Long notice period at a dying company catch 22
Just a quick bit of background - the company I am at is dying before my eyes. There has been a leadership shift, the new boss is seemingly uninterested in the business and finding new work, the accounts on Companies House look bleak, and clients are actively leaving us.
My notice period is 12 weeks. I have been job hunting for nearly 4 months, on more than one occasion I have gotten close to an offer but ultimately rejected because of my notice period.
I have a family to support and feed - the catch 22 is I (and other employers) know that the company will be gone 12 months from now but the boss either doesn't realise that or doesn't care. Either way I am not in a position where I can negotiate a lower notice period for 2 reasons - another employee has attempted this without success, and I can't afford the risk of burning a bridge until I have an offer on the table.
The only thing I can think of that will get me out of this hole is to tell prospective employers my notice period is 6 weeks, then if/when it comes to an offer negotiate with my employer about the situation that led me to say it was 6 weeks and attempt to make an agreement on handover, ie help looking for a replacement for myself, working longer hours on handovers etc.
Another thing for reference - there is almost no work to be done at my current workplace due to the aforementioned shakeup and client loss. I WFH and my day is spent mostly twiddling my thumbs, if this information changes things at all.
Really hoping for some advice as I am battling a very tough job market (as most of us are!) together with being locked into a job at a company that is clearly failing
Thanks all