Self-study
Currently working at a company and job I enjoy. Decided that even though it pays well I know I need to do something in the law and preferably public interest related. My conundrum is when do I tell my manager that I'm quitting my job to go to law school?
The role I'm in is fairly complicated and required about 6 months of training to get it down. I was planning on letting her know maybe six months before I leave. I want to give her as much time to find and have me train someone but at the same time I could see them letting me go early and I need that income.
What should I do?
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10 comments
There is no point in telling them until you have a start date. Until then its all vapor. Dont waste their time or yours even thinking about it. politely id say how ever long training takes maybe is the metric you should go by for notification? Be prepared if they might let you go and if that is the case, then give them nothing and you can always state in any future interviews about what you went through there working in an environment with no set policies in place where your emplyment was at the whim of some other person.
Sounds terrible!
I usually give one month's notice at professional roles I've cared about. It's enough. Training your replacement isn't your burden — but you can leave behind notes or an outline that would help whoever comes next. No need to give six months of notice.
My friend and I were both tired at a previous job:
A(my friend)- sweetest person ever gave them notice , they change the locks and password 1 hr after she said this and claim she quit.
B( me)- I also plan to leave , but instead stack my pay check for rainy day, applied for another job, started MY OWN rumor I was leaving. It spread to the right person and they fired me so I can collect unemployment. Some states require you to be fired vs quit.
Long story short idk whatever suits you lol
reminder you're an at will employee unless you have a union contract- they can fire you at any time, for almost any reason. would your boss extend you a 6 months courtesy notice before laying you off, or god forbid, a firing? (sounds like no) i would let them know 2 weeks before if you want to preserve the relationship, if you don't care as much on the day of. especially since youre saying you need the money i would wait till the last possible minute. good luck!!! - signed a former union rep
@maydhak long live organized labor thanks for the advice!
Unless you are looking for a LOR from your manager, I would hold off until closer to when you'd actually plan on leaving. I appreciate you wanting to give them advanced notice, especially if you have a good relationship with your manager. However, the reality is that you run the risk that if your leadership knows you are leaving in 6 months, they will likely stop investing in you, considering you for promotions/raises, and could potentially look to replace you earlier than you're planning on leaving.
In a very similar situation
It is nice to tell them, but I have seen a lot of people be honest with their bosses and get punished for it. Seems like you're aware of the risks you're taking.
I have always told people, but in the back of my head I WAS thinking, "If they were going to fire me would they give me six months warning? Probably not."
If they're a good manager who has been consistent in having your back and is supportive of growth opportunities, then I would give them a heads up (maybe not 6 months in advance if you need the income and can't guarantee they won't let you go). It really just depends on how solid your working relationship is, your employer's staffing needs, and your comfortability with the risk of being let go with how many months in advance, you decide to tell them.
I think there are a few moving parts that make it complicated.. Is this manager someone you want writing a LOR? if so, asking for the LOR seems like a good time to share your plan. If not, you probably would want to wait until you've been admitted AND secured your seat before quitting. Once you're committed to start at a school, 3 months feels more than adequate to me (personally, I even think 1 month would be appropriate). Unless you're in some sort of high leadership position that would take up to 6 months to recruit and hire someone, I don't see any reason why you'd be expected to give that much notice.