Random thoughts...

[Dave1442397]

I'm in the home stretch in landing a new job. Next week is a semi formal dinner with a regional manager and a few other division heads. Process started back in early June and I've cleared most the hurdles, passed a screening, and two formal interviews. I'm pretty confident this dinner is only to make sure I'm a good culture fit so, fingers crossed, we get along well and are on the same page with personalities and expectations.

I'm pretty anxious for the new opportunity but also for leaving a company that I've been with for over a decade. I'm dreading turning in my notice as I know peoples feelings will be hurt. Everyone there thinks I'm retiring with them.

Has anyone been in this position and could offer any advice? My notice game plan is to be matter of fact, non emotional, and not get buried in the weeds when they ask, why.

Side question. What is an appropriate notice for the professional level? 3 weeks? 4 weeks? I really have no idea.

Congrats (hopefully) on the new job!

As for your old company, all you have to say is that you need to do what's best for you and your family. No one is irreplaceable - you'll soon be a fond memory, and someone else will do your old job.
Why you're leaving is none of their business, really. You can say you've been headhunted for an opportunity you can't pass up, and it's time to make the move.

I'd say notice depends on what you do that no one else knows how to do, and how long it would take to pass that knowledge along. Could be the standard two weeks, could be four, but you know that better than anyone.
At my company, any one at VP level is required to give four weeks notice, but that's not a particularly high level (next one up from me).

[dannyboy121070]

I'm in the home stretch in landing a new job. Next week is a semi formal dinner with a regional manager and a few other division heads. Process started back in early June and I've cleared most the hurdles, passed a screening, and two formal interviews. I'm pretty confident this dinner is only to make sure I'm a good culture fit so, fingers crossed, we get along well and are on the same page with personalities and expectations.

I'm pretty anxious for the new opportunity but also for leaving a company that I've been with for over a decade. I'm dreading turning in my notice as I know peoples feelings will be hurt. Everyone there thinks I'm retiring with them.

Has anyone been in this position and could offer any advice? My notice game plan is to be matter of fact, non emotional, and not get buried in the weeds when they ask, why.

Side question. What is an appropriate notice for the professional level? 3 weeks? 4 weeks? I really have no idea.

Hey, best of luck with the dinner! Fingers crossed for you.

I've been at my new job for close to a year (Tuesday will be the anniversary), after being at my previous job for close to two decades. I gave two weeks notice...I just wanted out, and two was the minimum notice you could give and still get paid all of your sick and vacation time. I had a lot of reasons to go, and wondered if I should air my grievances with the practice owner when we met, but I just wanted out...I told him why I felt it was time to go, he asked me what they could do to get me to stay, I told him that it was just time for me to go, we shook hands, and I was gone. Twenty years, and none of the owners, administrators, or managers signed my goodbye card, or chipped in on the farewell gift. By the time my two weeks was up, most of the staff that I had been with for years had also quit, most with no notice, just leaving one night, and not coming back the next day.

Not thrilled with my new job, but I work from home, am basically left alone, and from what I hear, the old place has gone to hell since I left. I think that, if I had stayed, I would probably have been dead by now from the stress.

[Ben Staad]

Thank you for the replies. I needed that bit of moral support and advice.

I know the old place will move along just fine without me, they will change what they are doing, and maybe it will be better for that organization. I'm the only one that does my job however, the owner, will probably fill my position when I leave until they hire someone else. I've known him for over 20 years so I'm sure he will not be pleased.

I need somewhere I can grow, earn more, and have options when I get closer to retirement.