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Ask the Recruiter

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Joe Grimm
Joe Grimm, visiting journalist at the Michigan State University School of Journalism, tackles the toughest career questions.
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About a hundred of the greatest Ask the Recruiter questions and answers, as well as advice from a dozen experts in newspapers, TV, radio and online news, are in the book "The Best of Ask the Recruiter."


Is Two-Week Notice Enough?
At a relatively young age (under 30), I find myself in a key editing spot on the metro desk at a sizable newspaper (120,000 daily). Trouble is, I am leaving and I am not sure how much notice to give.

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My boss has told me before how "outraged" he is when key reporters "only" give two weeks. I do not want to burn him as a reference or, worse, leave the paper in the lurch. But I also do not want to put myself in an awkward situation in which I've given too much notice. I have only been here two-and-a-half years, and I feel like they might be angry when I tell them. If it helps, I am not going to another paper. Thanks.

Ready to Go

A two-week notice is appropriate and acceptable.

Joe Grimm
Joe Grimm
Two weeks is never really enough, but it has become the standard compromise between helping the new employer fill a position and giving the former employer a chance to crank up the hiring machine.

If you can give your former employer an extra week, that's great, but I would not do it at the risk of inconveniencing my new boss. Once you have moved on, it will not really matter if your old boss is outraged. You are not doing anything wrong.
Coming Monday: There are no foreign-reporting jobs at this newspaper and few at any others. That has this reporter stymied.


Posted by Joe Grimm at 12:00 AM on Apr. 27, 2007
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