Caught looking for a job by current employer
October 31, 2007 4:45 PM Subscribe
What happens when your boss finds out you've been looking for a job?
I've read through old questions, and everyone always talks about how it's normal to look for a job while you have a job, and to be discreet so you don't get caught. I have found this advice frequently, but I'm curious how employers typically respond when someone does get busted in the job search?
Someone in another part of my company found out today that a staff member has been interviewing, pretty much on company time under the cover of personal family issues.
Basically, we got the phone call, "Hey, did you know that "Sara" is looking for a job?" Poor Sara didn't realize she had sent her resume to a company that does consulting work for us regularly. A quick look at poor Sara's computer files indicated an entire folder filled with documents pertaining to her job search, including several "Thank you for taking the time to interview me today," all created at the office and saved on the office computer. (Note to Sara, save to disk and take it home!!!)
This particular woman is already underperforming, so I'm sure she'll be fired. But we're finding the whole story a little amusing because she just was not very discreet or smart about the search.
Any interesting stories about you or someone you know getting caught? How did the boss respond?
Happy Halloween everyone!
I've read through old questions, and everyone always talks about how it's normal to look for a job while you have a job, and to be discreet so you don't get caught. I have found this advice frequently, but I'm curious how employers typically respond when someone does get busted in the job search?
Someone in another part of my company found out today that a staff member has been interviewing, pretty much on company time under the cover of personal family issues.
Basically, we got the phone call, "Hey, did you know that "Sara" is looking for a job?" Poor Sara didn't realize she had sent her resume to a company that does consulting work for us regularly. A quick look at poor Sara's computer files indicated an entire folder filled with documents pertaining to her job search, including several "Thank you for taking the time to interview me today," all created at the office and saved on the office computer. (Note to Sara, save to disk and take it home!!!)
This particular woman is already underperforming, so I'm sure she'll be fired. But we're finding the whole story a little amusing because she just was not very discreet or smart about the search.
Any interesting stories about you or someone you know getting caught? How did the boss respond?
Happy Halloween everyone!
This post was deleted for the following reason: The problem isn't that you didn't tag it as 'chatfilter'; the problem is that chatfilter is pretty much discouraged, and you don't seem to be asking a question so much as relaying a funny-ha-ha anecdote and inviting general discussion. That's not really what AskMe is for; if you want to try again next week with a focused question about some of this, that'd be fine. -- cortex
kind of chatfilter:
but to attempt to answer the question within the narrative. Speaking as a boss, I don't have a big issue with my employees looking for better jobs, I understand the drive and desire to find employment that is more fulfilling better paying etc, but it needs to happen 99% on your own time, and be honest about it. If you are under-performing and on the clock while job seeking that is good grounds for dismissal, or at least a motivational talk, and a poor performance review and poor recommendation.
posted by edgeways at 5:01 PM on October 31, 2007
but to attempt to answer the question within the narrative. Speaking as a boss, I don't have a big issue with my employees looking for better jobs, I understand the drive and desire to find employment that is more fulfilling better paying etc, but it needs to happen 99% on your own time, and be honest about it. If you are under-performing and on the clock while job seeking that is good grounds for dismissal, or at least a motivational talk, and a poor performance review and poor recommendation.
posted by edgeways at 5:01 PM on October 31, 2007
Response by poster: Sorry I didn't tag as chatfilter. D'oh!!!
posted by Sabine3283 at 5:07 PM on October 31, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Sabine3283 at 5:07 PM on October 31, 2007 [1 favorite]
Any manager worth their salt will have regular career discussions with their underlings. I have had many employees tell me that they are seeking employment elsewhere. As long as their job performance is not impacted and they aren't using company resources I'll support them. Most of the time they are people I'd love to be rid of anyways but even when they are great employees I will support them.
posted by Octoparrot at 5:08 PM on October 31, 2007
posted by Octoparrot at 5:08 PM on October 31, 2007
At one point when things looked grim I told my boss I was going to look around. Lots of people fled but I ended up staying out of curiosity as much as anything. Well, that and I wasn't impressed with other opportunities.
posted by trinity8-director at 5:15 PM on October 31, 2007
posted by trinity8-director at 5:15 PM on October 31, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by synaesthetichaze at 4:57 PM on October 31, 2007