The logistics of quitting a job with little or no notice

[Halfasianmomma]

I've been wanting a change of pace in my professional life for some time now. I've worked in a law firm for over a year and it's clear it's not for me. The work is not stimulating and boredom is my worst enemy.

I sent out my resumes several months ago for teaching jobs in various school boards near me. I've just started to get some nibbles (interview tomorrow, possibly another soon after), and it's been made clear to me that if I get a call from a school that wants to hire me, I'd have to make the leap FAST, like with 2 or 3 day's notice, because the school year is about to start. It's also possible that somewhere in September or October I'll be getting calls...from what I understand of the teaching world, there are often urgent needs at the last minute for extra classes etc. In whatever case, I'd have to switch jobs quickly.

I'm wondering if any of you have had to drop a job without giving a 2 weeks' notice, which I found out is a courtesy rather than a requirement. I'd feel bad for my boss if I had to take off without properly training my replacement, and though the job is boring, there are a lot of details to be made aware of...

What was the reaction you got from your former employer upon announcing a quick departure?

[HappyMommy2]

Well ... you would just have to accept that you are burning bridges with both the company and the people you work with. That means a shot to your network of contacts for future jobs and recommendations.

That being said, if a great opportunity knocks on the door, sometimes you just gotta answer!!

[Ellien C]

I don't think it means burning bridges - just make sure your duties are documented now. Maybe put together a book of what you do. I did this for both maternity leaves. Even if you gave 2 weeks notice, I doubt they would have had time to post the position, collect resumes, conduct interviews and get the paperwork to have someone in place before you left.

[JollyGG]

In situations like that I have been known to work the job I'm leaving part time for a set period of time. So perhaps every Sat. and one evening a week for 1 month or something like that.

Now I do only do this if I feel moved to do so. So basically if I liked where I worked and feel bad leaving them in a pickle I would try to help them make the transition as smooth as possible.

I also second the suggestion to have everything you can organized and documented. That way is someone else has to step in without alot of preparation they can do so more easily.

[MisaGoat]

What are the terms of your job arrangement? Do you have an 'at will' arrangement? Would you lose vacation/holiday pay if you don't give enough notice?

Since you don't really want to work in the law field anymore, your professional connections probably won't mean as much. Although, of course, you want good references. I think having your work organized in a manner that is easy to hand off to someone else and update them would make the transition easier. Try to wrap up tasks and involve other people in what you are doing so that if you were to stop coming in tomorrow they wouldn't be totally lost.

[Halfasianmomma]

Thank you for the suggestions!

I'm putting together a "HOW TO" file detailing all the tasks my job involves and stating the particular ways in which my boss likes to function. Hopefully that helps the next person.

Since this is a law firm, there are floaters available to help when the need arises, and we are structured in a team so the other assistants generally know my job, just not the particulars of my boss' files.

I don't really know about loss of vacation pay if I don't give notice...this has never happened to me before. FTR, I'd be switching from an administrative position to a teaching job, and seeing as the school year starts now, I'd only have a few days to give notice, which would suck for my boss. However, teaching jobs are hard to come by and it's in my interest to jump if someone offers me a full-time contract...

[Halfasianmomma]

Interview update

So, I'm REALLY lost right now after this morning's interview and I need some more input from you mamas. It was supposed to be "real short" but the principal of the school was so personable that we ended up going over. Just FTR, I got this interview solely because the mother of the guy I've been seeing, who is a school principal, *highly* recommended me. On that recommendation alone, the principal stated that he would hire me on the spot. The second thing I have going for me is that I'm a native French speaker and the job is for an English school board.

Now for the job:
It's to teach... French kindergarden! My degree specializes me to teach English and religion at the secondary level. I've never even considered kindergarden, but now that I think about it, it would be fantastic. No corrections to bring home. The prep work would be researching play activities to do with my class or cutting out pieces of cardboard for the kids. There's no prescribed curriculum so it's very open. The principal was very enthusiastic about my experience in dance and theatre and suggested I could bring my experience into the classroom.
The hours: 9:00 to 3:30.
The pay: not sure yet. Was told "about 40K"
Benefits paid 50% by the school board.

