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Original poster

How honest should I be with my very new employer? When I knew I'm intending to leave...

57 replies

BirdsInMyPants · 10/12/2015 21:16

I've applied for a nursing degree for three years running, having applied to one uni in a very popular area and having to fight up to 2k applicants for 40 places it's a tough git to get into.

A few months ago I started working at a school for children with severe learning and physical disabilities. At the same time as applying for the third time to this nursing degree.

I bloody LOVE my job, the children, my co-workers, my boss, the boss up, etc etc. It's a very caring setting and utterly amazing. In the perfect world, I'd be a qualified nurse in the same place (but I'd be employed by the NHS
then, not the school)

Anyway I went for the degree interview and I got in. I don't start until Feb 2017 but I have my 3 month 'probation interview' coming up for work. They want to know my plans for the future and stuff.

Am I honest straight away? (Could they sack me?). Do I hint at it, and wait until later? Do I say nothing and give a terms notice this time next year?

I want to tell them now, I want to be totally honest since I will work there for a further 14 months but I'm worried they will ditch me if they know now.

I love my job and dread leaving it. My only silver lining is that I can go back during placements and eventually work there again, but with a career.

OP posts:
MoreSnowPlease · 10/12/2015 21:57

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PigletJohn · 10/12/2015 21:59

Loyalty cuts two ways.

If an employer was planning to cut headcounts, and make staff redundant, in a year's time, do you think they would tell you?

If a school was planning to boot out qualified senior staff and bring in cheapies, do you think they would tell you?

If the government was planning to cut budgets and close schools in a year's time, do you think they would tell you?

No, they would keep the staff working their guts out and thinking of long-term career commitment until the envelopes came round.

FannyTheChampionOfTheWorld · 10/12/2015 22:03

Why on earth would you tell them? Maybe in an ideal world you could be honest and upfront with each other, but your current lack of employment rights mean you aren't in a position to take that risk. And you're talking about staying with them for 17 months. Hardly a revolving door scenario. There are lots of workplaces where the average tenure is less than that.

pillowaddict · 10/12/2015 22:07

To be honest I've not heard of places being offered or planned for so far in advance so I don't think your employers would think anything of you telling them much nearer the time of your plans. I'd probably say longterm you'd love to get qualified at some point then stress how much you enjoy your time. They may train you on the job in things that will help you in your studies - and I disagree with a pp to say it would be a waste of investment for them as it will help to have you fully trained in the time you are there. Well done on your acceptance!

whatever22 · 10/12/2015 22:08

I wouldn't say anything. Things could change in a year (not saying they will, but the future is always uncertain).

nameinlights · 10/12/2015 22:13

DO NOT TELL THEM!

I was in a very similar situation to a while back. I applied for new jobs whilst also applying to train to be a social worker. I got offered a new job before I knew if I had got a place to study social work. By the time I started the new job, I had secured a place to study social work. I decided to start the new job anyway and see I liked the job enough to do that instead of social work. It clear straight away that I did not like the job but I waited until I had to give my notice to tell them. I am glad I did not tell them any sooner as it would be been uncomfortable. I gave them the required 2 months notice.

DrDreReturns · 10/12/2015 22:27

I wouldn't tell them. Just hand in your notice when the time comes.

topcat2014 · 10/12/2015 22:31

About 1 in 5 staff leave their jobs every year. Most people who will be leaving in February 2017 haven't even got round to thinking that they might yet.

Your only obligations to your employer are not to search for jobs during work time, and to then give the required notice when the time comes.

I agree with the comment that most men wouldn't even think this was an issue - even the mild mannered self effacing ones.

Judydreamsofhorses · 10/12/2015 22:36

Do not tell them! By February 2017 you might have moved to a different country, loads of things could happen between now and then. There is absolutely nothing to gaîn by telling them other than salving your conscience, and you have nothing at all to feel guilty about anyway.

FishWithABicycle · 10/12/2015 22:39

Don't tell them - not with that distance away. You have a notice period - give them that plus a little bit more when the time comes.

In the mean time give your job all the energy and enthusiasm you can.

TisIthecat · 10/12/2015 22:41

Congratulations!!
I'm hoping to go to uni in September. I have my annual review at the start of September (the day I submit my ucas form) where I will be demonstrating my commitment to the business, setting out my training needs for the next 12 months and establishing where I want to be in 3 years time. In 3 years time I intend to be a very long way away. My boss will have my unwavering commitment and enthusiasm until I hand in my notice in April (hopefully).

Career moves are like pregnancies - totally legitimate to lie about!

