New job and giving notice

[Newtobik]

Actually asking for a friend due to start a new job in a few weeks but actually hoping to get another offer that's more convenient to where she lives.
The new job contract says 8 weeks notice. Does anyone have any experience of how likely they would force that if she only works there a few weeks? She's really worried but can't afford to be out of work, so has accepted the job offer even though it's going to be hard to commute.

Depends on the job, but if she resigned after only a few weeks they'd probably agree to release her sooner - because frankly if you resign that soon you've just torpedoed any relationship with that employer.