My company is moving. At the end of July, I’ll have a 1 hour 40 min. round trip commute every day, instead of an hour.
I’m already less than excited by my job, for reasons that have nothing to do with my department and immediate co-workers and everything to do with our value within the company and the kind of work I’m doing.
Now that we’re moving, I’m putting “get a new job” on the front burner.
My question: should I tell my boss that I’m shopping my resume around? If so (and I’m inclined to), how should I go about it?
One reason I want to tell her is that I’d like to use my boss for a reference. I’ve done good work, and she knows it. It’d be easier to search if I didn’t have to keep it secret.
On the other hand, I’m not about to quit with nothing to go to. I don’t want to formally give notice, just let her know I’m looking. And if the company moves before I get a new job, I’d move with it and keep looking.
I don’t think there is any good reason to tell your boss, but there might be a few reasons why you shouldn’t, the most significant of these (in my mind) is that if the company needs to make cutbacks, you may be seen as a natural target and you might end up unemployed before you really want to be.
It depends on how much you trust your boss, and what your working relationship is. If you feel that you can trust her to keep the information to herself, then I still wouldn’t fill her in before you have to - that it, not before you would actually need to use her for a reference. Unless she’s an idiot, she’s not going to be surprised that some people will be job-searching because of the move.
I’ve done some job searches where my immediate boss knew I was looking, and it presented no problems, but it was because I had the type of relationship where I knew the fact wouldn’t be used against me.
We went through a round of cutbacks last year. First on the list to get let go were the people we knew (or suspected) weren’t going to be around in the long term. The woman who had made it known she was going to milk her maternity leave benefits and then become a stay at home mom, the guy whose wife was graduating from med school in a few months and got her residency out East.
I wouldn’t hand out references wily-nily. If the time comes when you nearly have a job offer in hand and need to clinch the deal, talk to your current boss.
(Most companies I’ve worked for don’t allow employees to give references anyway).
These are all very good points, and I’m certainly reconsidering a conversation with my boss at this point.
I don’t think she’d hold it against me. We do have a good relationship. But I don’t really want to be first against the wall when the cutbacks arrive. (I’d like to be gone before they arrive, but who can say what will happen?)
On your resume use the line “references available upon request.” That will keep the idle inquires away.
One other suggestion, tell your new job that you have to give 2 weeks notice. In my experience if the new job is any good, they won’t have a problem with this. In the past when they have told me they just can’t wait. Then the boss/ company have turned out to be Asshats.
YMMV
Lots of companies these days aren’t allowed to give out any references except, “Yes, Interrobang!? works here, or worked here from X date to Y date.” So you might be blowing your cover for no good purpose whatsoever.
Do you have a friend in HR who you can just kind of bring this up in conversation with? Like, “Gee, I’ve heard that a lot of companies these days won’t give out any references for fear of lawsuits – have we joined them?” or something that makes it seem idle curiosity. At least that way you’d know where you stand.
And I always put “References available upon request” on resumes. Then if they’re serious about me, I’ll give them serious references. By that point it’s usually not just an idle query so less chance of burning a bridge.
The outplacement service that I used (the one hired by the company that laid me off last year) said this really isn’t done anymore, and suggested I take it off my resume. Instead they suggested a completely separated list of references. They also said to hold off giving out references til as late in the process as possible, since some less-than-reputable companies actually use references for recruiting purposes.
And butrscotch is right, many companies aren’t allowed to offically give references. But again, depending on your relationship with the individual, you may be able to get an “unofficial” reference. The HR department by law in most states will never do anything but verify the fact that you worked there.
Don’t spill the beans to the boss until the last possible time. Even though you and she may have a decent relationship, her career is foremost, so anything you say can be used against you.
Agree with the "References Available . . . " bit no longer necessary; it’s assumed that the applicant will provide references if, or when, requested by the hiring company . . .
All my former employers also had the official policy of not allowing employees to provide references and to instead forward such questions to HR (who would then only provide dates, titles, and whether or not the employee was eligible for re-hire). You should have access to your company’s manual, which should include the company’s policy regarding references.
Unofficialy, letters of reference would be a common thing. I was given one by my former supervisor (and we where the HR Dept.!!)