New Job- Odd Response From HR

[GimiRN]

Two months ago, I was contacted about a job that I applied to, roughly 6 months prior to that time. And I was asked to come in for an interview.

Even though I was already employed full-time by then, I was still very interested in this other job and agreed to come in. The interview went well and I had a really good feeling about everything. But after not hearing back from them a week later, I figured they decided to go with someone else.

Then about 3 weeks after the interview, I received a call from HR saying that they were still interested in me, but had more interviews to finish. Finally after another 2 weeks, I was offered the position. But at the suggestion of HR, I opted to wait until after all my screens (drug test, background, physical, etc) came back, before giving my current job notice.

HR also knew that I would have to take a personal day from my current job, in order to get everything completed that they required. Unfortunately, I was not able to do so until 3 days after the job offer. Then I found out that the HR contact would be out that entire week (was informed by another member of the interview panel, when I was at their clinic getting my physical).

Anyway, it wasn't until yesterday at close of business, that HR finally called back and said everything was ok, and I could go ahead and give notice. They also requested that I let them know when I could start.

So naturally I had to wait until this morning to give notice. And it wasn't until lunch time that I was able to call HR with my start date, because I couldn't sit there on company time calling my new job. I didn't think it was appropriate, nor did I want my current employer to overhear me doing this right after I resigned.

When I got in touch with HR and told them when I could start (one day short of two weeks), the reply was that they would let the supervisor of the department I would be working in know, and get back to me if it was okay.

I was a little taken aback, because the interview panel specifically asked how much notice I would need. I said two weeks and they said they completely understood. And I also told this to HR when asked. So now that I am doing just that, it seems as if it might not be okay.

Other than the three days it took for me to get a personal day, I don't feel like I was holding anything up. I would think that if they had a deadline for me to start, they would have told me and maybe expedited the process.

And now that I have already given my current employer my final work date, I'm wondering what this HR person will come back and tell me. Am I reading too much into her comment?

[LetItBe_12]

I think you might be reading into their comment too much. They probably just want to notify the supervisor of the department to make sure that exact date works for them. If you have to go through an orientation or something they may need to have a staff member in place for those days to be with you. They will want to make sure to have a schedule planned out for you as a new hire. Don't worry.