Should I tell my boss I'm looking for another job?
November 6, 2015 7:37 PM Subscribe
It seems like the multi-national that owns my division will be shutting us down next year. Already, people are quitting and not being replaced. My boss is trying to find ways to ensure we all keep our jobs next year. He wants me to think about what I'd like to be doing- should I tell him I'm thinking of quitting?
A few years ago, I found a job with a small company that had just been bought by a large multi-national corporation. The big corporation that bought my company is sending signals that they may be getting rid of our division. They haven't given us a budget for next year, and they've instituted a hiring freeze, so people quitting are not being replaced. In addition, we've been told that our division will not be assigned any new projects next year. Rather, staff will be "reassigned" to projects in other divisions. My boss asked me to think about what I'd like to be doing in the coming year so he can see if any other divisions in the multi-national can use my skills. He's high enough up that he can probably help me find another position, and his job isn't in danger. The thing is, I've been thinking of finding another job for a while. In fact, I'm actively looking for other positions. But I would like to keep my current job (and steady income) until I've found something else. At the same time, I don't want my boss to go through the work of trying to find a position for me if I'm just going to quit anyway.
So the question is, do I tell my boss that I'm looking for other jobs or do I wait until I've found something and put in my two weeks?
A few years ago, I found a job with a small company that had just been bought by a large multi-national corporation. The big corporation that bought my company is sending signals that they may be getting rid of our division. They haven't given us a budget for next year, and they've instituted a hiring freeze, so people quitting are not being replaced. In addition, we've been told that our division will not be assigned any new projects next year. Rather, staff will be "reassigned" to projects in other divisions. My boss asked me to think about what I'd like to be doing in the coming year so he can see if any other divisions in the multi-national can use my skills. He's high enough up that he can probably help me find another position, and his job isn't in danger. The thing is, I've been thinking of finding another job for a while. In fact, I'm actively looking for other positions. But I would like to keep my current job (and steady income) until I've found something else. At the same time, I don't want my boss to go through the work of trying to find a position for me if I'm just going to quit anyway.
So the question is, do I tell my boss that I'm looking for other jobs or do I wait until I've found something and put in my two weeks?
To elaborate,
1) it's your boss' duty to the company, and you, as his subordinate, to find the best place within the company for your skills. Even if you end up leaving, you shouldn't feel guilty that he had to do the work of finding you another role - that's his job.
2) your boss may be required (by company policy) to dismiss you if he finds out you are actively trying to leave. Likewise, if you tell someone else, and they tell your boss (or another higher up) it may end up working against you. Suppose they have to start laying people off if they can't find spots for everyone; they might be more likely to let people go who they suspect are going to quit anyway.
3) suppose you tell him and he stops trying to find another role within the company for you and you get laid off, now what? What if you can't find another job elsewhere?
Everyone in this situation should be expected to act in their own self-interest. People quit all the time. Companies lay people off all the time. Especially in this scenario, there's a fairly high chance your boss can't find you anything and you end up getting laid off - I think the default assumption is that you are looking for another job elsewhere. You don't have to actually mention it.
posted by pravit at 7:50 PM on November 6, 2015 [18 favorites]
1) it's your boss' duty to the company, and you, as his subordinate, to find the best place within the company for your skills. Even if you end up leaving, you shouldn't feel guilty that he had to do the work of finding you another role - that's his job.
2) your boss may be required (by company policy) to dismiss you if he finds out you are actively trying to leave. Likewise, if you tell someone else, and they tell your boss (or another higher up) it may end up working against you. Suppose they have to start laying people off if they can't find spots for everyone; they might be more likely to let people go who they suspect are going to quit anyway.
3) suppose you tell him and he stops trying to find another role within the company for you and you get laid off, now what? What if you can't find another job elsewhere?
