Dear Cindy – Giving Notice

I'm planning to quit my job. How much notice do I have to give?

Sincerely,

Planning My Exit

How much notice you have to give depends on your situation. Are you under contract? If so, then you should give as much notice as the contract stipulates – or else potentially be sucked into a morass of penalties and legal issues.

If you're not under contract, you still need to give reasonable notice. What constitutes reasonable notice can vary from job to job and/or employer to employer, but generally two to four weeks is fine. However, if you work in an area of critical need, or there are some other extenuating circumstances that would make the employer need/want more of your time, when possible, give more time.