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[johnny s.]

I've been working at the Patent Office and am a pretty new examiner (about 6 months here). I'm thinking about resigning. How much notice do I have to give to my manager? How do they take it?

I know in most jobs there's like turnover and other crap, but I don't think that would really be the case here because it's just my docket that gets transferred.

Also I heard there's a lot of paperwork and stuff that they make you fill out. Is this true? Can I just give 4-5 days notice?

[guest]

Why are you leaving btw? I'm a newhire who has yet to start working...

[johnny s.]

Thinking about it due to personal/family reasons. Otherwise the job's great.

[12b4]

Two weeks is customary.  Your SPE will need time to move your docket to other folks.  Yes, there is a lot of paperwork, time and leave audits, exit interviews, etc.   Most of the paperwork is reserved for your last day.

I've heard that new hire attrition (people who leave voluntarily or not within the first year) is running at 25% in some areas, with total office wide attrition (including retirements) running at over 10%.

Are you at production?  Or are you having to do a lot of voluntary overtime just to make it?  That seems to be a common problem.  Too much voluntary overtime, SPEs too concerned with 100% production by 6-8 months who don't give their examiners more time to ramp up, and little time to spend with the family.

Good luck to you, wherever you go.

[johnny s.]

Actually I'm still in training. So I don't know if that changes things. I realize if I was a full fledged examiner, then 2 weeks would be customary. But what if I'm still in training?

[melwrc]

Anything less than 2 weeks notice is poor form in any job.  Leaving an employer in the lurch can come back to haunt you in the future.  It's a much smaller world (especially in IP) than you may realize.

[Isaac]

Anything less than 2 weeks notice is poor form in any job.  Leaving an employer in the lurch can come back to haunt you in the future.  It's a much smaller world (especially in IP) than you may realize.

Well said.  Offer two weeks notice.  Your employer will let ou go early if it does not make sense for you to stay.