'The Ideal Time You Are Available To Start Work' During Interview

If you are asked by your prospective employer during an interview that when you will be available to start work. Please what is the ideal time to give them? I think 3 days to a week is ok in other to tidy up things with your current employer. Telling them you are available to start work immediately means your not showing enough courtesy (Personal opinion)

lets heear from d eexpeerts first

For me, I tink it depends on what u r doing at that point in time. For instance, if u r a fresh graduate there is no point saying two weeks wen dia is absolutely no reason u shldnt resume the day after d interview. On the other hand, if u hv a job, u could ask for a few days but not more than a week to tidy things up in your present place of work. I almost lost a job when I said I needed two weeks before I could resume. The coy felt I was asking 4 too much n may b I was a bit proud n gues wat happened? After the two weeks I asked for, my resumption was delayed for another 4 weeks cuz sumone had to resume immediately in d position where I asked 4 two weeks n I had to wait until dia was an opening elsewhere.

If you are doing nothing, tell them you don't mind starting right away. That shows how serious you are. That is my opinion anyway.

Hi my people,
The best answer to that question is NOW provided you are a fresh graduate without any job at that moment.

But if you are currently working , you can tell them that you would have loved to start NOW but they should please give you some days to do your proper handing over.

Then, you have pushed the question to them again, they can now say we give you so, so days. What do you think about that? Check it out. Cheers!!!!!!!!!!

talking from the perspective of a worker:
1) you have a minimum notice you are typically required to give your employer.
2) if you are 'available to start immediately' then you ust not be that importanat in the place you're working
3) if you're 'available to start immediately' you risk portraying the impression that you're not professional. there is no
way you won't have

good range of advice, people. little things like this really count. i always say ASAP because at that point, i'm most likely desperately looking for a job and didnt have one prior to it. so i just say i can start right away because there's no need to "sort anything out" with my "other job". 

Well, if you are currently umemployed then you should be able to start ASAP, but if you are working with another employer 2weeks will be the apprpriate response. This time will give your present employer time to find a replacement for your positionand probably you can even train the person to take over from you. If your to-be employer cannot wait for 2wks then you should wonder what kind of employer they are, at least that's how it is in the U.S.

Question: When can you start?

Answer: When do you want me to start? Whether they say immediately or not, it is a courtesy to give at least 2 weeks. That way, you (if you are working) have the chance to leave your present employers on a good note. Technically though, just as your employers aren't obligated to give you advance notice before they let you go, you are under no obligation to give them any advance notice either. It's simply a matter of courtesy.

You never burn your bridges because chances are that you will cross that same bridge again.

Just to add to what has been said:

If you are working, there is normally a clause in your letter of appointment that will stipulate the period of notice to give when you are leaving. In its place however you may need to do some payment in lieu.

If you are asked that simple question this is how to go about it.

"In as much as I would have loved to join you early enough, there is a need for me to give a Bleep months as contained in my letter of appointment. Besides, due to the sensitivity of my functions, there is a need for me to put somebody through, so that my exit will not negatively affect the company.

However, if you want me to resume early enough, all I need to do if to fasten the process of handing over and pay for the remaining period"

There are some points from the above statements:

1. You are given an impression of a responsible employee, who understand and abides by the rule of the game.
2. You are also saying that you are very much essential in your present place of work. Not a desperado.
3. You are confirming your interest to joining them even if it takes parting with some money
4. You are also indirectly assuring this would-be employer that you will not leave them unceremoniuosly, should you find another job in the future.

For a company that is serious and "desperately" needs your service, she may volunteer to do the payment in lieu on your behalf.

In all, one must be very observant of the reason for the question.

Erm I can start after my vacation mate!  

spora:

Just to add to what has been said:

If you are working, there is normally a clause in your letter of appointment that will stipulate the period of notice to give when you are leaving. In its place however you may need to do some payment in lieu.

If you are asked that simple question this is how to go about it.

"In as much as I would have loved to join you early enough, there is a need for me to give a Bleep months as contained in my letter of appointment. Besides, due to the sensitivity of my functions, there is a need for me to put somebody through, so that my exit will not negatively affect the company.

However, if you want me to resume early enough, all I need to do if to fasten the process of handing over and pay for the remaining period"

There are some points from the above statements:

1. You are given an impression of a responsible employee, who understand and abides by the rule of the game.
2. You are also saying that you are very much essential in your present place of work. Not a desperado.
3. You are confirming your interest to joining them even if it takes parting with some money
4. You are also indirectly assuring this would-be employer that you will not leave them unceremoniuosly, should you find another job in the future.

