I have been offered a role with a Big 4 in London but I have some doubts regarding the notice period, which is only 4 weeks.Do you think I might negotiate for a longer period or this is the standard practice?Many Thanks

highly unlikely, and you'll be sending an odd signal...

Standard practice. And why would you want a longer notice period? It'll just hinder you when you want to move to your next job.

thanks billum and anon.@ anon: longer notice just to have little bit of more security, just in case.

Asking for more would be a great way of letting them know you expect to get fired once they've had a chance to work with you.

If you really want to ask them for a longer notice period. You should say it's something to do with getting a mortgage (the securty aspect, I will get a better rate). Be aware most companie have a direct mapping from your grade to your notice period. Which means they probably won't do it.Anyway, this is ridiculous. You must be garbage haha.

Long John - is the notice period significantly less than you have in your current contract of employment? If so then I think you stand a good chance of flagging that this is a significant issue and you want it addressed before you sign. Consulting firms have over the last year lost loads of candidates they've made offers to because at the last moment the candidate has had a change of heart and decided that moving in the current environment is just too risky. I think you'd be on strong ground here to say that you have concerns about signing on those terms as it places all the risk of a change in the firm's fortunes at your doorstep.If your current contract is only 4 weeks then you're not on nearly such strong ground, although even in this instance I think you could make an argument that where you currently work you (I'm assuming) feel confident of remaining in employment whereas changing employer is exposing you to unnecessary risk that they should be prepared to mitigate for you.Firms are still struggling to make the hires they need to make (as they are mostly very specific hires they are looking for), so I wouldn't assume that just because the economy is in a poor state and there are lots of jobseekers out there that you aren't in quite a strong position now you've landed an offer.Tony RestellTop-Consultant.com

My notice period at my last job, corporate law firm, was two months so to me, four weeks is extremely short. However, it all depends on your future circumstances. If you decide to change jobs and you need to do it fast, shorter notice period will suit you better. Find out, if you can, if four weeks is standard practice in your company. If it isn't, definitely negotiation if you feel more secure with longer notice period. Good luck.

Congrats!Longer notice period will make it more difficult to move jobs going forward. I would stick with the 4 weeks to start with, then when you know the job is definitely for you, and you have plans to stay long-term, perhaps try to re-negotiate it during your annual review.Jimmiewww.itbodies.co.uk

Strange. A longer notice period might give you SOME security but as has been said massively reduces your options to move within consultancy. Most big consultancies have 4 weeks as standard up to Director. Besides, termination with cause is effective immediately, so the firm can still sack you and escort you out the building. I would have thought notice periods were something to negotiate DOWN, not UP?

If notice period is important then this would make me wonder about what will happen at the end of my first project. A good consultancy wants the best people for the medium/long term. They are not going to take a worse candidate just because they are available immediately.And when you do get made redundant (and we can all expect this to happen from time to time) a 3 month contractual notice is a lot better than 1 month.

Hmm. I can understand where this guy is coming from. He's probably up to his neck in mortgage debt, and thinking about what happens to his 25-year mortgage at 10 times his salary plus his other commitments (family?) in the context of potentially losing his sole source of income virtually overnight in the middle of sh1t economic times.I can understand why he is keen to have at least a little security under his belt... We're not all foot loose and fancy free Australians that hike from one bedsit to the next and change jobs every couple of months. Some of us have kids and families to support and are concerned about maintaining a stable income. LOL.