Letting your employer know you are looking for a new position..

Do you think letting your employer know that you are looking elsewhere is the courteous thing to do, or simply setting yourself up for disaster for your remaining time with the company?

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Mojo_666

It depends on the employer and how they feel about you, it can either end up with them fighting for you to stay or them getting the hate on and changing passwords etc. If you have to ask then I would just keep quiet.

bertieb

It depends on how good your relationship is with your employer. I've mentioned to some in the past in my early days with the reasons why and they were actually very supportive. Others I didn't mention it to them until I was practically skipping out of the door as I know it would have caused major grief.

I've typically found that more harm than good comes from letting them know in advance if you don't already have somewhere else lined up to go to.

gorebrush

Someone found out that I was looking for a new job and told my manager about it.

Looks like you have to be careful who you trust.

Anyway, my boss was very understanding and wanted to discuss why I wanted to leave, and I was to let him know if I was still looking for a new job so that we can keep the business running in the event that I do leave (and we need to find someone else)

At the moment I'm considering telling him straight that I am still actively looking for a new post, because there is no way I am happy here.

Anonymouse

Since I'm a contractor working through a temp agency I have a feeling that my manager would just contact the temp agency and find a replacement before I can even get a new job.

KeithC

I would keep hush until you have another position lined up. That is what giving 2 weeks is all about, if you wish to give more notice that is up to you. Like others have said you could be setting yourself up for more hassle then it's worth if you catch your boss in a bad mood . . .

Unless you are only attempting to get more money in a counter offer. I would keep quiet until handing in my notice.

N2IT

nanashi wrote: »

Since I'm a contractor working through a temp agency I have a feeling that my manager would just contact the temp agency and find a replacement before I can even get a new job.

Great post!

N2IT

KeithC wrote: »

I would keep hush until you have another position lined up. That is what giving 2 weeks is all about, if you wish to give more notice that is up to you. Like others have said you could be setting yourself up for more hassle then it's worth if you catch your boss in a bad mood . . .

Unless you are only attempting to get more money in a counter offer. I would keep quiet until handing in my notice.

I couldn't agree more. +1

gorebrush

Counter offer... wow, I wish I could even dream of thinking my company would do that!

tpatt100

I don't say anything unless you know you have at least 6 months living expenses in the bank lol.

rwmidl

Wait until you have another offer /accepted it. Then tell your current employer you are leaving. Not sure how it is in Germany but in the US, most states are "right to work" which means you can be terminated at any time.

Anonymouse

I just remembered a related incident that happened to a buddy. He gave a few months notice stating that he was going back to school and they let him go two weeks later.

eMeS

rwmidl wrote: »

Not sure how it is in Germany but in the US, most states are "right to work" which means you can be terminated at any time.

Nowhere near most...not even half, and that's not what right-to-work laws do.

What you're thinking of is the general doctrine of at-will employment.

MS

rwmidl

eMeS wrote: »

Nowhere near most...not even half, and that's not what right-to-work laws do.

What you're thinking of is the general doctrine of at-will employment.

MS

You are right. My bad.

eMeS

rwmidl wrote: »

You are right. My bad.

I agree completely with your general sentiment...it's foolish for one to let their current employer know that they're looking for a new job. In fact, it kind of seems like a veiled threat, or a chicken-s way to ask for a raise, which is how I would take it if I were the employer.

As said, Germany may be completely different altogether....

MS

rwmidl

eMeS wrote: »

I agree completely with your general sentiment...it's foolish for one to let their current employer know that they're looking for a new job. In fact, it kind of seems like a veiled threat, or a chicken-s way to ask for a raise, which is how I would take it if I were the employer.

As said, Germany may be completely different altogether....

MS

My first job out of college, when I gave my notice I gave a 4 week notice. After two weeks they said I was done and that was that. Granted, it was the end of the year so in a way it made sense for them to start clean with a new calendar year, and I got a weeks break between jobs .

forkvoid

Two jobs ago, when I gave notice, I was escorted out an hour later. Last job, I gave notice and they threw me a party.

