you are owed and deduct that from your notice period on your applications.

Finally, if you live somewhere with more than on HE institution in commuting distance - consider jumping ship that way. You will be attractive as already familiar with the HE sector, they will be used to the long notice periods and they are likely to pay better than local government. Again, different institutions can have really different cultures.

The NHS are crying out for good admin staff...you may be able to pick up some bank hours to tide you over. I would hand in my notice, something is bound to come up....unless you are on the breadline, no savings etc x

Stop telling them you have 2 month notice period, start saying it is 'negotiable' and then if you have to give 2 months, go off sick and take remaining leave and negotiate the end date to be brought forward, they will usually be happy to do so once you have handed your notice in.

I'm not liking my job. Managing people with no self motivation, 1 won't do as he's told. I find myself working more to make sure something doesn't slip. It makes me so angry, everyone knew there were issues in the team before I joined yet nothing was done. While I'm in probation it's a weeks notice. Once probation finishes it's 3 months notice. I cant afford to just leave and hope to find something.

This is more and more common, while I understand it gives employers more time to find a replacement I am not convinced that having an employee who is unhappy and unmotivated working for 3 months is worth it.

I know this is an oldish thread and hopefully you have already found something. If not, and this might sound a bit random, do you have prisons within commuting distance? The vetting process takes a while so they'll be fine with a two month notice period. They might need admin staff in general and also in their education and healthcare departments.

I would find a new job, give the two months notice period and then book any annual leave/ unpaid leave/ sick leave/ whatever. What are they going to do about it? Good luck z

How funny that this thread has been awoken…

it took me from July to last Monday to find a job. 8 interviews! Lots of tutting about the notice period… My new employer isn’t bothered because it’ll be just before Christmas so fresh start in January. So alls we’ll that ends well.

But it WAS an issue and in future I’ll not sign a contract like that.

Oh well done! So pleased it's worked out for you. Good luck in your new job!