I am a local authority development control planner and have worked within the public sector since graduating. I feel it's time for a change and tonight met with a planning consultant that is a 'one man band' looking to take on a new recruit.

Based on our discussion I feel there is a good possibility he might offer me the job but he seemed keen to have a 3-month notice period so that if I decided I wanted to leave he wouldn't find himself stuck with way more clients than he could handle. This seems like a long time to me as my current notice period is only 1 month at the Council. If I took the position on the basis of a 3-month period would that make me totally unemployable by other firms? In planning generally someone moves on to bigger and better things and then the company looks to replace so I'd have thought most of them just wouldn't consider me if I was 3-months away from starting.

And whilst I'm asking is there any pro's/con's to working for the one guy running his own consultancy?

 

He'll be using you to make money - but thats how it all works anyway.

3 months is ok, he would need 12 weeks to replace you probably?

Pete

 

No problem with him using me to make money - that's the idea as you say and above my base salary I'd get a percentage of the profits as an incentive to bring in business.

 

Most management positions are 3 months notice. Where I work at the moment, some of the testers are on 3 months notice!

As to the pros/cons working for a one-man-band, one of the cons is it may go bust. So you should factor that into your calculations (i.e. ask for more money, as you're taking more risk).

 

3 months notice period is quite a lot but on the other hand if you cannot avoid it make sure the employer has to give you 3 months notice as well! If he agrees to that and everything else is ok...go ahead!

 

Yeah he said it would work both ways which is good because I have no private sector experience so if he thought I was sinking rather than swimming (god I hope not) then I'd at least have a good period of time to find a mortgage payer

 

bro u might wanna check this to be sure, but as i understand it, a notice period is for YOUR protection, not your employers.

in other words, if u wanted to leave, u could just leave with no notice and all they could do is not pay u for that period of time despite u having a "3 month notice period".

of course, u probably wouldnt get such a good reference if u walked out.

 

Managers at my place are on 3 month notice periods.

 

Bear in mind, though, that if he serves notice that will be 3 months' basic pay, not any commission you're used to. So if you're on low basic + high commission, it won't work out to be that much money.

 

Mate...

Even if he asked you to work a years notice.....at least you'd be out your current job ...

Good luck

 

My Dad is on a 18 month notice period, how ever if you're employer or you wanted to part company it is widely accepted to agree T&C's.

Im on a 3 month notice, and will shortly be leaving and as mentioned above it is for your protection, I will be going in with an offer of 6 weeks.

 

The notice period doesn't have to be the same for both parties.
You could suggest you have to give him 3 months notice, & he to give you 6 months.

D

 

Kenny,

Its pretty normal in professional practice.

In reality, should you decide to move on, you will probably be able to negotiate downwards.

if he decides you are crap, though, you'll have three months on full pay to find another job.

Sounds like a win win to me.

Go for it, get a real job in the private sector

 

Yeah, you guys have convinced my 3-months isn't a problem and given one of hte biggest cons of this job would be lack of security having 3-months to get another job if he doesn't want me anymore would give me a degree of security