Job switch · India
Notice period in India — norms, buyout, negotiation
Your appointment letter beats LinkedIn advice. This guide summarises what hiring managers actually expect by company type, how buyout works, and where to set your notice preference so matching tools do not waste your time on impossible join dates.
Typical notice by employer type
| Employer type | Common notice norm |
|---|---|
| Large IT services (TCS, Infosys, Wipro, etc.) | 60–90 days standard; some accounts 90+ for senior roles |
| Product / SaaS (mid-size and above) | 30–60 days common; senior hires sometimes 60 |
| Startups & early-stage | 15–45 days — highly variable; 'immediate' often means buyout or gardening leave deal |
| GCC / captive centres | Often 30–60 days; aligns with global policy but India employment law still applies |
| BFSI & regulated | 60–90 days not unusual; background checks run parallel to notice |
Buyout — what to know
- Buyout means paying (or your new employer paying) for unserved notice days — not a universal right; your current HR must agree to early release.
- Some offers include a joining bonus earmarked for buyout; clarify whether it is gross CTC or separate reimbursement with caps.
- Serving partial notice + partial buyout is common in services — negotiate handover plan, not just dates.
- Never resign assuming verbal buyout approval; wait for written release timeline from current HR and joining date confirmation from new HR.
Deep reads: Notice period negotiation · Buyout by company type · Set notice in Settings
FAQ
What is the standard notice period in Indian IT?
Large services firms commonly enforce 60–90 days in employment contracts. Product companies often operate on 30–60 days. Startups may agree to shorter notice if both sides negotiate — but your current employer only has to honour what's in your appointment letter unless they waive it.
What is notice period buyout?
Your new employer (or you) pays the old employer for unserved notice days — typically base salary for those days, sometimes plus admin fees. Not every company allows buyout; some prefer you serve full notice for knowledge transfer. Get buyout terms in writing in the offer letter before you resign.
Can I join immediately if I pay buyout?
Only if your current employer accepts release early. Paying buyout does not automatically void contractual notice — HR must confirm written release and full-and-final settlement timeline.
Should I lie about notice period on Naukri?
No. Recruiters verify with HR; mismatch kills offers late in the process. Mark honest notice and negotiate buyout or remote handover instead. Tools like Reunitor use your notice setting to rank roles that fit.
How do I set notice period in Reunitor?
In Dashboard → Settings, set your notice period preference. Job matching uses it when ranking roles tagged immediate joiner or short notice — so you spend fewer evenings on listings you cannot realistically join.