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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Have applied for an internal job. Should I keep quiet or tell my manager

40 replies

Lolabray · 20/12/2021 20:16

The place I work is having a massive restructure and we have been waiting a long time to know and still don’t know what’s happening.

In the meantime I have seen a better paid role within the same company.

My manager has always been quite honest and I think she would get cross if I did get an interview Without telling her first. at the same time she flies off the handle at little things so I have kept quiet because it is nearing Christmas and there’s been a lot going on at work.

The manager is away now until the new year and this is when short listing for the role will take place.

I am jumping the gun as I may not even get shortlisted however I also have to think ahead just in case. I just wondered what others thought please.

OP posts:
QuicklyNowThen · 20/12/2021 20:20

Absolutely not tell her if you get the job good luck op sounds like it would be much better than your current role with the stress of uncertainty regarding job future and a manager who is so emotionally charged

Dozer · 20/12/2021 20:21

What’s your company’s policy on this? At mine it’s that people applying for vacancies must inform their manager.

ChangeChingyChange · 20/12/2021 20:21

@QuicklyNowThen

Absolutely not tell her if you get the job good luck op sounds like it would be much better than your current role with the stress of uncertainty regarding job future and a manager who is so emotionally charged
This
SleighbellsZ · 20/12/2021 20:22

I always drop an email giving heads up that I'm interested in 'x' role that's been advertised and ill be applying.

Shedmistress · 20/12/2021 20:24

It depends on the policy, in my last organisation if the current manager wanted to they could (and did) block internal moves if they desired. Not telling them would be a valid reason for them to block and so people had to inform their current manager of their intentions.

AD3000 · 20/12/2021 20:25

Where I work it would be seen as very bad form to not tell your manager so I would

Ginkeepsmesane · 20/12/2021 20:25

Can you book in a one to one over email now, for the start of the year. That way you can say that you wanted to discuss face to face and she can see that you booked in with her as soon as you theoretically could. If it turns into nothing for the new job, then you could say you wanted to go over your work goals with view of progression over next few years?

Original poster
Lolabray · 20/12/2021 20:27

Oh god I didn’t even think.. the company just has internal vacancies slapped all over the website. I will check and if need be withdraw if this is the case. Thanks for your help with this

OP posts:
Original poster
Lolabray · 20/12/2021 20:27

@Ginkeepsmesane sounds like a good idea

OP posts:
PeterPomegranate · 20/12/2021 20:28

@Dozer

What’s your company’s policy on this? At mine it’s that people applying for vacancies must inform their manager.
Yep same.
babymuffinxo · 20/12/2021 20:29

I told my manager that I had applied for an internal role out of courtesy. I just explained that it was a step up, increased responsibility, more money etc. She was fab about it and gave me a glowing review to my would be manager. I ended up getting the new role and am still on really good terms with my old team and manager. Each to their own, but honesty is the best policy. Would be awfully awkward if your manager found out and you weren’t the one to tell them..

SheldonesqueTheBstard · 20/12/2021 20:30

I would say I was applying.

It is frowned upon if you do not give the managers a heads up where I am.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 20/12/2021 20:31

@Dozer

What’s your company’s policy on this? At mine it’s that people applying for vacancies must inform their manager.
Ours too.

But if there is no policy to this effect OP, then don’t.

icedcoffees · 20/12/2021 20:31

Where I am, if you didn't inform your manager, the person dealing with the applications would tell them anyway.

I always spoke to my manager about applying for any other internal roles - I think it's a bit sneaky not to, really.

Aprilx · 20/12/2021 20:31

I have never worked anywhere where it would not be considered very unprofessional to apply for an internal role without notifying the line manager.

GrandmasCat · 20/12/2021 20:34

Where I work you only need to tell your manager if you expect to do the other job as a secondment.

If it is moving into a new role, you just tell them when you get the job. If there is an issue with you leaving, the managers would negotiate between them for you to start the new job at a mutually “less inconvenient” time.

But even if it wasn’t like that, what is the point of telling your manager you are applying for jobs when you don’t know what are your chances of getting it?

Original poster
Lolabray · 20/12/2021 20:35

@Aprilx thanks for your advice. this is the first time I have ever even thought about this until now. I haven’t ever applied for a role internally before, it was a last minute thing as I had to do this one day before the deadline ended.

Really appreciate everyone’s advice

OP posts:
username30473 · 20/12/2021 20:57

Where do you all work?! I work in within HR /recruitment of a big company and staff are under no obligation to inform management. Nor would we inform management who has applied for any role.

rrhuth · 20/12/2021 20:59

@GrandmasCat

Where I work you only need to tell your manager if you expect to do the other job as a secondment.

If it is moving into a new role, you just tell them when you get the job. If there is an issue with you leaving, the managers would negotiate between them for you to start the new job at a mutually “less inconvenient” time.

But even if it wasn’t like that, what is the point of telling your manager you are applying for jobs when you don’t know what are your chances of getting it?

Same for me - you ask for a secondment, keep quiet for a new role.
BurntO · 20/12/2021 21:00

We have to disclose to line managers. I went through this recently and my manager and I had a good chat about it. I was unsuccessful but my manager is working with me to flex my current role a bit to help me gain experience in other areas and is very supportive. It doesn’t have to be awkward.

Shedmistress · 20/12/2021 21:02

@username30473

Where do you all work?! I work in within HR /recruitment of a big company and staff are under no obligation to inform management. Nor would we inform management who has applied for any role.
It is to protect the company - I'd expect most companies to have this in their policies.

I'd also have a chat with anyone whose staff I was looking to recruit. It would be rude not to.

Bushkin · 20/12/2021 21:04

Our policy is you have to, you even have to tick a box on the internal application

Bushkin · 20/12/2021 21:05

Huge company 100k+ employees

Original poster
Lolabray · 20/12/2021 21:18

There was no box to tick or no mention of the managers .. I am going to contact HR tomorrow for a chat.

OP posts:
drpet49 · 20/12/2021 21:19

Where I work it would be seen as very bad form to not tell your manager so I would

^This.