A notice period = how much time you need from accepting an offer to starting the new role. For most people, that's how long you'd give your current employer before leaving.

The standard answer for US roles: two weeks.

What to write on the application

  • Currently employed: Two weeks (or whatever your contract requires).
  • Currently unemployed: "Immediately available" or "0 days."
  • Senior or specialized role: 2-4 weeks is fine. Don't pad.
  • UK / Europe / contractual notice: Whatever your contract says — 1, 2, or 3 months.
  • You'd need to relocate: 3-4 weeks is normal.

Why employers ask

  • Time the start date. Onboarding cohorts, project starts, team needs.
  • Filter out candidates with extreme notice. A role that needs to fill in 30 days won't pick someone with a 90-day notice if there's a shorter-notice candidate available.
  • Verify alignment with their hiring timeline.

Standard regional notice

  • US: 2 weeks (no statutory minimum for at-will employment, but 2 weeks is the social norm).
  • UK: Often 1-3 months by contract.
  • EU: Often 1-3 months by contract or law.
  • Asia (varies): 1-3 months in many countries.
  • Australia: Usually 4 weeks for permanent roles.

What not to write

  • "Negotiable" only. Vague. Give a number then add "negotiable" if you mean it.
  • A longer notice than you'll actually give. Don't pad to seem in-demand.
  • A shorter notice than your contract requires. You'll either burn the current employer or have to renege when you accept.

When notice period actually matters

  • Time-sensitive hires (replacing a vacancy, scaling fast).
  • Project-aligned start dates (boot camp cohort, fiscal-year starts).
  • Visa-sponsored roles with start-date constraints.

For most roles, 2 weeks is fine and not the deciding factor.

What if the employer wants you sooner?

You can sometimes negotiate with your current employer:

  • Use unused vacation days to shorten effective notice.
  • Offer to be available for handoff calls during the gap.
  • Negotiate an earlier release date.

Don't promise faster than you can deliver.

The bigger pattern

Notice period is one small data point on a large application form. It rarely tips the decision. The bigger leverage is having multiple offers in flight so you can negotiate a start date that works.

Sorce applies to 5M+ open jobs for you — 40 free swipes a day. More applications, more interviews, more leverage on start dates.

For more: how to fill out a job application, what does employer mean on a job application, how to write a job application email.