Should I tell manager about interview?

[Floating101]

I have a job interview coming up that I hope will go well and don't know whether to mention to my current line manager or not. Googling says it's a big no no - no guarantee I'll get the job and could make things awkward as they'll know I'm looking to move on. However, a colleague who left last year handed in her notice and our manager was most upset that she hadn't informed her she was going for the interview in the first place so her notice coming in was a complete shock. I remember all the drama well so wonder if I'm better to let her know I have the interview - I need to book a days leave for it anyway so she may ask what I'm up to and I don't want to lie. We get on well and consider each other as friends which is nice but also makes it difficult when it comes to this kind of situation.

Does anyone have any advice?

I wouldn't. If you get the job and she's upset does it really matter if you're leaving anyway? If you don't get it you will feel better you never mentioned the interview.

Don't tell her! If she's prone to creating drama, then it's not likely to go well for you.

If you get the job, maybe tell her that you have a zoom interview that evening, then the next day tell her you got the job.

I told my manager when I had an interview recently. And I hope my team would tell me, if they did. Development is something everyone should be looking for, whether in current role or if you've outgrown the role, a new one.

But I don't know you or your manager so don't know if you should do the same.

No way!
It's not your fault if your manager gets upset.

Definitely not! It could
very easily be counted against you in reviews/pay reviews/redundancy consultations etc. it may not be legal, but it happens!

It depends entirely on the manager. When one of my reports told me he was job hunting I helped him prep for interviews, gave him a pep talk and a good reference.
My previous manager: no fucking way! He would have sabotaged me any way possible. I didn't even put him as a reference because I could get away with using someone else.

She does not need to know.
Albeit you are friendly, this is your professional life & presumably advancement. Friendship & business are separate but she may not be mature enough to appreciate that.
If you get the job, well done.
If not, nothing lost.
Don’t tell another living soul. Discretion in the work place will be your true friend.

I’ve been in this position. It’s hard to lie/pretend when you have a friendly relationship with a manager. And people who claim otherwise haven’t experienced the situation.

However, you have to remove the emotion from the situation. It’s nice for work to include feelings and courtesy, but fundamentally it’s about productivity and money. Agree with PP that a good boss should welcome your progress - or at the very least have their emotions in check to not make a fuss about it when you announce your departure.

If you still feel bad about potentially letting them down, the best you can do is work diligently during your notice period and help them to recruit a strong replacement. Good luck!

Don’t ffs.

I have managed many teams of people over many years. I would have been astounded if anyone had told me that they were interviewing for other roles outside of the organisation.

You are not responsible for your manager’s lack of professionalism. Every manager should have strategies for staff turn over. It is an inevitable in any business. I always ensured that if a staff member resigned, I had a plan for recruitment/staff development and handover to keep the department successful.

No no no no no.

Seriously? Google is correct: of course you don't tell the manager. She'd have been upset even if the last colleague told her upfront.

Thanks all, I know it seems like a stupid question and an obvious no! I just clearly remember her saying when my colleague left that she thought it would have been common courtesy to have been told about the interview and then the notice wouldn't have been such a shock.
I've been there a loooong time so I think telling her about the interview will be a shock regardless. I'll keep my mouth shut I think - thanks! :)

My advice is to fib and only tell her you have an interview after you’ve been offered the job, say the same day or day later. It will take the new employer a while to get your pre employment checks done and of course you won’t be handing in your notice until you’ve been given an unconditional offer so she would have been given plenty of time to adjust.

Definitely not!
The only situation you would tell your manager is if you are applying to internal roles within your current company.

No, OP, that could put you in a very awkward position.

Hell no

No, just book day off and if they ask just say you're having a duvet day for yourself.

it would have been common courtesy to have been told about the interview and then the notice wouldn't have been such a shock.

Absolute bollocks 😂

Giving notice isn't a shock. Walking out and never coming back would be a shock.

Never, ever indicate you're looking at moving on.

I always told my manager when I had an interview. In teaching you have to, and in my roles afterwards my managers were always supportive and helpful. It would have been unusual in my last workplace for people not to let their manager know. Workplaces differ of course.

Internal - yes absolutely
External - no way Jose

I wouldn’t

I had a job interview a few days ago on my lunch break. Never even crossed my mind to tell my manager. Only time I’d say something is when I’m ready to hand in notice

If you tell your manager about the interview, and then you don’t get the job, she is now aware that you are not as settled as she may previously have thought.

You might not find another job to apply for straight away, things might change where you are and you wish to stay. If there are promotions or opportunities within your company, they may not be as confident to offer you something if you are seen as a risk.

Best of luck with the interview!

I always do and prefer when my staff do too. I have been offered invaluable support by previous managers in thinking about how I approach the interview. These have generally been progressions so they understand they I am moving on for positive reasons, IE I want progression. If that is your motivation that's no bad thing for your manager to know even if you don't get the role, they may start looking at you differently and think and about how they could grow you/keep you.
Don't know if this is a public sector v private thing though, as very standard in public sector to have these kind of conversations beforehand.

Is this external? I assume yes, as you have to book a day off. If so, I wouldn't mention it unless you want to - you're doing the interview in your own time. Internal, I always mention it to my line manager. It's not a crime to want to progress, even if it's a sideways move.

If it very different if is a new role in the same company or if you are moving onto pastures new and also on for manager.

Within the same company they should be pleased you are looking for development opportunities and continue to support you for the overall good of the company.

If you are looking to move on, and dont get an offer, it sends out a message you are looking to leave. Think about it from a managers point of view, who do you give a new development opportunity to, the team member who you think is committed to staying or the one you know is already looking elsewhere.