What to Do When Your Boss Finds Out You’re Looking for a Job
This is an embarrassing scenario that you are likely to run into in your career: you are looking for a new job and your current boss will know about it before you tell them directly. And now you find yourself face to face in a meeting behind closed doors, and you were asked, “So I heard you are looking for a new job. It’s true?”
This post was originally published on the Muse website .
Your coworker may have accidentally let the cat out of the bag. (It happens.) Maybe your interlocutor is your boss’s brother. (It’s a small world.) You may have left your resume in an office printer. Either way, your boss has learned that your last few “ doctor visits ” were actually interviews.
While this sounds like a cursing situation, let me assure you that many staff members walked away from these meetings unharmed (and tactlessly busy). In fact, I am one of them. And while those encounters were definitely not fun (yes, it happened to me twice), they both ended much better than you might think. Here’s my advice when you get caught red-handed.
Be honest
Repeat after me: don’t lie. Yes, you can gloss over the truth (more on that later), and you can certainly laugh it off when talking to curious fellow coolers, but if you’re in a one-on-one situation with your boss, don’t even try to use which one. – some version of “What are you talking about? I would never have thought about leaving the company! “
First, you’re not as cunning as you think (sorry), especially if your boss has some of the information you were looking for. Plus, the truth is, you are considering leaving the company and you probably will, soon. And you probably still want your boss to be a guide .
However, I am also not a supporter of sharing the whole truth. (There is something about “Yes, I’ve been looking for six months and throwing a party the day I get out of here” that people don’t like.)
Whether you’re updating your resume or in your # 3 interview with your dream company, a broad and simple statement like, “Honestly, I’ve looked around a bit …” works best. But this is the next step, which is the most important, and ideally you should take before you pause to give the floor to your boss.
Follow “Why”
Now that you’ve dropped the bomb that your boss isn’t the person you want to spend the rest of your career with, it’s important to clarify that statement. Not only to cover your ass, but to start a conversation. Here are some options:
“… Because I am moving (or changing career).”
The first time I spoke to my boss, my script was like this. I was planning to move abroad to meet , so I was looking for a new job, but I had not yet brought the news to my boss. But when she bumped into me (after obviously taking too many long weekends), I told her the truth. And you know what? She was happy for me – and gave me a job order and an offer to serve as a guide.
Likewise, if you want to work in a completely different field, share it with your boss. This is the phrase “It’s not you, it’s me” in your career – except that it often works. Saying, “I learned a lot in this job and I enjoy working with you, but I decided I wanted to move from finance to marketing,” would certainly soften the blow to your boss.
“… Because I am concerned about the safety of my job.”
I used this line too – because it was (mostly) true. Our division was going through a major restructuring, and we were not quite sure what my job would look like (or who I would work for) when things got bad.
If you are looking for a new job because your company or department is going through a difficult time, restructuring, or other upheaval, be honest with your boss. Explain that you know what is going on and that although you love your job, it makes you nervous that you may be out of work . Hence, you are exposing your tentacles there.
Hopefully, your boss will take the opportunity to open up to you too – and either reassure you that you won’t lose your job or give you an inner sensation that makes you really enjoy what you are watching. In any case, you cover your bases.
“… Because I want to move up the career ladder.”
A friend of mine once used this phrase and it actually got her a promotion . She was told that the company did not have the resources to promote or raise it, so she began looking for her next step (obviously). A few months later, her boss asked her if she was looking for a job and she was honest – she was ready to move up, and if she couldn’t get it done at her current company, she needed to go elsewhere. It turns out her company didn’t want to lose her – so they gave her a new project, a new name, and a $ 10,000 raise. (It’s funny how they found this money somewhere.)
Assuming you’re willing to stay in your current job, this conversation is actually a great way to ask your current boss for more responsibility (and money). Try: “I’m looking for a role where I have the ability to manage a team , and if that opportunity was available here, I would love it.” You may or may not get it, but you explained that you are looking for a job for a reason no one can blame you.
“… Because I have an interesting opportunity.”
Okay, so what if you’re not relocating or changing careers – you’re just looking for a new job that doesn’t include working for your terrible boss ? It’s more difficult, but you can try something like, “You know, a friend recommended me for the position, and I thought it would be interesting to know more.” Then add “but it’s not quite right” to avoid additional questions — you don’t need to tell your boss that you are secretly hoping for a second interview. What if it turns out that you get a job? When you post a two week notice, just say it’s an offer you can’t refuse.
Make your commitment clear
Now, I hope the conversation went well, but the debriefing will inevitably be a little awkward – after all, your boss now knows that you’ve already stepped foot in the door. The best thing you can do at this stage is to thank your boss for letting you be open and then reassure her that you are fully committed to your role and are doing your best job. More importantly, prove it. Come early or stay late. Make sure your work is of the highest quality. Don’t check. And chill the interviews for a couple of weeks (or at least schedule them outside of office hours).
Now I understand that this approach will not work for everyone. Namely, if you find yourself in a situation where you went against company policy (again, no resume on the printer) or you have a competitive, intimidating or otherwise terrible boss . Either way, being open and honest can definitely backfire and make your 9-5 pretty unhappy. But then again – maybe this is just the push you need to really get out of here.
Caught in the act: when your boss finds out you’re looking for a job | Muse