How to discuss an upcoming job search with my boss?
November 19, 2018 6:27 AM Subscribe
Well, I'll be finishing the grad program I'm in a bit earlier than expected due to some departmental changes. I should be excited, but finishing the program earlier than I had planned is making me quite nervous because I'll have to be job searching earlier than expected. I'm going to be looking for work in a pretty competitive/difficult field (libraries) and I anticipate that my job search will take a bit of time. How can I approach my upcoming job search? Should I even tell him?
I probably won't be starting my job search until March, at the earliest. I'll still be quite busy with courses and work. I also won't "officially" be convocating until Fall 2019. Right now I work at a school library as a library technician. It's decent enough that I would like to be able to work there until I find my next position. I know that I'm probably in for a long slog when it comes to finding a librarian position, so I feel quite fortunate that I am even working in any sort of library (and that my pay is okay, with good benefits).
I guess the main reason why I feel compelled to tell my boss (the principal) is that I hate being secretive about things like this. It just stresses me out!!! I get anxiety just thinking about making up excuses to go to job interviews (when the time comes). I mean, I can take personal time, I guess, but it just seems so suspicious!!! I'd hate for him to become aware of my job search through another party. I also know that he hates being blindsided by secret job searches, he was very upset with a former teacher at our school who applied to another school without telling him. However, he's supportive of teachers who notify him that they are applying out to other schools. I'm not a teacher and my job search is different than what they go through, but still.
I'd also like to use him as a reference, if he'd agree to it. I think he'd probably be a good reference, but I suppose I have a "ton" of references I could use.
I also feel a smidge guilty pretending going to work every day and acting like I'll be there forever. The principal plans to renovate our library in the near future and was showing me his plans, which I was initially excited for... then remembered I'll be applying elsewhere, so I might not even see this renovated library.
I'm also worried that if I DO tell him... I dunno, he might decide not to keep my position or something equally awful. I've gotten mixed advice from coworkers, some say tell him others say no. So I can't really decide.
I can't believe I'm worried about a job search I haven't even started yet!!!
I probably won't be starting my job search until March, at the earliest. I'll still be quite busy with courses and work. I also won't "officially" be convocating until Fall 2019. Right now I work at a school library as a library technician. It's decent enough that I would like to be able to work there until I find my next position. I know that I'm probably in for a long slog when it comes to finding a librarian position, so I feel quite fortunate that I am even working in any sort of library (and that my pay is okay, with good benefits).
I guess the main reason why I feel compelled to tell my boss (the principal) is that I hate being secretive about things like this. It just stresses me out!!! I get anxiety just thinking about making up excuses to go to job interviews (when the time comes). I mean, I can take personal time, I guess, but it just seems so suspicious!!! I'd hate for him to become aware of my job search through another party. I also know that he hates being blindsided by secret job searches, he was very upset with a former teacher at our school who applied to another school without telling him. However, he's supportive of teachers who notify him that they are applying out to other schools. I'm not a teacher and my job search is different than what they go through, but still.
I'd also like to use him as a reference, if he'd agree to it. I think he'd probably be a good reference, but I suppose I have a "ton" of references I could use.
I also feel a smidge guilty pretending going to work every day and acting like I'll be there forever. The principal plans to renovate our library in the near future and was showing me his plans, which I was initially excited for... then remembered I'll be applying elsewhere, so I might not even see this renovated library.
I'm also worried that if I DO tell him... I dunno, he might decide not to keep my position or something equally awful. I've gotten mixed advice from coworkers, some say tell him others say no. So I can't really decide.
I can't believe I'm worried about a job search I haven't even started yet!!!
You've told your co-workers. Is there a chance they'd mention it to him, or talk about it within his hearing? I'm in the middle of applying for an internal promotion and I told a few trusted (I thought) people and suddenly the entire department knows. I suspect, given what you said, that it'd be worse if he heard from someone else.
Would it make sense to ask him if any positions are likely to open up at your school next year for which you would qualify, since you'll have your degree?
posted by lazuli at 6:38 AM on November 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Would it make sense to ask him if any positions are likely to open up at your school next year for which you would qualify, since you'll have your degree?
posted by lazuli at 6:38 AM on November 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Is there any reason that he would assume that, with your degree, you'd stay in a position for which you're overqualified? Or is the assumption that once people in your field get your degree you look for work that's in line with the degree?