Brenna24 · 10/12/2015 22:44

The "how do you see your future in this organisation?" is a very standard question. I would omit any reference to the degree right now and think about what answer you would give if you didn't have the degree offer. Give them that answer because you cannot know what would happen in 14 months. You may love the job so much you decide to stay after all, you may well miss out on a lot of promotion and training opportunities if you tell them now, you may even have a change of circumstances that mean you can't do the degree then. Just enjoy your job, do your best at it and take whatever training you can. That will all either help towards the nursing degree later or towards the job if you decide to stay there.

lorisparkle · 10/12/2015 22:46

Many congratulations on getting onto the course. In the SLD/PMLD schools that I work I would imagine that the management would be disappointed to lose a good employee however they would be thrilled that you were looking to extend your skills etc. It is fairly common in the settings I have worked in that TAs go off to complete degrees, teacher training, etc and whilst this can be frustrating as you need to appoint a new member of staff it is not unusual. However I would not say anything until you have to hand your notice in - just because you can not predict the future. As previous posts say you do just need to be creative with your answer in the probation interview.

FreeWorker1 · 10/12/2015 22:48

Do not tell them - but what is to stop you working for them part-time during your nursing degree?

Why not speak them when the time comes and go part time?

I agree with others though. They would make you redundant in a heartbeat if the number of children dropped or they needed to cut costs.

OneMoreCasualty · 10/12/2015 22:52

Yeah, what piglet john says.

And Peggy always takes the contrary position, so the thread's practically unanimous.

mysteryfairy · 10/12/2015 22:54

Don't tell them!

It's certainly true to say all sorts of things about wanting to work in a caring profession, wanting to be long term at the school etc.

Will you be caught out by the withdrawal of funding for NHS degrees? If so that would only add to my recommendation to keep quiet just in case things change and you can't make the financial commitment.

MrsDiesel · 10/12/2015 23:00

I wouldn't tell them either, as already said, anything can happen in the space of time and it's not worth limiting your options. Just tell them that you are very happy in your role.

I do like the idea of possibly staying part time during your nursing course, it would certainly make getting a job there in nursing easier when you are qualified.

morethanacondiment · 10/12/2015 23:04

I'm genuinely surprised by these answers. I'm a sort of consultant (employed by the NHS) who works in loads of different schools, and I'm married to the head of a school for children with SLD.
This sounds totally normal for lots of TAs in both of our jobs - good assistants tend to use the job as a platform for better things. People are usually upfront about this, and we tend to know right from the start that they won't be with us forever.
By all means stay quiet if you're worried, but I have NEVER heard of someone being pushed out because of this. We don't have massive budgets to support staff induction, and if someone is good at their job, they'll keep it.
Or perhaps I just live in a very naive and sheltered corner of the UK Grin

DeriArms · 10/12/2015 23:33

Don't tell them. See how you get on and give them the standard notice when you intend to leave.
Congratulations on getting in to uni :-)

TiredButFineODFOJ · 10/12/2015 23:43

Another HR person. Don't tell them. Nothing this far away is certain.
Tell them that you love it there and your next year plan is to get x experience/ learn more about x.

ZenNudist · 10/12/2015 23:52

You shouldn't tell them but us it a lie to say you live working there and would like to work there well into the future (you just leave out 'as a nurse'!

Hairyfairy01 · 10/12/2015 23:57

I hope to be in a similar situation (if offered a place in nursing). I'm also dreading telling my line manager (also NHS) who have invested lots of time, effort and money in my training. Thankfully I have just done my 6 month probation period though. In your situation I wouldn't tell them now, it's to early. Out of interest can you not start in sept 2016, especailly considering the bursary situation? And also what makes you so certain you can go back there for placements / carer?

JohnCusacksWife · 11/12/2015 00:08

A university course that starts in Feb 2017? That's a v unusual start date and unusually long timescale. But on balance I'd say nothing. A lot could happen (for them and you) in that timeframe.

AnyoneFucoffee · 11/12/2015 00:21

I thought you were going to say you were leaving next month!!

Feb 2017??? Absolutely no need (morally or ethically) to inform them yet whatsoever.

DrDreReturns · 11/12/2015 07:42

This reminds me of an interview I had years ago for a science technician in a school. One if the questions was 'how long will you stay in this job.' I only intended it to be a stop gap until I found something else, I didn't intend to make it a career, so I said one year. I didn't get the job and the feedback I got said that answer was the main reason. While your situation is not exactly the same I still wouldn't tell them until you have to hand your notice in.