I’m quitting my current job and going to a new one. The new one is another company, which is run by my former boss here (in other words, I’m following her).
When I do put in my two-weeks notice, do I need to tell them where I’m going? This isn’t really a legal question, as this wouldn’t affect any of those non-disclosure/competition clauses. Just wanted to make that clear. It’s more an answer to informal inquiries, “Sorry you’re leaving, where are you going?”
In your opinion, what’s a tactful way to say “You don’t need to know where I’ll be working or with whom”.
As far as having to tell them anything when you give your notice, absolutely not.
For the other inquiries, you might try deflecting the question with humor, like “I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.” Soon they’ll get the message that you’re not talking.
In Silicon Valley, it is standard practice not to tell. This seems to be true even when a person is going someplace totally noncompetitive, like into an MBA program.
One reason, I’m sure, is that I saw one person escorted out the door early when he said he was going to a competitor, even though it was to follow his girlfriend. I guess people feel its better to be safe.
I’m curious as to why you wouldn’t want to tell them. Is it a bad thing to leave to follow a former boss? It’s pretty common where I work.
There are always things that arrive after you leave that you may want forwarded to you, you get a personal call from someone who doesn’t know you’ve left (for some reason, my doctors office is horrible about this) and they give your new number, or your former co workers have questions you can answer. I always want to leave on a good note in case I need the former company as a reference. Making sure they can contact you if they can’t find the XYZ file is part of that.
Unless there’s more to the story, I’m not sure how it benefits you to try to keep this a secret. It seems unlikely to stay a secret for long, and people will tend to gossip more about it if they thought you were being sneaky.
However, if there is some legitimate reason not to tell, you could answer “I’m not sure. It’s just time to move on.”
I guess you could say “Its kind of personal. I hope you don’t mind if I don’t say.” or simply “I’d rather not say” or something like that. As a co-worker hearing that, I would be at least a bit suspicious about why you couldn’t tell where you were going and maybe assume that you didn’t want anybody to be able to contact you, which I suppose might make some people feel offended. I think its natural to ask that question when somebody leaves, but it doesn’t necessarily follow that its anybody else’s business but yours.
Depending how far up the food chain the boss was, s/he may have signed an exit agreement preventing the former and soon-to-be new boss from recruiting from his/her old firm. There are ways around it, but one wouldn’t want to advertise one is following the old boss.
I have always told my Employees where I was going. This was with the expectation that they could call me occasionally for the next few months when they where desperate. I have only burnt one bridge in leaving jobs. The Company was going out of business anyway.
Like I said, it’s not really any work-related reasons, I just didn’t feel like explaining how I’m leaving to join my old boss.
However, I do see where it would be suspicious and with all the service I’ve done here, I do NOT want to burn any bridges. The secret is not worth keeping.
I was hoping my last job would do that - I wouldn’t get to take my time leaving, but it would have given me an extra two weeks of paid vacation. That would rock.
You can just say something vague along the lines of “I have another opportunity elsewhere” which just confirms that you are going to another job and not to school or on a trek in the Andes. Honestly I haven’t had an employer even ask me; they only knew if we were on good terms and I chose to tell them.
“The competition. We’re working on a master plan to wipe you off the map.”
You don’t need to tell them if you don’t want to. Just say something generic like, “it’s a small company that’s a little closer to my house” or something.
I’ve had coworkers who have told, and coworkers who have not said where they are going. Because I am a curious sort, I always wonder a bit when someone doesn’t say where they are going, but after about 5 minutes, I’m over it and move on.
I don’t think either way is right or wrong, go with whatever you want.
Tell them you’re defecting to the Soviets as living in a capitalist society has been a hollow, meaningless existance and you long for freedom in a true worker’s paradise.
Most tactful way is “I’ll let you know after I’ve started my new position.” It’s reasonable sounding and you of course don’t have to do so.
Honestly, many people do want to network and it’s always good to have someone you know and trust that can be contacted. Heck even if you move to a serious competitor, there may be times when it makes sense to reach out to you for something…