I feel really really bad :(

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should make it very clear to the vet clinic folks that your current situation will require a full two weeks between when they formally offer you the job and when you will be able to start. You need to give this family at least two weeks notice, and the vet clinic folks should understand and respect that; it seems pretty standard among those of us who are not accustomed to burning every bridge we've ever walked across.

I agree with this advice.

I'm an MB and if you came to me and told me everything you said above I would understand. I would, of course, be really distraught at losing you and having to start over, but I would understand.

Don't give notice until you're absolutely sure about the new gig, do make it clear to them that you have to give at least two weeks to your current employer (and tell them why - if they sat on your application for a month before acting they need to be prepared to have lost you or have to work with you. By the way, it might be a red flag that they waited so long - so don't put all your eggs into this basket necessarily.)

Put your own needs first, but act with as much consideration and professionalism as possible.

You're actually in a great spot - you have a good job now and an exciting prospect. That's all good for you. It just may take some finesse and care to manage it all well.

Good luck!

I'm the PP quoted above (original PP I guess), and just for the record I'm a nanny as well.

I really agree with the bolded part here above. I think one of two things likely happened:
1. They were so disorganized (red flag!) that it took them over a month (!) to even get back to applicants.
OR
2. They hired someone else initially, who after just a couple weeks on the job already left! There are two possibilities to consider in this case:
a) Maybe that person was just a bad fit and was fired, but they hired that (hypothetical) person before even bothering to contact you, so he/she must have had some big advantage over you on paper (more education? Experience?), so if that person ended up not being cut out for the job, then how can you be so confident that you, possibly with less education or experience, ARE cut out for this job?
b) the other option is that this (hypothetical) person quit, which leads to the conclusions that he/she likely quit for a good reason (hostile work environment? Poor leadership? Overall unpleasant working conditions?).

Especially since you've told us how much you like this family you're working with now, you need to consider these things. It would be pretty awful if you quit with inadequate notice, only for this vet job to not work out. If you at least give them proper notice, you're keeping the option open that they might (possibly) consider rehiring you if your new job doesn't work out (and their new nanny doesn't as well?). Also you run the risk of this new family retaliating by leaving you a bad review (on care.com, sittercity, neighborhood listserv, nanny agency, etc) if they feel that you wronged them by leaving without giving proper notice, which is a valid complaint, and again, if the vet job doesn't work out and you're trying to find a new NF to work with, it will be exponentially harder if you have any negative feedback anywhere.

I agree with 23:17: commit to giving two weeks. They WILL understand. You are extremely unlikely to lose this opportunity for just asking for a two week lead time. If they pressure you and say they can't do that, then that is yet another RED FLAG!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should make it very clear to the vet clinic folks that your current situation will require a full two weeks between when they formally offer you the job and when you will be able to start. You need to give this family at least two weeks notice, and the vet clinic folks should understand and respect that; it seems pretty standard among those of us who are not accustomed to burning every bridge we've ever walked across.

I agree with this advice.

I'm an MB and if you came to me and told me everything you said above I would understand. I would, of course, be really distraught at losing you and having to start over, but I would understand.

Don't give notice until you're absolutely sure about the new gig, do make it clear to them that you have to give at least two weeks to your current employer (and tell them why - if they sat on your application for a month before acting they need to be prepared to have lost you or have to work with you. By the way, it might be a red flag that they waited so long - so don't put all your eggs into this basket necessarily.)

Put your own needs first, but act with as much consideration and professionalism as possible.

You're actually in a great spot - you have a good job now and an exciting prospect. That's all good for you. It just may take some finesse and care to manage it all well.

Good luck!

I'm the PP quoted above (original PP I guess), and just for the record I'm a nanny as well.

I really agree with the bolded part here above. I think one of two things likely happened:
1. They were so disorganized (red flag!) that it took them over a month (!) to even get back to applicants.
OR
2. They hired someone else initially, who after just a couple weeks on the job already left! There are two possibilities to consider in this case:
a) Maybe that person was just a bad fit and was fired, but they hired that (hypothetical) person before even bothering to contact you, so he/she must have had some big advantage over you on paper (more education? Experience?), so if that person ended up not being cut out for the job, then how can you be so confident that you, possibly with less education or experience, ARE cut out for this job?
b) the other option is that this (hypothetical) person quit, which leads to the conclusions that he/she likely quit for a good reason (hostile work environment? Poor leadership? Overall unpleasant working conditions?).

Especially since you've told us how much you like this family you're working with now, you need to consider these things. It would be pretty awful if you quit with inadequate notice, only for this vet job to not work out. If you at least give them proper notice, you're keeping the option open that they might (possibly) consider rehiring you if your new job doesn't work out (and their new nanny doesn't as well?). Also you run the risk of this new family retaliating by leaving you a bad review (on care.com, sittercity, neighborhood listserv, nanny agency, etc) if they feel that you wronged them by leaving without giving proper notice, which is a valid complaint, and again, if the vet job doesn't work out and you're trying to find a new NF to work with, it will be exponentially harder if you have any negative feedback anywhere.

I agree with 23:17: commit to giving two weeks. They WILL understand. You are extremely unlikely to lose this opportunity for just asking for a two week lead time. If they pressure you and say they can't do that, then that is yet another RED FLAG!

OP here and thank you for your advice. A lot of good points! I guess I'm not too worried that I may be their second choice, jobs don't work out for all kinds of reasons. The person may have had an issue with being on time to work. I researched the clinic extensively and found many good reviews on the establishment. I even found several glassdoor.com reviews from happy current employers. The vet clinic website lists all current employers and they have all been there for at least two years or longer, which I think is a good sign. I really do like the family I'm working for, but I've become so burnt out on nannying that if I have a chance to move on, I really want to take it. I am going to try hard to get the two weeks.

[Anonymous]

Interview is in a couple hours, wish me luck!!!!