Point is: know your boss and you'll have your answer.

Hyper-Me

Yes its totally dependant on the situation. My last job didnt pay so i told them i was looking elsewhere (partially to pressure them into realizing I was worth more than they were paying, partially because i was ready to move on if i was going to be treated like that). In the end they didnt pony up and I left, but i think it was for the best. They didnt cut my notice short, infact I was knee deep in the same project I had been working on (hundreds of thousands of dollars into it) up until the minute I left for the last time.

erpadmin

A wise colleauge told me awhile ago to never accept a counter offer. It wasn't until I remembered prior lay-offs as to why that advice made sense. A counter offer is just a way for your current employer to squeeze more blood out of the rock. Once they feel there isn't any more, you are dumped. I always give a two week notice after I evaluate the new job in hand. It really has to make sense for me to leave. I didn't leave my last job lightly. My last job, I saw nothing but trouble and bullcrap ahead. No one else saw it or wanted to see it, but it was there and too powerful to ignore. By the time it happened, folks were pretty much scatter-brained. But I was sitting pretty in new (current) position by the time all that happened.

Once you have it in your mind that you're gonna go, and you get an offer letter, go! Don't let anyone at your current position know UNTIL and UNLESS you trust them explicitly (and they're your references).

As for letting an employer know that you're leaving. Well, that's just unnecessary foreshadowing that you just don't need to include in that story...period.

ssampier

This is a great thread.

What lines do you usually use so you take the day off when you have an interview with a potential employer?

Some other general advice:

1. Don't do the George Costanza "marching-in" and tell your boss how he/she is a complete idiot and you're leaving
2. When you leave write a simple memorandum and indicate that you are resigning effective on your last day and sign it
3. Stay in touch with former colleagues. Everything is connected so it's best to stay on good terms if you can.

it_consultant

People care more about their companies than the companies care for them. They won't think twice about letting you go without notice, they don't tell you when they are looking for a new candidate for your job WHILE YOU ARE STILL THERE. I don't even give two weeks anymore because as someone noted, they gave two weeks and were walked out the door that day. I give two days notice.

I got canned one day and walked into another job a day later, you could say I "saw the writing on the wall".

dynamik

I'm with the crowd that thinks it depends on the employer. As things stand with my current employer, I'd definitely give notice and possibly even tell them in advance if I was starting to look casually. We have a difficult time staying fully staffed as it is, and it takes months to get someone up to speed even if they're competent. I usually have travel and on-site engagements scheduled around three months in advance, and I would be putting them in an awful position if I just walked out the door one day.

Unless there are extenuating circumstances, I'd always give at least two weeks. Sure, you might get shown the door, but then you get a two-week vacation

Just make sure you have the funds to tide you over if that does happen. However, I usually see people getting paid for those two weeks in those circumstances. Your reputation can really follow you in this industry; I wouldn't burn any bridges unnecessarily.

I might have a somewhat unique perspective since I typically work for smaller, close-knit companies. It's possible I'd feel differently if I was just a tiny piece of the puzzle in an enormous IT department.

Also, personal integrity really factors into the equation for me. I simply wouldn't feel right about just walking out the door (under normal circumstances). Sure, they might be bitter or escort me out on the spot. Whatever. That's not on me. I'm not responsible for how others behave.

forkvoid

it_consultant wrote: »

People care more about their companies than the companies care for them. They won't think twice about letting you go without notice, they don't tell you when they are looking for a new candidate for your job WHILE YOU ARE STILL THERE. I don't even give two weeks anymore because as someone noted, they gave two weeks and were walked out the door that day. I give two days notice.

I got canned one day and walked into another job a day later, you could say I "saw the writing on the wall".

My current supervisor requested that I give THREE MONTHS notice if I intend to leave. I accidentally laughed out-loud. I told him I would give as much notice as I can... which will be two weeks. Managers are nuts, it seems.

