My boss has made it known she doesn’t want her staff applying for one of our sister companies. They’re expanding and have hired a number of people away from our division. They seem to have a much happier management style and generally pay a good bit better. My boss Attila is a micromanager who rarely notices when everything’s running well and slams down when there’s an issue (fortunately rare for me, but leaves everyone on edge). I did the first interview unofficially, since the hiring manager for the other division knows how it is over here. We agreed to keep it unofficial until and unless I made the cut for the last interview.
Now I’m in the running for the job. I’m one of the top couple candidates. (YAY!) However, I’m worried about retaliation if I don’t get the job and have to continue working for Attila. How can I let her now about the interview without sounding like I’m desparate to escape her regime? I could take the coward’s way out and forward the invite from outlook, but I think it would be better to beard the Hun in her lair.
I just went through this. I basically asked for a minute of time and then professionally explained my situation, but framed it in terms of career development and how the move might be beneficial to the company as a whole, since they were having difficulties recruiting qualified people into the other department.
It didn’t go too badly, and as I’ve been told here and elsewhere, look out for number one.
Don’t say anything at all. It’s none of Attila’s business if you want to apply for a new job. Unless you’re under contract for a specified time period then she can’t forbid you from seeking employment elsewhere. If she learns about this from another source and confronts you about this then simply state in a calm and matter-of-fact tone that you’re exploring your options. Don’t debate, don’t explain, don’t justify yourself in any way.
I thought of doing that, but didn’t really want this information to come from someone else. I think it’s more professional to be up front. I got the impression that this was appreciated by my management.
Attila doesn’t sound like the type to appreciate anything. I wouldn’t say anything until I have actually been offered the position but that’s just me. YMMV
The hiring manager has already told me that it’s time to bring her into the loop. Since this is the same company in the same building, I don’t want to burn any bridges or make life uncomfortable for either me or the hiring manager. And if I do get the job, they’ll have to work out the transition, since I’m part of several on-going projects. It’s not like they can just pull someone else in to fill my job, although no one’s indispensible. It’s nominally a lateral move - analyst for both jobs - but the other division pays better.
I know your hands are tied, but unless there is some vital reason your current manager has to be notified, your new hiring manager’s intention is ill-advised. What happens when your current manager finds out you are trying to leave and then you don’t get the job? You are fucked, that’s what.
I’d say that’s your answer right there. Rather than what sounds like the “real” reasons for the move (aka Attila), pin it on economics. It’s one thing to expect employees to have a modicum of loyalty lateral-move wise, but if it’s framed as a pure economic thing (and assuming Attila can’t just make up the difference) it puts Attila in a bad place–hold wanting to earn a higher salary for the same work/company against them?
It’s likely that HR or another manager will let her know at this stage. “Professional courtesy” they’ll call it. (Pfffft!)
You are doing the right thing by telling her. You would also be smart to explore other avenues in case this doesn’t work and she gets butt-hurt about it.
OTOH, if she really wants to keep you, you may be able to get a raise out fo the situation. . .
The problem is, I *might * get a raise out of staying, but she’s the type to hold it against me for having the audacity to try and leave her happy band. I’m supposed to sit down, shut up, and put a smile on my face. We’re all just one big happy team!
However, if I don’t get the job, I’ll pretty well be stuck where I am because analyst positions don’t come up here all that often. Unless I look outside the company.
Then do it professionally. The career prospects, the money, tie it to something long term that doesn’t fit your current company.
As a hiring manager, you can have multiple good candidates that will move but when push comes to shove back out. Making the candidate go to their manager shows they are serious about the position.
I wasn’t able to get in to see her this afternoon because she at people in her office, so I sent an e-mail outlining what’s going on and that I’d talk to her about it if she wishes tomorrow. I did mention that I thought she was possibly notified when I put in the request for interview, since one of the required fields is manager’s name and phone number.
Attila cruised in at noon today and immediately called me into her office. She told me she would never think about leaving our area, because she owes it loyalty, and how, since they were kind enough to give me a job, she hoped I would feel the same way. She’s had other offers that she didn’t even respond to because of the loyalty she feels for the department. I told her I’d listen to what the other division had to say, and if there was an offer, I’d weigh what was best for me.
She takled a bit about what it would take to keep me, but I told her without hearing the other division’s offer, I couldn’t say. I know full well that if I squeeze another few dollars out of her, I’ll then have to live with her knowing that I’ll take a better offer if it comes along. I don’t think she’d try to get me out, but you never know.
I normally can’t put a price on loyalty…and yet…here we are.
Managers like the OP’s boss don’t care about that shit. All they care about is that the OP looking for another position is a personal affront to her ego. So forget worrying about burning bridges and hurt feelings.
The real question is what is required to change department from a company policy perspective. Typically you need permission from both managers. So your current manager can sometimes decide to be a pain in the ass and block the transfer. OTOH, you always have the option of effectively quitting your job and getting rehired by the other department. However the other department may not wish to do that.
She may also be in trouble herself if a lot of people are leaving. Dysfunctional managers can get away with a great deal as long as they are productive, but when the troops start to defect the company has to act. In my company if 30% of your staff leaves in any one year it’s practically mandatory that the manager will be reassigned at a minimum. If the exit interviews were all pointing her way, she’d be fired.
