More importantly, let your potential NEW employer contact your old one. If you gave two weeks notice, you have no shame. Business is business and your boss SHOULD understand if you left for better pay or better future or whatever (provided you didnt leave b/c you slept with his wife).

 

Give some kind of notice. I never gave 2 weeks, but I gave what was sufficient time for them to find a replacement for the job I was leaving. Hardees's and FoodLion both got a few days, since they had cut my hours to maybe 1-2 nights a week So I gave them notice just before one of my 5 day weekends

My last job I hated with all my ability. Still gave them notice. . .a little over a week. I just chilled out in the back and got paid to chat. I kinda wished they'd let me go, but they needed me to train my replacement, and teacher doesn't work he teaches

 

as an employer and employee I agree

 

I've never viewed the 2-week notice as being a hard fast rule. I don't see employers giving their employees a 2-week lay-off notice. Of course they have thier reasons

 

Not quite right in Oregon. You give 48 hours notice and they must pay at the end of the 48 hours notice. Quit without notice and they have 5 business days to pay. If they don't pay by this time, they must continue to pay, up to 8 hours/day 5 day week, until they do cut the check - whether you work or not - for a 30 day max. The State will be after the Employer long before this 30 day period is up, however....

When I look at an app, I look at the time worked and progression. If I see 3 - 10 years worked someplace and smell a no notice quit at the interview, it's not quite the same as someone that jumps jobs every six months.

I worked at my last job for 8 years and quit without notice on my hire date anniversary. In a way, I did give notice though. At the 5 year point I told the boss my expectations. By the six year point the changes hadn't been made, so I literally told him to consider me a free agent. I'd be gone at the first hint of a better deal. Then the company fell on hard times due to things out of the bosses control, so I stuck around for a couple years and helped pull thing out - while at the same time finding and training a replacement. Still didn't get my 3 weeks vacation pay, (I had 360 hours of sick time that would have been fun to use... "I still have a slight cold, call back in two or three weeks").

I look at it like I work for myself, even if I'm an employee. I'm upfront about it. If the guy signing the check has a problem with my performance, I'll make it better or go someplace else. The place I'm at now came in a couple grand a year under what I feel the job is worth. I told them I'll give them a year and see. I'm having fun, so it's working out.

If you have to ask if you should work your two weeks, you probably should.

 

Two weeks notice is the least you should do. Some professions require even more, four weeks, six weeks, 2 months, even six months. Yes, some employers will escort you out the door 2 minutes after giving notice, but shame on them. Don't do the same thing. Don't burn any bridges. It might not be just the company owner or your direct supervisor that forms an opinion about you, it might be someone who else who ends up being at another company some day and recalls how you handled your resignation...a company you may wish to work for.

 

Thanks for the info, folks.

Now, dare I ask about what to include in a cover letter?

 

How about this?

I quit.

 

I used to believe in giving some notice, but it started to look like more and more that when I saw others give notice they were escorted out the door. So a lot depends on what you have seen happen before. If you still want to give notice be prepared to not have a income for a week or two then.

 

Ok,

About question 1.

Will your employer give you a two weeks notice if they are going to let you go? If the answer is yes, then give them a two weeks notice.

About question 2.

Yes, they can call your employer. They can only ask if you work there, they aren't supposed to say who they are with, or what they want. Your current employer is only capable of saying yes, or no to that question, no more, no less.