A notice period is the length of time an employee must continue working between formally resigning (or being terminated) and their final day. It is set by the employment contract, company policy, or local law and gives the employer time to plan a handover or find a replacement. Common notice periods range from two weeks to three months depending on role and region.
Notice period length depends on seniority, contract terms, and local labor law. In many countries, two weeks is standard for general staff, while professional and managerial roles often require one to three months. Some jurisdictions mandate statutory minimum notice based on length of service. Senior executives may have even longer notice or gardening-leave clauses. The period applies to both employee resignations and, in many cases, employer-initiated terminations.
Notice periods directly affect a candidate's start date and therefore an employer's time-to-fill. A candidate on a three-month notice cannot begin immediately, which matters for urgent roles. Recruiters factor notice periods into hiring timelines and may negotiate early release or buyouts. Long notice periods can also create a window in which a candidate's current employer makes a counteroffer, so recruiters maintain engagement throughout the transition.
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