Tell employer of job search?

This is probably a stupid question, and before I start to describe the situation, I'll say that my answer is "absolutely not until you have an offer on the table", but I figured that I would rather get other opinions.

The reason that I ask is that I harbor no bad feelings towards anybody here, or the company. If I was paid more I might stay longer; if the job was in a different location, I wouldn’t even be looking. Also, we need to get someone trained to replace me. I’m the only one who knows enough to train anybody. While it is currently already on the to-do list, it is a very low priority level, and I cannot realistically raise the priority without raising suspicion that I’m leaving.

The job itself is not making me move. There are a multitude of things I dislike about it that have me casually looking at other positions within the company, but nothing that is making me actively search.

The reason that I’m leaving: Family. I’m engaged. I’m from Chicagoland and all my family lives there. My fiancé is from Chicagoland, her family still lives there. On top of that, her mom has MS and was just diagnosed with Breast cancer. The cancer is not bad and should be 100% “curable”, but it is still not an easy thing to deal with, and distance only makes it more difficult. We’ve discussed it, and we want to be back home.

So, in the situation where you are leaving a company on good terms, do you inform them that you are planning on doing so? To throw a kink into the works, the company has an office in Chicagoland, and openings do come up every once in awhile. Chances of getting the post are unknown though, probably slim. If I were to apply there, they would know that I am applying elsewhere as well.

I'd say you should tell them, just tell them the truth, that it's because you want to move. This will make things easier for them and they won't want to get rid of you while you could be training a replacement or otherwise making the transition easier. And this way you can apply to positions from the same company in Chicagoland and not feel weird about it.

I wouldn't, because you don't know how they'll react and you might suddenly find yourself in need of a job urgently. You might be better off giving them a bit more notice instead if and when you actually find a new job.

That said, why not see if you can get a transfer to the Chicago office? They might surprise you if they like your work. For example, my current employer would rather see someone good move to another office than leave. Yours might think along the same lines.

Absolutely not until you have a concrete offer.

BoxheadTim wrote: I wouldn't, because you don't know how they'll react and you might suddenly find yourself in need of a job urgently. You might be better off giving them a bit more notice instead if and when you actually find a new job.

This is what I was thinking. If/when I get an offer (still in the searching and applying stage), tell them I need at least 2 weeks but would like a month or more.

BoxheadTim wrote: That said, why not see if you can get a transfer to the Chicago office? They might surprise you if they like your work. For example, my current employer would rather see someone good move to another office than leave. Yours might think along the same lines.

Not really worth it to even try in this situation. I work for a subsidiary of the mother corporation (my paychecks still come from the mother), so transfers up there aren't really possible. It requires applying out for a job. Additionally, the office in Chicagoland might not be there in a year due to re-zoning. Different circumstances and I would though.

EDIT: Aside from that, I would worry that if I do that, they'll know that I'm not a lifer and not invest in me (bonus, education, etc.)

Nope, not until you have an offer.

However, you're the one that best understands YOUR employer and YOUR situation.

I once used the fact that I received a semi-formal invitation to simply apply for a job at a different company as leverage for a raise where I was. I had no intention of leaving where I was, but my boss and I both knew I was underpaid for my position and casually mentioning the chance of me being "head-hunted" to another company was all it took to finally get the raise. If I wasn't 99% certain things were going to work out the way they did, I probably would have gone about it differently.

Now days, there are droves of people simply looking for work, asking for a raise, or telling your employer you're looking to jump ship is creating an opportunity for your employer to replace you with a cheaper option hungry for work. Might not be wise until your plans are finalized and actual job offer accepted.

• Lee

Wait, how far off are you looking at moving? I was assuming within a year or two.

bigdaddylee82 wrote: Nope, not until you have an offer. However, you're the one that best understands YOUR employer and YOUR situation. I once used the fact that I received a semi-formal invitation to simply apply for a job at a different company as leverage for a raise where I was. I had no intention of leaving where I was, but my boss and I both knew I was underpaid for my position and casually mentioning the chance of me being "head-hunted" to another company was all it took to finally get the raise. If I wasn't 99% certain things were going to work out the way they did, I probably would have gone about it differently. Now days, there are droves of people simply looking for work, asking for a raise, or telling your employer you're looking to jump ship is creating an opportunity for your employer to replace you with a cheaper option hungry for work. Might not be wise until your plans are finalized and actual job offer accepted. - Lee

Haha, they couldn't get anyone for less than me. I'm at the bottom of my pay grade

GameboyRMH wrote: Wait, how far off are you looking at moving? I was assuming within a year or two.