I agree with not telling him, but asking re the possibility of a possibility for your qualifications.
posted by entropone at 6:47 AM on November 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
I agree with not telling him, but asking re the possibility of a possibility for your qualifications.
posted by entropone at 6:47 AM on November 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
I guess the main reason why I feel compelled to tell my boss (the principal) is that I hate being secretive about things like this
The term you're missing here is discretion.
It's normal in the business world for a job search to be conducted discreetly. This is because otherwise your boss will stop counting on you and start planning for your exit...and may have to make plans before you are ready. It's totally normal for you to not share the search until you have a position in hand.
posted by warriorqueen at 7:06 AM on November 19, 2018 [6 favorites]
The term you're missing here is discretion.
It's normal in the business world for a job search to be conducted discreetly. This is because otherwise your boss will stop counting on you and start planning for your exit...and may have to make plans before you are ready. It's totally normal for you to not share the search until you have a position in hand.
posted by warriorqueen at 7:06 AM on November 19, 2018 [6 favorites]
Agreed. It is also normal for managers to assume that once people get new degrees and certifications they are likely to want jobs and compensation in line with their new attainment, or seek work elsewhere.
posted by entropone at 7:30 AM on November 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by entropone at 7:30 AM on November 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
I was you a decade ago! I was the library paraprofessional in a high school. I had a good relationship with my direct boss (the librarian), so I was very up front with him about "Ok, can I take on some more complex projects that I can talk about as I look at interviewing" and what that would look like, without taking on things that might outlast me or leave more work for an eventual replacement.
I also made sure that all my documentation (especially the routine but not daily stuff - there were a lot of tasks there that were only yearly or end of semester) was completely up to snuff and complete.
I feel like being up front with my immediate boss (who was a librarian and knew the field) was absolutely the right thing to do. And with schools, there really is an issue of having sufficient staff to allow students to do things or use the space, which I think makes administrators extra stressed.
With someone who doesn't get the field, I'd be a bit more cautious - but you do know they really don't like hidden searches. I might hedge my bets, and go "Just to update you, you remember I'm finishing my degree. I don't know what my next step looks like yet, and finding a professional library job can take a really long time. Can we talk about what things look like in terms of ongoing plans for the library?" If you frame it right, you don't need to make particular commitments, but you'll get more info. (And if they really want to keep you, they could figure out how to do that, y'know?)
(In my case, I didn't find a new position for a year and change, and then my boss who had the professional library position there left for a new job, I was hired as the teacher librarian, so ended up hiring my own replacement. I then lost my job the next year after six months of serious health issues that only got traction on resolution at the end of the school year, and they didn't renew my contract. I got a different library job (eventually) with a move, and now am in a really fantastic different library job I adore. I wish you the really excellent job without any of the inbetween muckiness.)
posted by jenettsilver at 7:38 AM on November 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
I also made sure that all my documentation (especially the routine but not daily stuff - there were a lot of tasks there that were only yearly or end of semester) was completely up to snuff and complete.
I feel like being up front with my immediate boss (who was a librarian and knew the field) was absolutely the right thing to do. And with schools, there really is an issue of having sufficient staff to allow students to do things or use the space, which I think makes administrators extra stressed.
With someone who doesn't get the field, I'd be a bit more cautious - but you do know they really don't like hidden searches. I might hedge my bets, and go "Just to update you, you remember I'm finishing my degree. I don't know what my next step looks like yet, and finding a professional library job can take a really long time. Can we talk about what things look like in terms of ongoing plans for the library?" If you frame it right, you don't need to make particular commitments, but you'll get more info. (And if they really want to keep you, they could figure out how to do that, y'know?)
(In my case, I didn't find a new position for a year and change, and then my boss who had the professional library position there left for a new job, I was hired as the teacher librarian, so ended up hiring my own replacement. I then lost my job the next year after six months of serious health issues that only got traction on resolution at the end of the school year, and they didn't renew my contract. I got a different library job (eventually) with a move, and now am in a really fantastic different library job I adore. I wish you the really excellent job without any of the inbetween muckiness.)
posted by jenettsilver at 7:38 AM on November 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
You aren't keeping secrets from your boss - there are plenty of things you don't tell your boss about in your life (I hope). Would you tell your boss you and your partner are having kids? Getting a mortgage to buy a house? Consult your boss on your vacation destinations before you buy the flights? Another one of those things would be a job search.
I had a boss who sounds a little like yours. Those who gave her normal lengths of notice were often treated to some yelling and humphing, b/c she was controlling and over-involved. They all still had goodbye parties, well-wishes, it worked out except that 30 minutes she needed to freak out about.