The cons:
The location...it's 22 miles from my home and would require either renting or buying a vehicle. That's a good 500$ extra a month. Also, I'd be travelling across the city in THE WORST traffic, probably 1 hr each way, so it's at least 2 hr of travel by car per day.
It's a contract...1 year preventative leave. If the teacher who is leaving ends up having an uneventful pregnancy, the contract renews itself for another year, BUT I'd have to reapply for it then, and seeing as I'm not in the priority pool, a more senior teacher could take the job from me next year.
It takes 2 contracts to get into that priority pool, after which time, you become eligible for tenure positions.

The pros:
A fun stimulating job (at long last) teaching kids that could eventually lead to a tenure position....
Summers off.
No corrections to do, unlike in secondary school. This part really concerned me, with DD being so little. She requires a lot of my attention right up until 8:30 when she's asleep. Doing corrections and lesson planning after that would be...an adjustment for me.

The BIGGEST con right now: it's to start on Monday. So I'd have to give notice at work tomorrow and then leave that day. That TOTALLY sucks and I'm not sure what the reaction will be. Probably horrid.

Input anyone??

The principal is going to call me this afternoon and will want an answer.

[_ktg_]

You have a list of pros/cons, and if you feel like this is your passion and desire to teach, I would say go for it!

Yes - you would be technically putting your boss in a lurch and that happens in the working world. OTOH - I would probably be rooting you on, if the job is your passion to do. As for the car - can you do public transportation at all or is that not possible?

You say you're lost, but I think the right word might be nervous to take such a leap of faith into a new career path which has been opened up for you.

GO FOR IT!!!

[doubledutch]

do it! you asked for it, here it is, so take it!

[*MamaJen*]

I would totally do it. Congratulations! You've been looking for something new for a while.
The job sounds great, but that commute does sound challenging. Any chance you could rent a place closer to the school?

[HappyMommy2]

I think you should go for it too. Grab an opportunity when you can. AFter all, there are lots of law firms and admin jobs around. This sounds so perfect for your background.

BUT - the commute sounds horrendous. Do you think you will be able to move?

You might want your little ones in a daycare near work so that you could at least have the car time together. And you would be close in case of emergency.

Also - I just wonder if your expectations of {"no corrections" = no after-hours work } are reasonable....?? Perhaps start a thread asking other kindy teachers if they feel they have little or no prep work as compared to teachers of other grades. I think teachers, in general, do a lot of stuff on their own time.

[texmati]

Originally Posted by HappyMommy2

Well ... you would just have to accept that you are burning bridges with both the company and the people you work with. That means a shot to your network of contacts for future jobs and recommendations.

That being said, if a great opportunity knocks on the door, sometimes you just gotta answer!!

Not necessarily-- I think it can be handled with grace. I like pp's suggestion of making sure your duties are well documented. I also think a firm but compassionate acknowledgment of the position you are leaving your management in would go a long way. You can also offer to work your tail of for the time you do have remaining to finish or at least leave your project in a manageable state.

[Halfasianmomma]

Minor non-update

The principal still hasn't made his decision but I'm assuming that I got passed over for the job.



Ah well.

At least I know that I really want to go back into teaching; I just need to figure out how to do that now.

[CarrieMF]

Also - I just wonder if your expectations of {"no corrections" = no after-hours work } are reasonable....?? Perhaps start a thread asking other kindy teachers if they feel they have little or no prep work as compared to teachers of other grades. I think teachers, in general, do a lot of stuff on their own time.

If he does offer the job I think you should take it but also consider this. No prescribed curriculum doesn't mean you won't have stuff to correct or mark at home. There will be work you bring home other than researching fun stuff & cutting cardboard. While corrections & marking stuff will not be as exentsive as it is in highschool there will still be stuff. If you have any kids on IEPs those take alot of work as does report card time.