Everyone in this situation should be expected to act in their own self-interest. People quit all the time. Companies lay people off all the time. Especially in this scenario, there's a fairly high chance your boss can't find you anything and you end up getting laid off - I think the default assumption is that you are looking for another job elsewhere. You don't have to actually mention it.
posted by pravit at 7:50 PM on November 6, 2015 [18 favorites]
You are smart to seek other employment. You do not owe your boss an advance warning. I would keep your job search a secret from anyone at work.
As a courtesy, you can give your boss a two week notice, after you receive an offer letter from another company. A good boss will understand that any employee might seek other employment at any time. Boss might get upset when you give notice, but he should get over it. A few months/weeks later, you can call to say hello and wish them well.
When the boss asks you what you want for a re-assignment you can tell him what you would want to do if you planned to stay on. Because you might stay on if you got a really good reassignment. If you don't want to specify a preference for reassignment, ask your boss to suggest something for you.
Part of his questioning might be an attempt to figure out who is most likely to stay on. You have no obligation to reveal your feelings.
Good luck.
posted by valannc at 7:52 PM on November 6, 2015 [8 favorites]
As a courtesy, you can give your boss a two week notice, after you receive an offer letter from another company. A good boss will understand that any employee might seek other employment at any time. Boss might get upset when you give notice, but he should get over it. A few months/weeks later, you can call to say hello and wish them well.
When the boss asks you what you want for a re-assignment you can tell him what you would want to do if you planned to stay on. Because you might stay on if you got a really good reassignment. If you don't want to specify a preference for reassignment, ask your boss to suggest something for you.
Part of his questioning might be an attempt to figure out who is most likely to stay on. You have no obligation to reveal your feelings.
Good luck.
posted by valannc at 7:52 PM on November 6, 2015 [8 favorites]
My only quibble with pravit's advice is the bit about not telling anyone else. There are some people I work with, who I've worked with for *years*, and in multiple companies, where we've got the kind of relationship where we discuss these things.
It's entirely subjective how you determine who you'd talk to about that, so that's all on your own character judging abilities, but it's not beyond the realm of possibility that you have workmates with whom you'd discuss this, interview experiences, and whatnot.
But your formal "i report to you on the org chart" boss ?
Hell no.
posted by colin_l at 7:59 PM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's entirely subjective how you determine who you'd talk to about that, so that's all on your own character judging abilities, but it's not beyond the realm of possibility that you have workmates with whom you'd discuss this, interview experiences, and whatnot.
But your formal "i report to you on the org chart" boss ?
Hell no.
posted by colin_l at 7:59 PM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
do I tell my boss that I'm looking for other jobs
Absolutely no! it would be doing yourself a major disservice; however nice your boss is, his responsibility is not to you, and telling him you're thinking of going will only undermine your position and move you up the chop list.
posted by anadem at 8:43 PM on November 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
Absolutely no! it would be doing yourself a major disservice; however nice your boss is, his responsibility is not to you, and telling him you're thinking of going will only undermine your position and move you up the chop list.
posted by anadem at 8:43 PM on November 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
No way! It's part of his job (a BIG part) to try to retain talent. His trying to find a new position for you to keep you at the company is literally part of what he gets paid to do, and will help HIM get promotions and raises. It is a big deal to keep good staff on through a period of organizational drama. He is not sticking his neck out for you as a personal favor.
posted by town of cats at 9:39 PM on November 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by town of cats at 9:39 PM on November 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
I would not. Your boss would be stupid if he did not consider exactly that possibility. You don' t know how your job search will pan out-- keep your options open.
posted by frumiousb at 11:21 PM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by frumiousb at 11:21 PM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
"Seeing what other divisions can use your skills" is not the kind of extraordinary measure that requires anything beyond standard professionalism from you.
posted by acidic at 11:24 PM on November 6, 2015
posted by acidic at 11:24 PM on November 6, 2015
Your boss knows that he can't guarantee you'll have a job there next year. Dont underestimate him - if he thinks you are smart enough to be worth keeping around, then he probably also thinks you are smart enough to be looking for a new job already in case that doesn't work out.