Those who tried to honor her wishes to give her months on end to prepare really suffered. As mentioned above, they would lame ducks for the entire period, were essentially doing busy work, AND still had to get guilt-trips about leaving. Just for much, much longer.
Last thing - especially since you haven't even started your job search, and you don't know how its going to go... wait a while. If you feel you must tell your boss, tell him when you are getting very close to procuring real job leads... what if it takes much longer to find the right fit?
posted by RajahKing at 7:43 AM on November 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
I had a boss who sounds a little like yours. Those who gave her normal lengths of notice were often treated to some yelling and humphing, b/c she was controlling and over-involved. They all still had goodbye parties, well-wishes, it worked out except that 30 minutes she needed to freak out about.
Those who tried to honor her wishes to give her months on end to prepare really suffered. As mentioned above, they would lame ducks for the entire period, were essentially doing busy work, AND still had to get guilt-trips about leaving. Just for much, much longer.
Last thing - especially since you haven't even started your job search, and you don't know how its going to go... wait a while. If you feel you must tell your boss, tell him when you are getting very close to procuring real job leads... what if it takes much longer to find the right fit?
posted by RajahKing at 7:43 AM on November 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
Let's take a fairly common decision that bosses have to make. Word comes down that the department needs to trim budget by 10% effective immediately. Now, boss could decide to give everyone a 10% pay cut, or boss could eliminate one position. If boss already knows that one employee is planning to leave as soon as they possibly can, that second option becomes much more interesting, doesn't it?
posted by Rock Steady at 7:49 AM on November 19, 2018
posted by Rock Steady at 7:49 AM on November 19, 2018
First take a deep breath. There is absolutely nothing new to tell here. You knew when you took the job that you weren't planning to be there forever, or even for much longer after graduation, so nothing new there. That is a given. You are not currently looking for job and won't be for months so nothing new there. Even if you are going to tell people, you need to wait until you have something concrete to say.
The biggest caveat is that if you are in the kind of position that has a very specific hiring cycle (as many teaching jobs do) then you should let your boss when he starts planning for next year if you will be returning. If however, you would hope to keep your job into the next cycle, then you will need to decide if you want to prioritize your needs over management's and that will help you decide what to tell when.
posted by metahawk at 3:50 PM on November 19, 2018
The biggest caveat is that if you are in the kind of position that has a very specific hiring cycle (as many teaching jobs do) then you should let your boss when he starts planning for next year if you will be returning. If however, you would hope to keep your job into the next cycle, then you will need to decide if you want to prioritize your needs over management's and that will help you decide what to tell when.
posted by metahawk at 3:50 PM on November 19, 2018
Look on this as being practice for the rest of your professional life, in which it will be completely, completely, 100% normal to look for jobs without telling your current employers. It's not secretive, or suspicious, or 'acting as if', or blindsiding your boss - it's completely normal and what just about every single person you know who has ever changed jobs has done. I would think it extremely peculiar if a colleague of mine made it known to people in the workplace that they were job hunting (unless it was, maybe, a confidence between two particularly close buddies).
If you want to feel better about it think about these two things:
- It doesn't help him to know you're looking, because that doesn't give him any useful information about when you'll leave. You could be looking for weeks, or months. Knowing you're looking doesn't help him with his planning at all.
- It could be actively harmful or difficult for him to know. For example, suppose a promotion or new project came up and you were among several people who could be given it. You don't get picked. He's then open to the charge that he discriminated against you because he suspected you might leave.
Only tell him when you have concrete information in hand that you will be leaving on x date. If he's a dick about it, that's unfortunate, but it's on him, not on you to manage.
posted by penguin pie at 4:19 PM on November 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
If you want to feel better about it think about these two things:
- It doesn't help him to know you're looking, because that doesn't give him any useful information about when you'll leave. You could be looking for weeks, or months. Knowing you're looking doesn't help him with his planning at all.
- It could be actively harmful or difficult for him to know. For example, suppose a promotion or new project came up and you were among several people who could be given it. You don't get picked. He's then open to the charge that he discriminated against you because he suspected you might leave.
Only tell him when you have concrete information in hand that you will be leaving on x date. If he's a dick about it, that's unfortunate, but it's on him, not on you to manage.
posted by penguin pie at 4:19 PM on November 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
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Do not feel guilty. You know how tight the market is for Library Science so remind yourself that you're giving someone else a chance at a great job, while you move ahead into your career.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:32 AM on November 19, 2018 [9 favorites]