Mojo_666

forkvoid wrote: »

My current supervisor requested that I give THREE MONTHS notice if I intend to leave. I accidentally laughed out-loud. I told him I would give as much notice as I can... which will be two weeks. Managers are nuts, it seems.

Your notice period should be in your contract, it is not and should not be on anyone's whim. Any contractually agreed period can be worked if both parties wish.

erpadmin

forkvoid wrote: »

My current supervisor requested that I give THREE MONTHS notice if I intend to leave. I accidentally laughed out-loud. I told him I would give as much notice as I can... which will be two weeks. Managers are nuts, it seems.

Unless you signed something stating otherwise, it's generally two weeks notice. I've had some employers who demanded I start the next day. I told them flat out that that wasn't happening...they wouldn't want that done to them. As for the old place, when I give notice, it's always for two weeks and unless they wanted me out the door, I was there the whole two weeks. My predecessor gave two weeks but took a week off. He left a bad taste in everyone's mouth not to mention a beautiful surprise for me when I started that turned into 3 full days of downtime. Thankfully, when I started this job, I was able to have a week off in between jobs (had money to cover that of course) so that was nice.

it_consultant

I have never been on a contract that couldn't be terminated by either party with no notice. I am not part of a union and my state does not have any "for cause" laws so its a bit of a jungle.

All employers don't suck. We had a guy leave who took a competitive offer, he gave a month notice and is actually coming along with us to our company outing. We are also a company of 10, so no termination happens without everyone knowing about it WAY in advance.

laptop

Never tell anyone if you're looking for a new position. I learned from some of my peers and the last words she told me was "Always look out for yourself".

forkvoid

erpadmin wrote: »

Unless you signed something stating otherwise, it's generally two weeks notice. I've had some employers who demanded I start the next day. I told them flat out that that wasn't happening...they wouldn't want that done to them. As for the old place, when I give notice, it's always for two weeks and unless they wanted me out the door, I was there the whole two weeks. My predecessor gave two weeks but took a week off. He left a bad taste in everyone's mouth not to mention a beautiful surprise for me when I started that turned into 3 full days of downtime. Thankfully, when I started this job, I was able to have a week off in between jobs (had money to cover that of course) so that was nice.

My employer was actually one of those that made it a condition of employment that I start in two days. I had gotten clearance from my then-current supervisor several months before(who was aware I was leaving) in case this came up, so no bad taste in their mouths.... but demanding I start immediately, then wanting three months notice to leave... It strikes me now that it's pretty dang selfish of them.

Devilsbane

Ryan82 wrote: »

Do you think letting your employer know that you are looking elsewhere is the courteous thing to do, or simply setting yourself up for disaster for your remaining time with the company?

Likely no. The only exception I see to this is if you also have a personal relationship in which case your boss would be happy to see that you are moving on to bigger and better things.

If you don't have that relationship, then you give them 2 weeks notice and not a second more. I have heard many people who either get let go when it is found that they are looking or are let go when they put in their notice.

During my last move, I didn't even let me coworkers know that I was looking. You never know when one of them might squeel, and lets face it. No matter how good you are, a boss could very likely dig up a reason to let you go, or at least make your last few weeks working the night shift.

Devilsbane

eMeS wrote: »

it's foolish for one to let their current employer know that they're looking for a new job. In fact, it kind of seems like a veiled threat, or a chicken-s way to ask for a raise, which is how I would take it if I were the employer.

Another thing that it depends on is whether the job you are looking for is inside the company you are currently with. A friend of mine works for a company who promotes growth from inside. Managers can get dinged on their yearly reviews if they keep the same team forever. He spoke with his manager about what he wanted to do, and then his manager spoke with that manager and started the transitioning progress.

But even that isn't a guarentee. Your manager could take the stance of "If I can't have you nobody can."

rwmidl

Devilsbane wrote: »

During my last move, I didn't even let me coworkers know that I was looking. You never know when one of them might squeel, and lets face it. No matter how good you are, a boss could very likely dig up a reason to let you go, or at least make your last few weeks working the night shift.

Very true. If you are looking, keep it to yourself and don't discuss with your coworkers!