Not that you would have noticed my absence, but I'm back.

For the last six weeks I've been working two full time jobs, mainly to get a little extra cash, but also a chance at some extra training. I've just finished the night security role at a local marina, and am now back to a single full time role as a dive instructor / dive gear salesman. Most weeks I've achieved over ninety hours.

Anyway that is behind me now and life is on the move again. I'm here amongst over things to ask for a little advice on the following:

My girlfriend and I intend to return to Europe next year, but leave Orcland in December to travel around the remaining parts of Nz that we've not seen yet. I was hoping to give my job two months notice to leave at the end of November, but there is a chance for an extra qualification coming up in October, maybe November, that I would like to achieve. According to the contract I don't have to give that much notice, and could easily take the training and then stitch them up so to speak. I consider my manager to be a bit of an arse and have no qualms about sticking two fingers up to him, but also have a great relationship with all of my other colleagues, and also have a reference to consider. One of my main gripes is that I've tried to take on other tasks at my work, but my manager has always said for me not to do this or that, and I feel that I've been stagnating for the last two years.

I think it will be easier to consider when I have a better idea of when the training would occur (ideally giving four weeks notice after) but would also like to hear other opinions that may give me other considerations.

Fire away.

do you consider ever going back there? will you need to work with anyone there again?

I would return, but don't think it very likely. I doubt very much if I would ever work with anyone from here anywhere in the future.

Personally - you have been there 2 years and they have got value for money out of you. Do the training and then hand in your notice. The boss may be a bit ar$es but if you get on well with your collegues then they will only be pleased for you

Thanks Fidelity,

From a business point of view I'm sure my manager would get rid of me at a drop of a hat if he needed to, so only fair that I think of it in the same light.

If you are sure you will not need to do business with them again or need a reference, I think it is fair play to be honest.

If I give the minimum required notice, can he give me a bad reference?

Not sure about in NZ, but giving a bad reference in the UK is asking for an enormous slap in the face in the form of a libel suit.

If the contract states you must give x weeks and you give exactly x weeks, there's not really anything he can argue about. If he needed more time he should have put a greater period in the contract!

Generally they can't give a bad reference. They can refuse or give a neutral reference.

Not sure if that applies to New Zealand.

Sent from my Lumia 1020 using Tapatalk

Certainly in the UK these days I'd say it's very unusual for an employer to give anything other than a factual reference - confirming employment, length of service, level of absence that sort of thing. For anything other than that you need a personal reference which can be from your boss but shouldn't be representing the opinions of the employer (and shouldn't be issued on company stationery or using a company e-mail address).

If you need a reference and don't get on with the boss then getting (a personal) one from a co-worker shouldn't be a problem.

It shouldn't be allowed at all - there's entire management teams never mind individuals who should be hung, drawn and quartered and they get to conspire against you? I know of nutters just in HR who have screwed people over they took an irrational disliking to.

I think you know how I feel on this one, Matt.

I ultimately believe you should be running your own school/shop somewhere and I appreciate that you would probably need a billion more qualifications for your own peace of mind to do that. So get what you can, then move on. There's a bunch more places to see

I'm with Oke, you don't "owe" them anything and if you can get an extra qualification to further your career then you should go for it if you can
Welcome back !!

All's fair in love and careers.