How can I tell my boss that I have applied for the job that she is desperate to get?

[Tanzie]

We don't get on, but I have to maintain a reasonable working relationship with her for the next few months until my contract runs out. Her boss gave me a fantastic reference and helped me with my application, but said I should also tell her that I have applied. I am being a bit of a wuss about this, but how do I drop it into the conversation?

Oooh Sis, yes, I think I'll do that! Keep her wondering!

oh well, if they won't contact her, thats different
I still think you should tell her you have applied though....at the same time you tell her you've got it
good luck
Tilly

Will you still have to work with her - even indirectly - if either of you gets the job?

Yes, I am stuck here with my contract until the summer.

Tanzie, my best friend worked for a huge company for some time, she had an excellent record, and had dealt successfully with previously problematic projects. She was soo good at her job that she atracted the attention of senior bosses at the headquarters of the organisation (which by the way was a transnational). She always felt that her boss was blocking so she left the company, and after a few months somebody from the headquarters contacted her telling her they wanted her to come back but to work at the head offices.... They had the interview, had the recommendations of several more important people than her previous boss, and offered her the job saying that there was a tiny clause on the company about always contacting applicant's previous bosses. She thought that it was not going to be a problem as the boss had nothing to complain about her and... they withdrew the job offer as the boss said that although she was an excellent professional he thought that allowing people to leave the comapny so they could be considered for senior positions (and to jump over her boss, and the boss of her boss) would set a terrible prescedent for other workers. In the last few years she has received other three offers for senior positions all of them have been blocked with the same argument... so, never underestimate the power of your immmediate boss.

Her boss made me tell her today that I had applied. She went a bit quiet and said "I thought you said you weren't interested?" I had never said this! I just babbled a bit about how I'd had a proper look at the job ad and lots of what it entailed was stuff I'd done in my last job. She then asked me if she could have a look at my application, as she was still my line manager . I laughed and said, surely you don't see me as competition, and she laughed and said no, of course not. But I think she is worried secretly.

And, no, I didn't show her my application! No way!!

when will you hear Tanzie?

God I hope you get it. She's such a cheeky mare!

Tillykins, with a bit of luck, before Christmas.
Her boss said there is absolutely no reason why I shouldn't get the job "and beat others who are more senior to you" . I don't think she realised I had as much background as I do in the subject matter, and the fact that I have the language, and won't need training, will be a help, I think.

WWW - yes, I agree! I am not that bothered if I get the job or not as I have other irons in the fire, but this is "do or die" for her - she is sooo desperate for it. My colleague said to me, please don't get it, because if you do she will be even more useless and unbearable than she is already!

Did she seriously think I would show her my appliaction? Do I look that dim?

Come back and tell us Tanzie, I so want you to get it, good luck!

hmm I would say that it's not normal to tell your boss if you've applied for a job. You just tell them when you've got one.

Tanzie, I'm glad you told her. I know nothing at all of your history with her but after reading your initial post I was going to advise that you told her, for the simple reason that her boss, your referee, asked you to.

When you ask someone for a reference you are not only giving them work but asking them to put their professional reputation on the line for you.

It's only fair not to let them down (for example by pulling out of the interview on the day - I have given good references to people who then did this) or dropping them in it with someone else they regularly work with.

The boss was being fair by suggesting she ought to know you were applying and it would be best if you were the one to tell her. Did you tell her you'd asked him for a reference? (sorry if I missed that bit) I would recommend being open about that too. Someone will tell her. Might as well be you.

Having said all that, I've just seen hatstand's post and realised that the standard I'm applying is for public sector/professional posts and there might be different conventions in business.

It's outrageous of her to think that 'as your line manageer' she has any right to ask to see your application!!!!

actually I think I was thinking along the lines of external jobs and applying the same logic for internal ones. Now I think about it I'm not sure. ANyway it's been done now (and had been before my post _ i just didn't read propoerly