To tell manager I’m applying for roles?

[gossipgurl]

Would you tell your manager that you’re applying for jobs?

YABU=yes
YANBU=no

I don’t need to ask for time off to attend interviews as I manage my own schedule

The main reason I would tell my manager is out of courtesy. We have a decent relationship, he’d take me wanting to leave as a surprise and departure would cause disruption. Manager may have an indication already as I shared my screen once and an email from a job search site was in my inbox😬

I don’t need application support from him, but as I put myself forward for token development opportunities like job shadowing or joining recruitment panels, he’ll likely realise why. I’ve only told trusted colleagues like mentors I’m applying, but there’s always a chance word might get around so might be better if I tell him

@ThirtyThrillionThreeTrees interestingly we have explored blockers in role and the last person in my role left over same things - he didn’t change anything in between staff so he likely doesn’t think it’s that important? If he’s conscious of me leaving over same reasons, he hasn’t done anything to support retention. Maybe he has cottoned on more than I’m giving him credit for

Same here for internal opportunities like an expression of interest. Luckily there’s external jobs on the civil service website which I’m keen on

My boss asked me to let him know if I was looking. I said I would. But I would feel very odd doing so!

I understand why he'd want to know. And we do have a great relationship. But I rather feel it would jinx the process and he'd constantly be asking me if I'd found anything!

How long have you been in the role? If there is an ‘expected time’ to stay in an internal role and you’re leaving sooner than the usual duration I probably wouldn’t say anything until had secured another role.

Due to the risk of being given worse work, passed over for training / project opportunities etc.

Not externally no

Internally - yes if it’s expected in your organisation.

if you are moving jobs within the civil service then it is normal to tell your manager. In my department all the adverts say you have to do that they can release you in good time if successful. I wouldn’t worry about it.

I have done in the past but as a negotiating tool. Eg

"I'm thinking of leaving but I'd be prepared to stay for x period of time
If you do x,y, and z"

Otherwise no I wouldn't tell.

I used to work for a very large organisation where this was the rule. Verbal was satisfactory.

Informed my Line Manager that I was applying for a different internal role to my then current one.

Bastard was shit scared of his boss (she was a cow so I partially understood why) so he never told her.

She was copied in on my interview message and blew her top. My LM denied I'd told him. She didn't say no, just booked me in on a site where I couldn't get to the interview. Just because she had to have the last word. Bitch.

Unfortunately, I had informed him in front of several other people who confirmed to his LM that I had told him. The rule was then changed that LMs were informed by email with their LM copied in.

Interview re-booked and I was in that role for many happy years. It actually propelled me to the role I have today.

ps. The bitches husband was someone who was my LM when I joined the company and you'd never met a nicer bloke.