I’m due to start a new role within the civil service in the next few days as an external candidate. Several days ago however, I received a provisional offer for another role within a different department (higher grade & salary) that I am more inclined to take.
The provisional offer is subject to the successful completion of pre-employment checks, which I imagine will only take several weeks to complete.
I haven’t yet told my recruiting manager about the new job offer. I’m a little hesitant to do so, as the offer is only provisional at this stage and do not want to jeopardise my current role if for some unlikely reason I fail to complete the pre-employment checks for the other position.
I have therefore decided that the best way to protect my own interests is to begin the role as planned in the coming days, and then inform my line manager of the new job offer once it becomes formal (as upset as I’m sure they will be with me!)
As an external candidate for both roles, would I be required to undergo an intra-departmental transfer process, or would it be a case of handing in my notice and serving a notice period before starting the new position? If the latter, does anyone have any idea what the notice period is for someone leaving during their probation? My contract states that my notice period would be 1 month after probation ends, but have a feeling that this would be shorter if leaving before.
Any broader advice on the situation and how to proceed would also be appreciated!