Notice period on a job application: what it asks, and what to write.
When a form asks for your notice period or availability, it wants one thing: the date you could realistically start. Here is how to answer it accurately in each situation.
A notice period is the time between telling your current employer you're leaving and your last day. On an application it asks how soon you could start. If you're employed in the U.S., two weeks is a common professional courtesy, but check your contract or company policy. If you're not working, write 'Available immediately'. Give a real date range, not a hopeful one.
What the field asks
Notice period vs availability
'Notice period' is how long you must or will give your current employer. 'Availability' is the earliest date you could start. Many forms combine them.
Where your notice period comes from
Your employment contract, offer letter, union agreement or company handbook may set a notice period. If none does, two weeks is the common professional courtesy in the U.S.; other countries often set longer periods by contract.
Why employers ask
Hiring teams plan start dates around projects and training. A clear answer helps them; a vague one creates doubt.
Availability for shifts
For hourly or shift work, 'availability' may mean the days and hours you can work. Answer that honestly, because schedules are built from it.
5 copy-ready answers
Illustrative: names, companies, dates and numbers in these templates and examples are fictional. Replace every bracket with your own true details before you use anything.
Employed, standard notice
When to use: When you would give your current employer two weeks.
Two weeks' notice; available to start from [date range].
Contractual notice
When to use: When your contract sets a longer notice period.
My contract requires [four weeks'] notice; earliest start [date].
Not currently working
When to use: When you're between jobs.
Available immediately; I can start any weekday from [date] onward.
Student or graduating
When to use: When you can start after exams or graduation.
Available from [date], after completing my [degree] on [date].
Shift availability
When to use: For hourly roles that ask which days and hours you can work.
Weekdays [8am–4pm]; weekends [Saturday only]; open to occasional evenings with notice.
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What to write
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Employed, no contract terms | 'Two weeks' notice' and a start window. |
| Contract sets notice | State the contractual period. |
| Unemployed | 'Available immediately'. |
| Planned leave or move | 'Available from' and the date. |
| Unsure | Give a realistic range, then confirm at offer stage. |
The same move, done two ways
Illustrative example with fictional details.
| Version | Example |
|---|---|
| Weak | Notice period: ASAP (I'll just quit tomorrow if you hire me). |
| Strong | Notice period: Two weeks' notice to my current employer; available to start from April 22. |
Why it matters: Offering to leave without notice can make an employer wonder how you would leave them. A clear, standard answer looks professional and is easy to plan around.
Mistakes to avoid
- Promising a start date you can't meet.
- Ignoring a notice period in your contract.
- Writing 'ASAP' when you're employed.
- Leaving availability blank on shift-work applications.
Keep going
Questions people ask
What does 'notice period' mean?
Is two weeks' notice required?
What if I'm not working?
Can I negotiate my start date later?
How this page is built
Written by Maid Dizdarevic, a career coach and 8x LinkedIn Top Voice. The steps, scripts and timing guides are practical advice, labelled as advice. We do not publish response rates, success rates or shares of employers, and every example uses fictional details.
- How a specific employer, recruiter or manager will act: practices vary by company, industry and person.
- Legal advice: for contracts, background-check disputes, pay classification or a termination, talk to an employment attorney, the U.S. Department of Labor or your state agency.
- Outcomes: no message, plan or program can promise an interview, a raise or a job.
- TryHired editorial guidance by Maid Dizdarevic, career coach, Nov 4, 2026.