If I get an interview and acceptable offer tomorrow, and they insist on me being there in two weeks, it would be two weeks. If it takes a year to find a position, then a year. No hard timeline here.

absolutely wait … when I retired, my supervisor had known for more than 6 mo. that I planned to retire (and approximately when) … his response when originally told … was "oh ..that far out … not big deal"

I never mentioned it again until it was time to go (2 weeks) he flipped out … I was the only one that did my job, the only one trained (at least totally trained) to do my job.

he begged me to stay at least 'til Christmas ( I retired the first wk of Nov) … I pointed out to him that he'd had 6 mo. to get someone to me for training .. they now have 3 people doing my old job (and I've been told that the output is still less than I did … breaking my arm patting myself on the back right now LOL )

so it's only they're fault if no one is trained

and you really do run the risk of being booted (as someone else mentioned, you're the only one that might have a guess to the chances of that ) as soon as you tell them

BoxheadTim wrote: I wouldn't, because you don't know how they'll react and you might suddenly find yourself in need of a job urgently.

If it came to layoffs, would you get notice (to the OP)? F*&k no.

The standardized courtesy is two weeks notice. No employee should ever be so important that them leaving devastates the company. It smacks of poor management and succession planning.

It depends on the boss really. I'm a really laid back boss and I won't ever stand in the way of anyone wanting to improve themselves or their life. I would like to know if one of my guys/gals is looking elsewhere so I can either be training or looking for someone to fill that slot.

I wouldn't but then I fired two of my previous employers.

The last one, I wasn't even looking, my current work found me. I sat my then boss down and explained my situation, that I wasn't leaving because I was unhappy but because I had found my dream job and that I was very grateful that he had hired me and I didn't want to cause any trouble by leaving.

He was ok with all that and wished me well. We're still on good terms.

The jerkweasels before him are a different story but I don't appreciate it when an employer whom I'm busting my ass for tries to throw me under the bus.

Shawn

Don't tell them until you have another job confirmed in writing. Two weeks notice is what you need to give. Just be prepared that if you offer more advanced notice, it's a possibility that they could ask you to leave on the spot, especially if they feel you're going to a "competitor."

+1 on let them know, if only so they are not surprised if they get a call from the new place.

Do not tell them you are looking!

I was in a situation where I was the only one capable of doing the job too. For 5 years I told them I needed to train someone. No action! For FIVE years! They freaked when I left! They could hire someone for waaaay more than they were paying me....Medical Device Sterilization.

All good comments on here! Collectively we've been through a lot.

I would not tell them you are looking. They have not managed their business well if you're the only one who knows enough to train anybody. I admire you for taking ownership of your role in (and the future of) your current company, but that's really their problem.
Good luck on your job hunt and the move!

neon4891 wrote: +1 on let them know, if only so they are not surprised if they get a call from the new place.

They should only get a call from the new place for references once he's actually handed in his notice...

If you worked for me, and were not a problem employee, I would say yes. We would work it out and I would appreciate the heads up so that I could plan for a replacement. I would also look at your project list and re-prioritize so that things might not be left hanging.

In return, I would ask that you give me a date when you would leave or recommit for some timeframe

If you worked for some of the other mangers in the firm, I would keep my mouth shut until after the day I started the new job. I have recently seen the same manager go postal for both getting notice and not getting notice from two of our guys who quit this year.

Don't say a word. I guaranty you they would not give you a bunch of notice if they were going to lay you off.

You don't owe them anything but a couple weeks notice.

BoxheadTim wrote:

neon4891 wrote: +1 on let them know, if only so they are not surprised if they get a call from the new place.

They should only get a call from the new place for references once he's actually handed in his notice...

Thankfully that is not a worry. My current company does not give references. The only information that they will give out is IF you worked for them, and when. I'm not actually sure that they even give out the title.

more and more companies are going to this policy … the liability aspects of saying whether or not you were an shiny happy person are just too great

the most my last co. would do is confirm your employment and possibly hint at your attendance

My company's terrified of me leaving, they have me document everything all the time, but if I left they'd either need to find another poorly-connected uber-hacker or lay off at least 1 other person to afford a replacement...the guy doing (a portion of) my job before me was making so much that he couldn't be assed to write a report to collect a $40k check!

I appreciate the idea of giving your employer and company a heads up. But this is simply business. Give your notice after you have a concrete offer. All of us are replaceable. Sure it's a scramble to get someone trained and up to speed. But again, this is business, not personal.

Absolutely not.

You can give them all the time you like AFTER you have turned in your notice but giving them a heads up marginalizes you in their eyes. The second you create doubt you put your paycheck at risk.

Put yourself in their shoes for a second:

Mgr 1: "I have to cut someone - the math just does not work out."
Mgr 2: "Mtn told me he is looking for another job."
Mgr 1: "That was easy. For a second I thought I was going to have to let that useless hot chick go."

...aaaand now your search just got a little bit more important to you when you had all the time in the world before.