Networking and Job Searching

[smilingcat]

Dear Froglegs,

Your intentions are well meaning. BUT MANY EMPLOYERS WILL ESCORT YOU OUT THE BUILDING ON THE SAME DAY!! If you are a key person, they might make a counter offer. If you say I'll think about it THEY WILL WALK YOU RIGHT OUT.

Like Tuckervill says, after you accept a new job, tell them it will be two weeks before you start then give your current employer a two week notice. Here in California, if you give a two week notice, your employer can still walk you out the same day; but, they have to pay you for the two weeks as if you were still employed. Not sure about the benefits like insurance.

I've seen people walked out after giving the two week notice.

So please please don't give them a heads up until your new position is secure. New employers don't mind if you take two or three weeks before starting.

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Dear Surgtech,

Never hurts to inquire about a position becoming fulltime.

smilingcat

[froglegs]

I've seen a few people in similar positions at my company do the very same thing - give warning that they were thinking about leaving. One had already made the decision to move away but had not found a job yet, one announced that he was leaving to go to grad school full time, and one actually had a job offer and told them he was contemplating it. All three were allowed to stay until it was time for them to leave (6 months in the case of grad school guy), and the one who was considering another offer was given a counteroffer by my company and ended up staying for another year. The job we do is extremely specialized and it takes many months to train someone to the point where they are useful, and right now the timing is such that if they didn't let me stay, the production schedule would be totally screwed up.

I have decided not to tell them because if the job I interviewed for doesn't work out, I have no idea how long it will be until I find one, and raise time is just around the corner. Grad school guy didn't get a raise because of his announcement.

I know people sometimes get walked out for doing what I was thinking about doing. I know people who it's happened to. I think it's even happened at my company, but I am pretty familiar with how things work in my dept and the people I work for, and I just don't think they would do it, especially considering that they haven't in the past. There would be no reason for them to except to punish me, and they would just be hurting themselves.

[surgtech1956]

I had my interview, went well. It was strange going on an interview - last time I had an interview was in 1994. I asked if the position would ever be full time - sounds like probably not, at least not anytime soon. They called and asked if I would want to shadow to see if I'd want the position. I decided its not really a job I wanted. It was in the Onocology Dept and was a Research Specialist - not really having a permanent desk/office, but working out of a Onocologist's office. Back to square one. I got a lead on another job that might be posted. We'll see. Anyways, I see my Orthopedic Surgeon on the 7th, I'm going to see if I can go back to my 'real job'.