To not tell my employer I'm looking for a new job

[simpleth1ngs]

I have been working for the same company for six years and before that was a student. I am now looking for a new job in a new place, because I have come to hate it.

I don't really know the process though - do I have to tell my current employer that I'm looking elsewhere before I even interview? Would the new place contact my current employer for references before offering me a job?

It feels like I should tell them but I don't want to say I'm leaving until I actually have something else lined up iyswim. It wouldn't leave anyone in the lurch particularly as there are lots of us in the same role.

God no, nobody does - but give them plenty of notice when you do get a new one.

Good god no I wouldn't tell them your are looking! I don't know how employers do references but where I work they won't contact your current employer unless you are offered the job

No, don't tell them! You only tell them when you have signed a contract elsewhere. Just make sure you are able to work for your contracted notice period.

No don't. Nobody does and it will not help your situation in your current one.

No don't tell them. You can request that referees are not contacted unless you are offered the job, although I think that's fairly standard practice. Also common in my industry (possibly everywhere?) is to put "references available on request" on your cv or application and then you supply details when they offer you the job.

Wait until you have actually signed the contract for the new job (unless you want old one to persuade you to stay), then go in with resignation letter.

This is one of the few times that chucking a sickie or inventing a doctors appointment is ok! Definitely dont tell them, and most employers will now ask if it is ok to contact current employers for a reference before a job offer. In fact, where I used to work it was assumed that references would not be applied for until an offer had been made and accepted.

Phew, thanks everyone! I will keep quiet.

As long as there is no link to both jobs, don't tell. My friend was offered a job in one area of the council but was waiting to see if she got an interview in her preferred area. She did get an interview and didn't know whether to say anything to the original job but when she tried to put off the start date they said they knew she had an interview and just to let them know either way if she got the job.

Definitely don't tell your employer.

But I don't agree with this: This is one of the few times that chucking a sickie or inventing a doctors appointment is ok!

If your new employer asked the old one for details of your time keeping (which they could, with your permission) it wouldn't look good that you'd been 'chucking a sickie' to go for interviews with them

Dishonesty isn't a sought after trait in new employees.

And what are you supposed to do if you cant get a half day annual leave?

Having a "doctors appointment " was shorthand for an interview in my old job, but then it was pretty easy going.

that's what done though, isn't it?

I don't even lie about having a docs appointment - I just don't go in and then ring up and say I have a personal issue to deal with and will be in by x time - that's not even a lie.

NB I don't make a habit of this.

In most jobs (there are few public sector exceptions) telling anyone what you are doing will change things forever for the worse - especially if you don't get the job

I wouldn't worry too much about references - we've become so litigious that many employers won't go beyond confirming that you were an employee between two dates on a reference - very few will want to give a bad ref to someone who's leaving.

It's up to you, really. You certainly don't have to tell your employer, but it won't necessarily do you any harm if you do, and it might make life a whole lot easier. I guess it depends on your reasons for leaving.

One of my team is currently looking for another job, and has been for a while. He's been great in his current role, but he wants to progress his career and we haven't got any long-term progression opportunities that we can offer him right now.

He has been really open and honest with us about his plans, and this has been greatly appreciated as we've been able to plan contingencies if he gets something. He'll be getting a great reference, time off for interviews and we've given him feedback on how to improve his applications. We've also tried quite hard to give him opportunities to develop in areas where he has gaps in his experience. He's a great worker, and I'll be really sad to see him go, but I understand his reasons and wouldn't want to hold him back. There's certainly no bad feeling!

That said, I chose not to tell my last employer that I was job-hunting until I was ready to hand in my resignation. It all depends on your situation and on the relationship that you have with your boss!

There's no need to tell the company, but equally it can be helpful - your colleagues are likely to know of other good jobs, there might be opportunities elsewhere in the company that your bosses might want to offer you to hope you might stay.

So it depends on the people, the job, but no, there's no obligation. I never would not though, if I'm unhappy at a job and planning to leave, the company knows it.