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Should you tell your employer that you're looking for a new job?

Robey

Working in HR for many years has left me with a conviction that I can only help a person if I know what they really want.  Lying or being economical with the truth is the surest pathway to poor decisions.

So when I discuss my career needs and decisions with a Line Manager, if I'm unhappy I'm inclined to be honest about it.  But if I know that my current employer can't meet my needs and, as as result, I'm looking for work elsewhere, should I tell them that?

I've always had very open conversations about this sort of thing with my line managers and subordinates, but others I know - outside HR but in a wide range of industries and roles - consider this to be an absolute no-no and are horrified by the ease with which I talk about career aspirations within my circle.  When I've pressed them to explain why they consider it to be such a red-line issue, they're struggled to articulate anything concrete but there seems to be a wide belief that telling your employer that you're looking elsewhere is career suicide, that you'll be the first to be made redundant and that you'll be sidelined from anything important.  Of course, I can imagine that an employer would want to exclude a potential leaver from commercially sensitive work, but isn't it more professional to say "I'm probably leaving, so don't put me on that thing because I won't finish it" than to lie about it then leave your employer in the lurch?

I can't decide if I'm hopelessly naive and trusting about this or if my friends are unnecessarily cynical.

Any thoughts?  What sort of risk might you expose yourself to by being honest about your career plans with your boss?

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  • It all depends on the relationship you have with your boss coupled with the culture of the organisation. In some companies once people know you want to leave they write you off as if you have done something wrong. This is probably the experience of most people you know. What is the point in telling people you want to leave - if you don`t find another job soon and you remain where you are people begin to view you differently ie he`s always saying he`s going to leave. What are you trying to achieve by saying you want to leave? Do you want a raise, or do you want people to say please don`t go. Remember none of us are indispensable. As soon as you leave your employer will replace you with someone else. You may disagree but you will probably have more credibility if you find a job and then resign. There`s plenty of time for people to make a better offer once they know you are actually leaving.
  • in reply to Caroline Veronica De Silva
    "What is the point in telling people you want to leave?"

    Succession planning for your employer is the main one. It's a way of saying "it'll be a bit inconvenient when I go, but I'm going to do my best to minimize that before I do". It feels more grown up, responsible and professional than going on like everything's normal then dropping everything in a puff of smoke and a cry of "seeya, suckers!"

    But I also value the opportunity, when asking for some flexibility in working hours, to say "I have a job interview" rather than "I have a dentist's appointment".
  • in reply to Robey
    This is such an interesting topic, thank you for bringing this up Robey. I have to say I agree with you on the succession planning part. I chose to leave my Senior HR Advisor position of 2 years and handed my notice in just over a month ago after attending an interview for another position closer to home.

    Had I waited until now to hand my notice in I would have left my line manager (who I have a good working relationship with) in the lurch. I'm so glad I did mention as they've been very open and honest with me regarding recruiting for my replacement (once the initial shock of my departure had dispersed). It's also given her the opportunity to look at the department and see what other support is needed, she has taken on my views on what's needed amongst her own, that of the new HRM and the workload we have.

    I couldn't imagine leaving her in the lurch or giving a short notice "see ya later" given how much work we have on, I've made it my mission to leave the place knowing I have done as much as possible to minimise the workload. Not only that, by my manager has been an incredible support to me both professionally and personally in the past two years.

    I do understand where others are coming from as in the past I have held off telling my line management I was unhappy, despite knowing it was probably written all over my face. I think it depends on the type of company you are with and if you feel it won't be held against you.
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  • in reply to Robey
    This is such an interesting topic, thank you for bringing this up Robey. I have to say I agree with you on the succession planning part. I chose to leave my Senior HR Advisor position of 2 years and handed my notice in just over a month ago after attending an interview for another position closer to home.

    Had I waited until now to hand my notice in I would have left my line manager (who I have a good working relationship with) in the lurch. I'm so glad I did mention as they've been very open and honest with me regarding recruiting for my replacement (once the initial shock of my departure had dispersed). It's also given her the opportunity to look at the department and see what other support is needed, she has taken on my views on what's needed amongst her own, that of the new HRM and the workload we have.

    I couldn't imagine leaving her in the lurch or giving a short notice "see ya later" given how much work we have on, I've made it my mission to leave the place knowing I have done as much as possible to minimise the workload. Not only that, by my manager has been an incredible support to me both professionally and personally in the past two years.

    I do understand where others are coming from as in the past I have held off telling my line management I was unhappy, despite knowing it was probably written all over my face. I think it depends on the type of company you are with and if you feel it won't be held against you.
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