posted by the agents of KAOS at 12:53 AM on November 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by the agents of KAOS at 12:53 AM on November 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
Definitely don't tell your boss that you're looking for another job, but set yourself up to be an honest person and answer his question: "Thank you so much for caring about my career, even amidst this uncertainty. I'd ultimately like to be doing XYZ." Then hope that he works to help you get there at your company, but keep applying for other work. Then, when you get a new job, you can truthfully say that you're moving on to do what you want to be doing. This is especially true if he's someone you'd like to stay connected with for networking purposes. "He moved on to take an opportunity I couldn't offer him here, even though I wish I could have kept him" is a great reference, and one I try to cultivate with every boss I leave. It's served me well.
When you identify yourself as someone who is considering leaving, you're first on the chopping block for layoffs because higher-ups think it won't be as big a deal for you since you already had one foot out the door. If that's not the case for you, never tip your hand.
posted by juniperesque at 6:48 AM on November 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
When you identify yourself as someone who is considering leaving, you're first on the chopping block for layoffs because higher-ups think it won't be as big a deal for you since you already had one foot out the door. If that's not the case for you, never tip your hand.
posted by juniperesque at 6:48 AM on November 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
If the company doesn't need to be straight with you that they're looking to eliminate your job (and whether of not that's the case here, it's quite clear that companys nowadays feel no such obligation) then you don't need to be straight with your company that you're seeking to leave your job for another one.
I'm with pravit. Tell no one. People talk, even those who have been your work friends for years.
posted by slkinsey at 7:30 AM on November 7, 2015
I'm with pravit. Tell no one. People talk, even those who have been your work friends for years.
posted by slkinsey at 7:30 AM on November 7, 2015
You have no moral obligation whatsoever to tell the truth to your boss about any topic whatsoever, ever, unless in situations where the bosses can detect your tactic and then punish you for lying or withholding the truth. This is not one of those situations.
Employment's not a nice game. It's a fight. You're not working together to build something for a company, you're fighting with your company to make a living for yourself. Silence is a weapon in this fight. Use your weapons.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:57 AM on November 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Employment's not a nice game. It's a fight. You're not working together to build something for a company, you're fighting with your company to make a living for yourself. Silence is a weapon in this fight. Use your weapons.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:57 AM on November 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
I think it goes unsaid that you are looking for another job. I think it's a good sign that your boss is asking you for your vision of the future, but that comes with an implied "if we both end up staying here, which I would like, but cannot guarantee."
I have the kind of relationship with my boss and also with my employees as their boss where one-on-one candid disclosures like that would be perfectly fine. Expected, even, because we care about each other's personal and professional development as mentors even if we have competing interests in loyalty to the company as managers.
What would not be fine is for me or my employees to go around openly broadcasting that, further damaging confidence in the company for others and making the people who have decided to stay feel anxious about that decision. It's poisonous to morale (which may already be bad enough, making this effect insignificant, but still.)
posted by ctmf at 2:10 PM on November 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
I have the kind of relationship with my boss and also with my employees as their boss where one-on-one candid disclosures like that would be perfectly fine. Expected, even, because we care about each other's personal and professional development as mentors even if we have competing interests in loyalty to the company as managers.
What would not be fine is for me or my employees to go around openly broadcasting that, further damaging confidence in the company for others and making the people who have decided to stay feel anxious about that decision. It's poisonous to morale (which may already be bad enough, making this effect insignificant, but still.)
posted by ctmf at 2:10 PM on November 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
(Also, your mileage with my second paragraph above may vary, so be careful and know your audience.)
posted by ctmf at 2:12 PM on November 7, 2015
posted by ctmf at 2:12 PM on November 7, 2015
Don't think of plans to transfer to another division as a waste of time. Think of it as your plan B. You're safe if finding a new job takes longer than anticipated.
posted by Caravantea at 3:44 PM on November 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Caravantea at 3:44 PM on November 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by pravit at 7:40 PM on November 6, 2015 [29 favorites]