# I shouldn't feel obligated to my current management, right? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 13, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shouldnt-feel-obligated-to-my-current-management-right/609415 "2012-01-13T19:21:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shouldnt-feel-obligated-to-my-current-management-right/609415/1 "2012-01-13T19:21:44Z")
Brief history: I was hired into this place just over two years ago. About a year in I was re-org’d under a different group as part of a company restructure; they needed someone with my skills. Now, the manager who originally hired me 2+ years ago wants me to come and work for him again in a new role he undertook a couple of months back. I’m just getting comfortable where I am after a year and I will most certainly leave my management in the lurch should I jump ship. On the other hand I really like the guy who wants to hire me back, and he’s more flexible with just about everything than my current manager. Bah. What to do. ---
**Author:** ![LionelHutz405](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lionelhutz405/32/536_2.png) [@LionelHutz405](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LionelHutz405)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shouldnt-feel-obligated-to-my-current-management-right/609415/2 "2012-01-13T19:42:05Z")
Look out for number one first. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shouldnt-feel-obligated-to-my-current-management-right/609415/3 "2012-01-13T20:08:01Z")
Whether you feel obligated or not, the company may have it’s own opinion about where you should be working. Most places you can’t just up and change jobs on a whim. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shouldnt-feel-obligated-to-my-current-management-right/609415/4 "2012-01-13T20:12:34Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Whether you feel obligated or not, the company may have it’s own opinion about where you should be working. Most places you can’t just up and change jobs on a whim. Sure you can. It’s called applying for an internal posting. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shouldnt-feel-obligated-to-my-current-management-right/609415/5 "2012-01-13T20:20:39Z")
Yes, but once you’ve done that who makes the decision on whether you get the job or not? Is it entirely in the hands of your old manager? Does your current manager have any input at all? Would this be a lateral move? If making the move is best for you, do it. Your current department will find a way to cope. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shouldnt-feel-obligated-to-my-current-management-right/609415/6 "2012-01-13T20:38:39Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Yes, but once you’ve done that who makes the decision on whether you get the job or not? I need to go through the interview process, but my old manager told me the job is mine. > [@](#): > > Is it entirely in the hands of your old manager? My old boss and a senior person from his group will interview me. > [@](#): > > Does your current manager have any input at all? Maybe. Sounds like if there’s going to be a problem then the chief engineers from each group are going to have to get involved in the decision-making process. > [@](#): > > Would this be a lateral move? Yes. > [@](#): > > If making the move is best for you, do it. Your current department will find a way to cope. Yeah, I know. So why do I feel like a defecting jerk? I certainly don’t want to burn any bridges. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shouldnt-feel-obligated-to-my-current-management-right/609415/7 "2012-01-13T21:25:05Z")
In the business world, always look out for number one. That doesn’t mean you should go out of your way to be a dick to everyone else, but that you should be the priority. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shouldnt-feel-obligated-to-my-current-management-right/609415/8 "2012-01-13T22:41:10Z")
You’re not doing anything wrong by choosing to pursue an internal posting within your company. That said, it would be very wise to try to do this in such a way that it ruffles the fewest feathers. Whether that’s delaying your start date in the new position to help the current management replace you, whether that’s having your new manager speak with your current one before you interview about you, I don’t know – you know the company and the people involved better than we do. But however you do it, try to leave your current manager with the impression that you care about minimizing any negative impact your leaving will create for them. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shouldnt-feel-obligated-to-my-current-management-right/609415/9 "2012-01-13T22:43:41Z")
Go for the job. Keep comments about “I like that manager better than my current one” to yourself (but you know that already). If it will really leave your current manager in the lurch, he can negotiate with Old Boss and Senior Person for a longer time until you leave, or maybe a part time transition, or whatever works for the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shouldnt-feel-obligated-to-my-current-management-right/609415/10 "2012-01-14T01:27:38Z")
Good advice all around. It looks like I’m going to be interviewed Tuesday. I’m going to be at a supplier’s on Monday, so Tuesday morning I’m going to explain the situation to my current management and let them know I have an interview. I’d rather be up-front about the entire process. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shouldnt-feel-obligated-to-my-current-management-right/609415/11 "2012-01-14T05:15:59Z")
My company has a process where you can’t look for a job until x amount of time has passed and you have reached at least y on your annual review. Then you also have to fill out an email form that your current manager has to agree to so you can go interview (and the manager can’t say no if you meet the other conditions). so, just make sure you’re following all the proper HR guidelines. And do it in such a way as to minimize the “being a jerk” about it. Who knows, you might not get that promised job and need to eat some humble pie with your current manager. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shouldnt-feel-obligated-to-my-current-management-right/609415/12 "2012-01-14T05:35:34Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Yeah, I know. So why do I feel like a defecting jerk? I certainly don’t want to burn any bridges. Most likely you are feeling anxiety about whether this move is actually good for you. Changing jobs involves an inherent risk. What happens if it doesn’t work out or isn’t what you expected? > [@Anaamika](#): > > In the business world, always look out for number one. That doesn’t mean you should go out of your way to be a dick to everyone else, but that you should be the priority. You should be the priority, but you also need to understand how the office politics works. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shouldnt-feel-obligated-to-my-current-management-right/609415/13 "2012-01-14T09:26:54Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > My company has a process where you can’t look for a job until x amount of time has passed and you have reached at least y on your annual review. Then you also have to fill out an email form that your current manager has to agree to so you can go interview (and the manager can’t say no if you meet the other conditions). so, just make sure you’re following all the proper HR guidelines. Is this for internal job postings or jobs in general? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shouldnt-feel-obligated-to-my-current-management-right/609415/14 "2012-01-14T19:36:07Z")
In my long and checkered working history, one thing remains constant - working for someone you like (who likes you) makes almost everything better, and it is a very valuable thing. I’d go for it. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shouldnt-feel-obligated-to-my-current-management-right/609415/15 "2012-01-14T21:02:29Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > So why do I feel like a defecting jerk? Maybe it is related to why you are in demand. IYSWIM. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shouldnt-feel-obligated-to-my-current-management-right/609415/16 "2012-01-15T02:46:29Z")
Make your decision on what is best for you. Sell your decision on what is best for the company. Is the new position risky, or is it seen as high value? Can you help transition a new person into your current job? The actual decision will be made by people above your pay grade, so you need to be aware of the politics, and the relative power of old boss and new boss, and the prospects of both jobs. In any case, if you do move, act like you are heartbroken about leaving, but you are doing it for the good of the company. Sincerity is vital, and if you can fake it you’ve got it made in modern business. I made a transfer (at my own desire) to a group whose boss was at the time slightly less powerful, but it turned out he won and I did very well moving into his group when that was a slightly risky thing to do.