Been offered a job in 3 months, when should I hand notice?

JBoyle4eva

Basically, if anyone's been reading the Sky Jobs thread, they'd have noticed I've been offered a job with them.

Got a call today to tell me I'm not starting until the 7th of January. No big deal, gives me plenty of time to save to move to Dublin to look for a place with the other half and I have my part-time job which will keep me going til then.

But that part-time job, what would be course of action now? I intend to stay there until the New Year, possibly working over Christmas (it's retail, loads of hours available over Christmas with our sale and such). Now, my employer knows nothing yet. Sky have said they'll be doing a reference check, and they're listed as a reference.

Should I inform them that I've provisionally been offered another job tomorrow before Sky get in touch? Or would informing them that I've got another job in 3 months and plan to stay with them for 2 months longer than the standard 4 week notice period leave them disliking me? I feel I should tell them, particularly as Sky informing them before I've told them may be of the utmost distaste.

Mr. Loverman

You probably shouldn't list your current employer as a reference, but because you have that means you have no choice but to tell them you will be leaving and to expect a reference check.

Normally people give a previous employer as a referee, and give whatever notice is required in their contract. If there is no contract you give the statutory minimum or if you are feeling nice, a bit longer.

sky2424

Ask sky to advise when they will be contacting employers about references. Im sure they get asked this all the time if a 3 month delay is standard. Then advise your employer a week before hand, no earlier. TBH if its retail, the timing will work out well for them and they should be OK. Januarys alot quieter anyway and if your working over the busy christmas period, it might actually suit them that your leaving in January!

edanto

Keep shtum until you've signed the contract with Sky. If they want to contact your current employer before you sign a contract, explain that it puts you in an awkward position and that the best options would be either to contact a previous employer or else to sign the Sky contract. Job offers are evaporating sometimes - several recent threads in this forum about it.

the_syco

JBoyle4eva wrote: »

Sky have said they'll be doing a reference check, and they're listed as a reference.

Next time ensure you have agreed with the reference before you use them as one, as they may say no.

I'm taking the Sky job is full time? If the current job asks why you're leaving, just say Sky offered you full time hours.

B.A._Baracus

To put it blunty, only a fool has loyalty to his job. As the job can all too often be quick enough to reduce your hours or let you go.

So keep absolutely quiet about your new sky job. Come 2nd of January (or when ever) just inform them you got a new job, thanks and goodbye. If sky ring up your current job for a reference? well sadly the cat's out of the bag. But that still doesnt mean you "got the job" right?

If you openly tell your current job you are leaving in 4 months you wouldnt be the first guy in history to get "phased out" as that deadline approaches. Doesnt always happen but it happens.

Its nice to be nice, op. But its better to look out for your own interests first

seamus

If your contract says four weeks then you are required to give them four weeks notice.

Outside of that it depends on your workplace, it's something only you can gauge. Some employers will appreciate having three months notice, as this gives them a lot of time to source a replacement and train them up before you leave.

Though if your position isn't exactly unique (i.e. any of your colleagues could fill your shoes in an instant), they might not wait the three months and insist that you're gone in four weeks, which would leave you out of work for two.

LeftBlank

JBoyle4eva wrote: »

Sky have said they'll be doing a reference check, and they're listed as a reference.

Did you ask for permission before putting them down as a reference?

If you didn't, I would not be surprised to see you gone after a month. (I presume the contract can be terminated by either party).

okiss

I would agree with a previous post that you have to put yourself first ahead of your employer.
You don't want to be out of work before Christmas or early in the new year.
I would give your present job a months notice once you have signed a work contract with Sky.
Don't do anything until you have a contract signed as there may be a delay on your job starting or the company could decide that they don't want you or only want you part time.

JBoyle4eva

Thanks everyone for your advice. Gonna stick my guns and say nothing until I need to give a month's notice. I'm only a sales consultant so as someone has said, my role would easily be filled by anyone so giving anymore notice than a month may mean early termination. Hopefully if they call for a reference, my manager takes it in their stride and just presumes I haven't been offered a job yet.

LeftBlank

JBoyle4eva wrote: »

Hopefully if they call for a reference, my manager takes it in their stride and just presumes I haven't been offered a job yet.

I think you are being a bit naive here - the vast majority of reference checks are done post job offer. Your manager will know that you've been offered a job, if they call.

JBoyle4eva

LeftBlank wrote: »

I think you are being a bit naive here - the vast majority of reference checks are done post job offer. Your manager will know that you've been offered a job, if they call.

If true, I'm honestly not pushed. They can approach me and ask, but until I sign my contract, I'm not gonna mention it.

Mr. Loverman

JBoyle4eva wrote: »

If true, I'm honestly not pushed. They can approach me and ask, but until I sign my contract, I'm not gonna mention it.

Could you contact the "new job" and give them a set of different references?

B.A._Baracus

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Could you contact the "new job" and give them a set of different references?

Would be a very bad move.
The person from Sky who is hiring the op would naturally think something happened in the current job. Which would reflect negitively onto the Op. Which could even cause Sky to ring up the place or ... or worse yet, create an assumption about the op and retract the offer of employment.

Cedrus

LeftBlank wrote: »

I think you are being a bit naive here - the vast majority of reference checks are done post job offer. Your manager will know that you've been offered a job, if they call.

I'm not sure it's the OP being naive here, what would be the point of doing a reference check AFTER the job is offered. Stable doors and bolting horses spring to mind.

Any manager worth their salt will know that a reference call means that the employee is out looking and that they've made through the prelimiaries, but a job offer is still not a certainty.

Mr. Loverman

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

Would be a very bad move.
The person from Sky who is hiring the op would naturally think something happened in the current job. Which would reflect negitively onto the Op. Which could even cause Sky to ring up the place or ... or worse yet, create an assumption about the op and retract the offer of employment.

I disagree. As an interviewer I would think it is odd the interviewer is giving me a reference from his current job. If he later rang me to say "actually I'd rather not use my current job, here's two other references instead" I would be OK with it as it makes sense to me.

But we don't have to agree...

Cedrus

Sky / Abtran can be a bit arrogant about references, they insist on contacting your current employer and seem to regard it as their absolute right and a lack of commitment on the prospectve employee's part if they have any (legitimate) reservations. TBH my 2 interview experiences with them would not tempt me back and I'm happy to be too old for them, If the interviews were anything to go by I feel it would be a very bullying workplace which may be why they only tend to employ young inexperienced people who've known no better.

B.A._Baracus

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

I disagree. As an interviewer I would think it is odd the interviewer is giving me a reference from his current job. If he later rang me to say "actually I'd rather not use my current job, here's two other references instead" I would be OK with it as it makes sense to me.

But we don't have to agree...

You arent the one who offered the job to the op, tho