February 14, 2006

Curious George: When to Tell the Old Boss he's the Old Boss For a couple of different reasons, I'm looking for a new job.

There have been a lot of shakeups in my department, and I get the idea that the funding for my position may not be there when my contract's up in July. I work for three different programs with one guy overseeing them all. I know that at least one of the program heads is not being renewed, but there's kind of a culture of "need to know" around here. The guy in charge is pretty new, and I don't know him that well. I'm starting to get called for interviews - at what point do I tell this guy what I'm up to? I have plenty of references without him, but it's a smallish community and I don't want to burn bridges. monster.com doesn't seem to have this one covered. Any advice?

posted by The Underpants Monster 18 years ago
  • after you accept the offer for the new job? I would certainly never take the risk of doing it any other way unless the old boss was a very close personal friend.
  • Yeah, but if it's a close community, don't you run the risk of him finding out another way? And isn't that worse than him finding out from you?
  • If you're worried about your current boss finding out by accident, you should point out in interviews that you have not yet given notice to your employer and that he is not aware you are jobhunting. That should be enough for a savvy interviewer to cotton on that you want them to keep quiet.
  • You can always quit of your own volition - say it's to take some time off and for personal growth or something fuzzy like that. If you're positive that the end is in sight, and/or don't enjoy your job anymore that's an option, but not one you should take lightly.
  • In general I think the rule is: definately after the new job is cinched.
  • No! Don't quit! They need you!
  • When to Tell the Old Boss he's the Old Boss While you're reloading.
  • Ha ha that's what I do to girls
  • Frankly, Mr. Shankly, this position I've held It pays my way, and it corrodes my soul I want to leave, you will not miss me I want to go down in musical history Frankly, Mr. Shankly, I'm a sickening wreck I've got the 21st century breathing down my neck I must move fast, you understand me I want to go down in celluloid history, Mr. Shankly Fame, Fame, fatal Fame It can play hideous tricks on the brain But still I'd rather be Famous Than righteous or holy, any day Any day, any day But sometimes I'd feel more fulfilled Making Christmas cards with the mentally ill I want to live and I want to Love I want to catch something that I might be ashamed of Frankly, Mr. Shankly, this position I've held It pays my way and it corrodes my soul Oh, I didn't realise that you wrote poetry I didn't realise you wrote such bloody awful poetry, Mr. Shankly Frankly, Mr. Shankly, since you ask You are a flatulent pain in the arse I do not mean to be so rude Still, I must speak frankly, Mr. Shankly Oh, give us your money !
  • another thought: ask your boss whether there'll be a job for you in july. tell him that you're concerned and that you'd like to know whether it's time to brush off your cv. oh, and moneyjane wins.
  • Several years ago my boss found out I was looking for a new job when we both showed up at the same interview. If there's a lot of shakeups going on, probably everyone is looking for a new job and nobody is going to take it personally. That said- keep it yourself. If other people know you're looking, it's going to be a distraction, and might send you out the door before you're ready.
  • Ha ha ha! This is easy! Engineer your own dismissal. Come in dressed as a gorilla. Drink beers in your office. Have sex with the office plants. All things will resolve.
  • Several years ago my boss found out I was looking for a new job when we both showed up at the same interview. OUCH!!
  • Tell him. Chances are he already knows. Chances are even greater that he will find out. Usually a co-worker of one of my employees tells me when an employee is looking for another job. Since we are in the same field, I find out very quickly when someone has interviewed somewhere. Just tell your boss right now and assure him that you will continue to be a great employee no matter what happens.
  • Come in dressed as a gorilla. Drink beers in your office. Have sex with the office plants. How do you think I got this job?
  • I would disagree somewhat with that, bernockle. While that tack is certainly the high road, one cannot be certain that one's boss will be similarly upstanding. Case in point: my colleague was, at one time, a director in our organization (which, in our hierarchy, is one level under VP, of which we have very few - director-level is the get-things-done level). It comes to pass that we get a new CEO and personalities clash. My colleague decides that she'd prefer to step down from her directorship in the name of corporate well-being (high road) and ulcer-avoidance, and expresses to the CEO that she's going to begin the transition search (high road). CEO considers this an opportunity to begin a reputation-trash and general smear of my colleague, as well as finding a variety of fairly transparent reasons to prune my colleague's tasks and compensation - even her office was taken. Word is that the current executive management team has a "with us or against us" mentality (pretty obvious, that - they strut around like a street gang) and are not gentle with dissidents or "non-team players" (read: anyone who doesn't toe the company line or who asks awkward questions). This is, in large part, the reason why I also have a good deal of paper working the street. Point being: unless you trust your boss implicitly, I'd recommend keeping your job search a secret until it comes to fruition. Until that day, you still have to swim in the corporate pool - no sense in peeing in it before you have to.
  • As long as your not looking for work on your current company's time, it's no concern of your employer. Tell them only once you've clinched the new spot. If your boss finds out, tell him your job search is done on your own time and isn't interferring with your present duties, and should you decide to go elsewhere, you will afford him all due notice under the law.
  • ...and then you're free to give him that wedgie you've been thinking about.
  • Bananas to everybody for the sagacity! I guess I'll sit tight at least until after the interviews.
  • ...and then you're free to give him that wedgie you've been thinking about. So THAT'S where UP got the name! *shudders in fear at the kind of wedgie an Underpants Monster could produce*