OT: Leaving employment, what can go wrong?

I ask the FOAK the following, as I'm sure some of you will have had
similar experiences.

I handed my notice in this week, and due to various factors I have an
inkling things aren't as they should be. Obviously I'd rather not

You'll have to be a bit more specific than that...

discuss detail in a public forum, but I think it'll be prudent to be
prepared for the worst.

What do you think might happen that's concerning you?

What are the problems I could face, and what should I do to protect

ex-boss, armed with a shotgun.

myself? Any advice will be helpful - I've not been in this situation

ninja shuriken and a Knox back-protector.

before, and if this goes pete tong I'll take the shine of the new

you've never handed in notice before?

I've never handed my notice in.

everyone knows you're weird.

Neither have I.

whilst I can understand why some people don't do it, I like to change
what I do for a living reasonably often, and this is mostly more
easily done by changing employer. My current lot has been slightly

I get the three year itch. I never seem to leave a job doing the same
kind of work as when I started, but I seem to get sick of the employer
faster than I get sick of the work.

I tend to leave because my current employers aren't making the
technological choices that I would have done (yes, I know, this is
extremely arrogant and presumptive). Similarly to you, I tend to move
every 2-4 years. I've been at the current place just over 3 years now,
and the urge to find something else is rearing it's head. I'll
probably give them another year at least though, because I'm very
happy with this year's training schedule.

I seem to last an average of 5....

I've also found that, when looking at CVs, people who stick with the
same job for 6+ years at a time are less attractive than ones who chop
and change a little more often - the latter tend to have broader
experience and skills and (other than the "can I spend an hour in a pub
with this person" test) that's what really counts.

Irritatingly, I find myself largely in agreement with you.

different insofar as I'm now doing something very different from what
I was doing when I started. The only way I could keep on with this
trend at the same place would be to move out of IT completely, and I'm
not ready for that yet.

The common factor between Paul and me is the railways (admittedly his is
of the dirty toy sort).

dirty toy sort?? There is more of the underground above ground than in
tunnel as well you know.

I know we're in the minority having stuck with the same employer for (and
I'm guessing for Paul) nearly two decades; to be honest even that's now

You would be correct - 19 years this July.

changing: Father/Son drivers (or any other grade for that matter) are
very unusual now and the loyalty to the industry is no longer really
there.

Can't say I am that surprised given that the industry now consists of
hundreds of little pieces.

"... a piece of history".

Just to add some balance - I've worked in IT all my life, and had 18
years continuous service when I was made redundant last summer.

Admittedly, I'd worked for 7 different companies in those 18 years,
but I can't help it if everyone wants a piece of me.

Last time I handed in my notice was a bar job at uni when I was
graduating.

In the 7 years since then I've only been ever made redundant.

So is this (another) internal move?

No, this is the first external move.

Make sure you've got the job offer in writing ;-)

Doesn't mean much. SO had a job offer in writing and they changed the
T&Cs afterwards, and they're trying to get her to sign the new offer,
even though they have her signature on the first one.

Has she actually started the job, or still in the "waiting to start
phase" as I would have thought it's not unusual for a contract to
change - perhaps even as soon as a few days after the previous one.

I'm thinking more of the situation where you hand in your notice and
then the other company decides they don't want you for the job after
all...

In fact, get as far as receiving a printed copy of the contract, if that's
possible. Doesn't protect you any more, but useful for you to be able to
check for any "gotchas"

Having spoken to you now it sounds like it's the right thing to leave,
and you should stop worrying.

Cheers - you've helped ease my mind a lot. I'll be back to celebrating
again tomorrow.

Here's that page I was on about.. lots of other useful info on the site
too...

position somewhat.

Give me a ring on the mobile if you like.. Happy to give you the benefit
of things I've seen happen.

Noted. I'll give you a bell when I get chance this afternoon.

Well the first step is usually to post under an assumed name.....

In your world, are people often called "Christofire"?

Almost as many as are called "Cab"

It's not exactly different from his real name, though.