Networking and Job Searching

[tulip]

Nancy,
I re-read your post, and if your supervisor said you should apply, then I think you definitely should. Stick with the class idea, too. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[froglegs]

I just jumped back in the market. I had an interview today, actually. I think it went pretty well. I have a pretty good job now, but among other significant reasons for wanting to leave, I am really sick of my ridiculously long commute and want to bike to work. The place I interviewed at today is 5 miles from my house (plus it seems really awesome).

However, now that I am officially looking (this interview came about somewhat unexpectedly) I think I need to tell my boss that I am planning on leaving sometime in the not-too-distant future. I want this to be as easy on my coworkers as possible.

[shootingstar]

I just jumped back in the market. I had an interview today, actually. I think it went pretty well. I have a pretty good job now, but among other significant reasons for wanting to leave, I am really sick of my ridiculously long commute and want to bike to work. The place I interviewed at today is 5 miles from my house (plus it seems really awesome).

However, now that I am officially looking (this interview came about somewhat unexpectedly) I think I need to tell my boss that I am planning on leaving sometime in the not-too-distant future. I want this to be as easy on my coworkers as possible.

Froglegs, you don't need to be that up front. It might backfire... instead don't you need the present employer as work reference? Well, then ask. Boss will get the hint. That's all that's needed.

I did that to my boss recently..no big surprise..I mean come on, this is a construction engineering project that he and I are in... (I believe, frogl, you are an engineer...). Still, he really didn't want to hear reality when several depts. are thinly staffed right now with people hopping over to other construction projects since the industry is hot in our province right now.

[froglegs]

Froglegs, you don't need to be that up front. It might backfire... instead don't you need the present employer as work reference? Well, then ask. Boss will get the hint. That's all that's needed.

I did that to my boss recently..no big surprise..I mean come on, this is a construction engineering project that he and I are in... (I believe, frogl, you are an engineer...). Still, he really didn't want to hear reality when several depts. are thinly staffed right now with people hopping over to other construction projects since the industry is hot in our province right now.

I work on a very specialized high tech product that takes months to learn, and right now we are very thinly staffed, so I would like to give them as much time as possible to find and train a replacement. Now that I have made the decision to leave, I can't really think of any reason not to tell them.

[Tuckervill]

Except they might shuffle you out the door before you're ready.

My husband had an employee come to him and say he was interviewing at a competitor, and he wanted the weekend to "think about it". My husband gave him all the time he needed--because he let the guy go on the spot. My husband couldn't risk his business interests by having a guy on the fence, and talking to the competition.

I would never tell unless I had a firm offer. But I'm selfish that way.

Karen

[tulip]

I work on a very specialized high tech product that takes months to learn, and right now we are very thinly staffed, so I would like to give them as much time as possible to find and train a replacement. Now that I have made the decision to leave, I can't really think of any reason not to tell them.

I agree with Tucker...unless you have a firm offer in hand, don't give notice. You might be left with nothing.

Best of luck in your endeavors!

[han-grrl]

I agree with the others on getting a more firm offer in hand.

Before i took this job (a week and a half to go!) I did have another job offer (verbal only). He said he would email me later that week. That turned into two weeks, and then...its as if he disappeared! He wouldn't return my emails or calls, in the mean time i still continued with interviews. Then i got the second offer...so i called the first company (to let them know that I needed to make a decision) and only heard back a week and half AFter I accepted my job offer that he still wants to hire me but this that and the other thing had happened (can we say RED FLAG!). I really wanted to work for this guy (at first), but then when all of that happened...no way!

So yes, before making the announcement, get something on paper first. Because even when something seems definite, things can change pretty quick.

[surgtech1956]

I don't know what the 'firing, letting an employee go' policy is in your states, but in Michigan an employer can fire an employee for no reason at all. My attorney told me that even if an employee is off on worker's comp they can be fired(of course the employer would still have to pay wc benefits).

I agree with not telling your boss till you have a firm offer.