Navigating Job Offers: Can I Request a 2-Month Notice Period After Quitting?

Hi, I've quit my current organization due to health reasons and I'm looking for 2-3 months to recover. I've started my job hunt now. In the organizations that I'm interviewing for, can I give the notice period as 2 months? Would that be accepted by the HR team even though I already quit my company last week? Or do I need to say I'm already available and need 2 months' time to take up the new offer? Thanks for any help.

Regards,
Priya

Why do you want to bluff? If you want to hunt for jobs right now, tell them the exact reason. Or you can begin your hunt for jobs maybe a week before you are actually ready to join. Given today's scenario, getting a job shouldn't be very difficult – but you haven't mentioned your skill/role. You can also then tell them the actual fact about your illness and that you are now OK to join a job – keep your medical reports handy too. Also, most companies usually prefer anyone who can join ASAP – you can bank on that aspect.

Regards,
TS

There is no motive to cheat here.

Does "Notice Period" essentially mean the time to get off from the current company, or the time that I would need to join the next company?

I didn't mean that your intention is to 'cheat'—which is a strong word, I should say. What I meant was that when you have a real and acceptable reason for the gap, why ask for time to join—indicating indirectly that it's the notice period?

Difference Between Notice Period and Time to Join

Coming to your query about the difference between Notice Period and Time to join, both are different but yet interlinked. The Notice Period is viewed from the current company's perspective, and Time-to-join is from the prospective company's perspective—unless you know the notice period, you can't commit the time to join the new company. That's all.

Regards,
TS

I agree with Sateesh. Give the actual reason for postponing your joining date. The new employer/company will definitely ask for the relieving letter or an experience certificate to be submitted, which will show your last date of working. At that point, instead of proving wrong, it's better to provide the correct data.

Regards,
Smita

Dear all,

Understanding the Notice Period Concept

The notice period concept exists to help both the employer and the employee. When an employee submits his or her resignation, the employer needs time to find a replacement and for the new hire to acclimatize to the job they will be taking over. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect a notice period for this transition.

Similarly, when an employer wants to terminate an employee, it is important to provide the employee with time to search for a new job within the given notice period. This allows for a smoother separation process.

In your case, you have already resigned. If you do not need extra time to recover, there may not be a need to delay joining your prospective employer further.

As Smita mentioned, submitting your relieving letter will expose you. As an HR professional, I am personally against individuals prolonging the process or manipulating it. It is best to be straightforward and transparent; most people appreciate that attitude.

Regards,
V. Balaji

First, think before you quit your present job. Then give the proper reason for the notice period when joining a new organization. You are the right person to make the decision.

Regards,
Halesh A S

There is one more angle to the situation; maybe she was asked to leave the job, and now she is trying to cover it up with her health aspect. In this situation, she needs to produce a justified excuse to convince her new employer. I know this is a very wild thought and an out-of-the-box approach but could be possible.

Regards,
Shakti