When to quit work..

[adelashk]

There are a lot of already discussed threads about this but it seems like they all drift off in to other issues. So here is my situation, I need to eventually go back home and get my paperwork (visa, etc..) done. My proposed plan is to give a one month notice on April 1st and then spend May relocating to the other state. That will give me 2-2.5 months of chilling back home. I work as a software engineering at a large company in CA. Is a one month notice too early (or too late)? Would it hurt me in the future if I apply to PhD or another job that they see almost a 3 month gap of no productivity?

Thanks

[Gunner24]

The general rule is two weeks notice minimum. If you can give a month, then great. Will it hurt you to have a 3 month gap on your resume? Not necessarily. Could it? Sure. There's no way to know how an HR person/adcom/_____________ will interpret that. My guess would be you will be fine, 2 months isn't that bad...just don't tell them you were "chilling back home"...I'm sure you can figure out a way to frame it to where it makes you look good

[wtncffts]

I don't understand. Have you already been admitted to a PhD program and starting in September? If so, I think it's relatively common for people to spend the few months before matriculation 'chilling', just getting mentally prepared for grad school and such, or even travelling and whatnot. You're already admitted; that can't be taken away. If not, I'm kind of confused as to what you're asking. Why are you quitting your job?

[adelashk]

I don't understand. Have you already been admitted to a PhD program and starting in September? If so, I think it's relatively common for people to spend the few months before matriculation 'chilling', just getting mentally prepared for grad school and such, or even travelling and whatnot. You're already admitted; that can't be taken away. If not, I'm kind of confused as to what you're asking. Why are you quitting your job?

Starting grad school (Master's only) late August.

Edited March 6, 2011 by adelashk

[ZeChocMoose]

There are a lot of already discussed threads about this but it seems like they all drift off in to other issues. So here is my situation, I need to eventually go back home and get my paperwork (visa, etc..) done. My proposed plan is to give a one month notice on April 1st and then spend May relocating to the other state. That will give me 2-2.5 months of chilling back home. I work as a software engineering at a large company in CA. Is a one month notice too early (or too late)? Would it hurt me in the future if I apply to PhD or another job that they see almost a 3 month gap of no productivity?

Thanks

What is the norm at your job for giving notice? Have you seen other colleagues give notice? How long was their notice? How were they treated after they gave notice?

I would use my observations of my work place to decide how and when I gave notice. If no one has given notice since you have been there, what is your relationship with your boss? If you have a good working relationship and he/she is a reasonable individual, I would think 1 month or longer would be fine. If he/she has reacted badly to news of this nature, be prepared to leave immediately when you give notice.

Personally, I gave over one year notice that I was applying to PhD programs, but my boss was one of my LORs.

Good luck and congrats on your acceptance

[adelashk]

What is the norm at your job for giving notice? Have you seen other colleagues give notice? How long was their notice? How were they treated after they gave notice?

I would use my observations of my work place to decide how and when I gave notice. If no one has given notice since you have been there, what is your relationship with your boss? If you have a good working relationship and he/she is a reasonable individual, I would think 1 month or longer would be fine. If he/she has reacted badly to news of this nature, be prepared to leave immediately when you give notice.

Personally, I gave over one year notice that I was applying to PhD programs, but my boss was one of my LORs.

Good luck and congrats on your acceptance

That's very good advice, it also makes sense why I have seen very different answers when searching this forum for similar threads (when to quit work). Most people who left at my company gave a 10 day to 2 weeks notice. Maybe I should go for 3 weeks.

[Piparoo]

I'm in a similar situation. I'll be starting my PhD program in August. I have a position of leadership with my current employer and am trying to decide when to notify them. My predecessor gave 6 months notice, but she was retiring. The job will take quite a while to find a replacement because of its specialized nature and because of organizational bureaucracy, maybe 3-6 months. I'd like to give them advance notice of several months but I have a family and don't want to jeopardize our financial situation. Any advice?

[Katzenmusik]

I'm in a similar situation. I'll be starting my PhD program in August. I have a position of leadership with my current employer and am trying to decide when to notify them. My predecessor gave 6 months notice, but she was retiring. The job will take quite a while to find a replacement because of its specialized nature and because of organizational bureaucracy, maybe 3-6 months. I'd like to give them advance notice of several months but I have a family and don't want to jeopardize our financial situation. Any advice?

I was in a mid-level management position of high responsibility at my job before I left for grad school. I gave 6 weeks notice - enough time for them to conduct a job search and find a new person. If it will take 3 months minimum for them to find a replacement for you, and if you're feeling nice and generous, I might go with 3 months' notice.