Networking and Job Searching

[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.

[Tuckervill]

Another thing you can do is negotiate with the new employer for a later start date than you would give normally (more than 2 weeks, for instance). That way, with firm offer in hand, you can give your current employer time to retrain, reorganize and regroup with your help, but only for a limited time so you won't be strung along. They still may only want you there for 2 weeks or 2 minutes, though.

Karen

[surgtech1956]

I have an interview Monday morning. The position is Clinical Research Specialist with the Oncology Department. The only problem is that I realized that the position I applied is the part-time 48 hour bi-weekly, the 80 hour position is for a Bachelor's degree. The 80 hour position has been posted since March 2007. What this position pays vs what I'm getting paid in my current position(working 75 hours) - I would make the same $$$ working 48 hours. I want more than 48 hours. Would it be wrong to inquire if the position will become full time or inquire about the 80 hour position?

[tulip]

I have an interview Monday morning. The position is Clinical Research Specialist with the Oncology Department. The only problem is that I realized that the position I applied is the part-time 48 hour bi-weekly, the 80 hour position is for a Bachelor's degree. The 80 hour position has been posted since March 2007. What this position pays vs what I'm getting paid in my current position(working 75 hours) - I would make the same $$$ working 48 hours. I want more than 48 hours. Would it be wrong to inquire if the position will become full time or inquire about the 80 hour position?

I think it sounds reasonable to ask about that. Let us know how it goes!