How and when to tell your boss

**AstroMedic** · 22-02-2010, 06:21 PM

So it's real now. I have an offer, which is great news, but it means I have to face up to the reality of it all!

Among many issues I've got to sort out is how and when to tell my boss. To summarise my situation:

- I don't hate my job
- My boss is very supportive and a lovely bloke
- I only joined the company late last year, having gone through a tough set of interviews in which I had to describe extensively why I wanted the job, & why they should have me, etc.
- the company I work for is very small and would feel the impact of my departure.
- my current job is very specialised, but has nothing to do with people or medicine

So, mainly I am feeling very guilty about abandoning my job and have no idea how I should go about giving my notice in a professional but kind way?

Also, when do u tell them? Too soon and it could make the rest of your time here very difficult. Too late and it would be very unfair for them (especially in a field that is so specialised, where there are shortages of skilled workers).

I would really appreciate any advice!

**Chwirkytheappleboy** · 22-02-2010, 06:39 PM

Heh, I'm in exactly the same situation as you (very similar job situation, same course, same Uni, same UKCAT even

).

I'm planning on being selfish to be honest. The simple fact of the matter is, I need to keep my job up until I start Uni. Therefore I will inform my boss and hand in my notice 1 month before I leave, as per my contract. I really like my company, and the people there, but at the end of the day I can't risk having problems before September (such as being made redundant...), so I'm keeping quiet until the point where I'm completely safe

**goldhawkgonk** · 22-02-2010, 06:49 PM

I'm also wondering this. My situation is a little different as I've been at my organisation 3.5years s there's a bit less guilt to feel.

My views:
- A company legally cannot fire you/make you redunant on saying you're going to leave. The worst they can do is make you leave the premises immediately, but they'll still have to pay you for the duration of your notice period.
- If you're in a small organisation, your impact is going to be felt more and my feeling is that it'd make their lives easier to tell them earlier than later, especially if you have specialised knowledge. It means they have time to appoint a suitable sucessor and manage a transition.

My feeling is: if you get on well with your boss, put yourself in their shoes: when would you like your employee to tell you? I think that giving the minimum time may leave them with a bitter taste as you could have saved them headaches (as you knew for so long) from speaking earlier. Also, you are going off to study medicine, I think a manager might treat that more favourably than buggering off to travel (I know I would)

Another point: managers won't really remember/know when Unis send out notices, so if you held onto mentioing it for a few more months, until say May, might improve your job security til Sept if you were REALLY concerned.

**Chwirkytheappleboy** · 22-02-2010, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by goldhawkgonk

The worst they can do is make you leave the premises immediately, but they'll still have to pay you for the duration of your notice period.

This is precisely the problem. I don't want to leave until September. If I tell them now, and they pay me for my 1 month notice period, that leaves me without a job for 6 months before Uni.

I'm fairly certain I'll stick with my original plan

**AstroMedic** · 22-02-2010, 08:11 PM

- If you're in a small organisation, your impact is going to be felt more and my feeling is that it'd make their lives easier to tell them earlier than later, especially if you have specialised knowledge. It means they have time to appoint a suitable sucessor and manage a transition.

I agree that it's much fairer to let them know in advance, especially considering the length of recruitment process I had. Hmmm.... But I'm still not going to say anything just yet. Still getting used to the idea of doing medicine myself!

Everything I've done to get this job, and I go and get my 'calling' to do medicine...!

Am I mad? Probably!

**goldhawkgonk** · 22-02-2010, 10:30 PM

Yeah, I think it just really depends on your employer. It's never the easiest conversation.... especially if youve shown ccommittment in the past and it's slightly coming out of the blue. I've entirely hidden my medicine ambitions (just to hold onto my job and also make myself not look too stupid if it all went butt over breast) but I get on very well with the organisation I work for, I'd be suprised if they turfed me out immediately - although I'm sure some other companies would.

**millietwigg** · 22-02-2010, 11:11 PM

I have the same problem. I really enjoy my current job but I have only been doing it for 9 months. It's a specialist area and could take a while to find a replacement. I went through a tough process to get the job and really had to sell myself and my dedication to the field to get it.
Originally, I was thinking of letting my boss know straight away but I am worried about how I will be treated if I was to do that. If I was going to lose my job, I'm not sure that my employer would give me more than the required notice so I have been thinking about giving 2 months notice instead to help them out and not get ignored for too long. Plus, if I give too much notice, I'm not sure if that would affect bonus payments which I will really need given that I have been offered a place for a 5 year course.

**Jolt** · 23-02-2010, 03:38 AM

Tell them right away that you plan on leaving in September because you have been given this chance. You employer will (should) respect your honesty and be grateful for you letting them know 6 months in advance so they can comfortably recruit to fill your position and you can assist in training up the new person.

The contractual minimum notice term is just that, a minimum. The more time you can give your employer the better it is for them. It's very unlikely they're going to ask you to leave after a month if you wish to stay longer if you are a good employee.

Leaving it until exactly a month before your course starts and then informing them would seem calculating and possibly a little dishonest. If you did respect your employer I don't think you'd want to leave them with that impression of you.

**khaa9666** · 23-02-2010, 02:40 PM

I told my boss a few weeks ago when i found out. My contract at my current location was due to expire the Friday just gone, but they've extended it for another 6 months, taking me right up to the start of September. So maybe have faith in human nature, being straight with people and telling them what you want and how you can accomodate each other to the best mutual benefit and take it from there. If not there's always mcdonalds.

**FlippertyJibberts** · 23-02-2010, 02:42 PM

It is a really tricky one - I've decided to wait until 2 months before, Kings start on 1st Sept, so I have planned to say the beginning of July. I only have to give 1 months notice, but have worked for the company for 7 years so feel I should give more notice. I know however, with the industry I am in, there is a chance they may just ask me to leave....I suppose each case is different, and I know I feel bad having conversations about what I'll be doing in September when I won't be there, but I need the money to be able to fund myself through med school.

Not telling people is difficult, i'm so excited I want to shout it from the roof tops! But the next 4 years is going to be expensive, I've only just finished paying off my student loans from first time around!

Spin Doc you're in a difficult situation...brilliant to have an offer but not knowing whether it would be this year or next that you have to leave your job...Hopefully by Aug St Georges will have let you know either way? Did they say it could be later than that?