Quit prior to background check?

I am on a small FI team and we are currently running really thin in terms of staff (if I quit they will be fairly fucked for a month or so). I’ve been here around a year and recently got a much better offer from a different bank for a more interesting product. I have signed the written offer and am now just waiting on background check. 

The other team would like me to start ASAP and my boss has been trying to pull me in on various projects/initiatives that have a 1 month+ timeline. I am really tired of this team and want to go ahead and put in my 2 weeks now but am a bit afraid to do so without the background check complete (I have 0 to worry about in my background but still). The other reason I want to is that while I’m tired of the team I’d still like to give them as much notice as possible, and some of the stuff they want to pull me in on is going to take up resources that will ultimately be wasted. I feel if I don’t go ahead and put in my notice then I’ll leave on worse terms than if I end up waiting to do it since I’ll be wasting some of their time etc. 

Anyone have any thoughts? Am I just jumping the gun wanting to put my notice in now or does it actually make sense?

5 Comments
 

Just went through a similar situation. Ended up giving two weeks on the dot. Felt bad so I worked hard to finish most of the projects I was on. Regarding taking on more, I’d schedule a quick two day break or something unless you could get your pto paid out. It’s a way to stay away from new projects for a day or two I found.

I wouldn’t sweat it. Good luck

 

Did you have a background check component? And did you give notice prior to this? I am thinking since it is a competitor they might ask me to leave right away but since we are already so thin I am not 100%. I am actually taking vacation with family in a week which throws another wrench into everything, and I am thinking I need to do it before then due to other team’s timeline.

 

The initial background check from my old firm took 2.5 weeks and I basically had to provide all the info which was dumb. New firm’s took like 1 week. I told a fellow colleague who I was close with like 2 days before official notice. Was up and out 16 days after everything was clear from new firm. Non-competes are a thing so double check your initial one if you have it. They let me finish my projects and we did a last day happy hour too.

 

Don't quit until the fat lady sings.  Until everything in the hiring process is green, green, green; don't count your chickens.  I understand not wanting to burn bridges, but hey, that's what happens during your career.  If they valued you, as much as you to them, you probably wouldn't be looking to leave.  Look out for yourself first and give your current employer what you can. 

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