For a company that is serious and "desperately" needs your service, she may volunteer to do the payment in lieu on your behalf.

In all, one must be very observant of the reason for the question.

@ Everyone, Spora said it all. I am currently working and my terms of employment says that I am mandated to give my employer a minimium of 1 month should I decide to leave the company or pay them 1 month salary in lieu of notice. Same thing apllies to the company too.It is therefore not possible for me to leave without fullfiling those conditions otherwise I risk losing out on some of my benefits and besides like spora said I would have inadvatently sent the wrong message to my would be employer.
Truth is Spora said everything that should be said.

If u re not have any special plan for the week,I think u can start immdtly orelse a wik is enough !!

Telling them you are available to start work immediately doesnt sound bad nor desperate but i guess its the way its said !
LIKE YOU CAN SAY :

"iam available at you convenience"

wow how about that! lol

sketch

here in the UK, u are allowed to give upto 3 months notice period before commencing a job with ur new employer. It's called a "notice period" to allow u prepare urself mentally and phsically for the job. It also allows u apply for a resignation from ur employer as most employers require 1 month notice. Besides u also need time to do some little research on ur new employers and have ur last minute travels and holidays consumed/spent cos u aint allowed to go on holidays (leave as it's called in 9ja) 4 the first 3 months when u resume work. Though the earliest u can be called to take up employment is a week after ur interview.

Good talk @ Spora.

What goes round comes around. When you are facing a panel of interviewers, they are (kind of) assessing how you wil ditch them someday. Just as it won't be OK to diss your current employer when interviewing for a new job, it is not OK to tell your employers to be that you are willing to start tomorrow when they are aware that you are still engaged with another company. It is not pride or humility. It is called responsibility.

If you are willing and able to start ASAP, you better explain to them how and why you are able to do it e.g. Im on vacation and I don't have anything else to hand over, so I'll convert it to the one month's notice.

Cheers

@ spora
They interviewer is either asking to know how desperate or ethical you are.

Spora said it all. you don't give your prospective employer the impression dat you are too desperate. You've got to let dem know dat u're also important in your present place of work. There are always clauses in your appointment letter that states the condition(s) necessary for your dis-engagement.
Also the position you hold in your organisation matters. I won't expect a working accountant to say that he will resume work in a new place as soon as possible or even in the next 2 weeks.

If u do not have a job presently, i believe a week is okay.

If u have a job, try to honour your employment contract (it might make your interviewer think highly of you). In some cases questions like 'if your employer does not get a replacement for you by the time u are ready to leave, what will you do?' (for critical positions) : say u might need to stay longer for your employer to get someone but that you are confident they will get someone before that time. Some Interviewers want you immediately, and they would tell you straight up (we want you in 2weeks). If the pay is good, i am sure there are ways to play with ur employment contract. Most contracts will state a month notice or a month salary in lieu of notice.

N.B. Employment contract doesn't mean that you are doing a "contract job"

it all depends on what u r doing @ that period of time. if u r a fresh graduate or is currently out of work, desperately looking 4 a job, i think u should start immediately. on the other hand, if u r still employed, as an experiended person, the right thing  do is to tell ur new employer that u need a month to resume, in other to give ur former employer a months notice, or u will forgo ur salary 4 dat month,that's the normal thing to do in an organised organisation.

saying u will start immediately does not mean anything it shows u r enthusiastic and serious about ur work.as for me i tell them as asoon as the job is available then u start preparin for the neccessary things u think is important. xxxx

well from experience, the last job interview i went for, i was asked same question and i was sincere with the interviewer. i told her i needed to give a 4 weeks notice to my present employer, i further asked her if that was okay by her. she said she would have loved it if i could start within the next 2 weeks.
so, i told her i was going to see how things would work out. she called and gave me the job and i sent in my notice asking that the 4 weeks be used as my annual vacation.

most times, the employer understands that the notice period is usually 4 weeks and they really dont mind. be sincere with the employer and if yo nailed the interview, the interviewer will be willing to keep the job for you

ASAP - that will impress your employer, they'll think that they can control you and that's what most employers want. [CONTROL]

Please do anybody have Geoplex drilleq oil and gas Lmt test question, I have a test to write with them tomorrow, please help is urgent.

kendo4us1:
Please do anybody have Geoplex drilleq oil and gas Lmt test question, I have a test to write with them tomorrow, please help is urgent.

How was the test? What's the combination?