Should I Tell My Boss About My Job Interview

Should I Tell My Boss About My Job Interview

Hey Dan and Guy! I'm already an employed security guard but I've got a job interview with another security company, should I tell my current boss?

Unless you were lucky enough to get your dream job out of college, it's likely that you will change employers many times over the course of your career. Moving from job to job is natural. It happens when you reach a pay ceiling in your current position, or when you have co-workers that you just can't stand, or any number of situations that make another job seem more attractive. Whatever the reason, there will come a time when you're looking for a new job while you're still at your current one. When you get put in that position you have to walk a very fine line, so you don't get fired or hamper your future if the new opportunity doesn't pan out.

Five years ago I was working as overnight security for a small office building. The hours were ok, since I got to spend time with my wife and kid in the evening, though the pay was below average for the work I was doing. It wasn't the greatest job in the world, but the job was definitely an upgrade over working the door at a bar. The problem was my boss.

Troy was a bit of a sleaze ball. He was loud and abrasive, always saying things that made you wonder if he had any sense of shame or some kind of internal filter. He wouldn't hesitate to throw out a raunchy joke or catcall women walking down the street, and there were more than a few complaints about him to the building manager. What he was really good at was keeping his operating costs low, probably because he refused to pay his staff more than a tick over minimum wage. That made his bids significantly lower than the competition, so the building manager put up with the complaints. Most nights I dreaded walking into the guardroom, because I never knew the kind of situation I'd walk in to.

I felt stuck in my position. My daughter was only a few months old, and my little family couldn't afford to be without my income or insurance. I'd asked Troy for a raise before, but his violent rejection of my request made me wary of ever speaking to him again. I turned to some of the other guards for mutual support. We'd vent to each other and poke fun at Troy behind his back to pass time during our shift.

It wasn't too long before a former co-worker called me and let me know about an opening in his company. It was a daytime position, with much better pay and a nice benefits package. I got his boss' contact information and scheduled an interview for the next week.

When I went to work that night I was ecstatic. The other guards knew something was up, and spent the whole night pestering me about my good mood. I held out as long as I could, but near the end of the shift I told some of the guys about this new job opportunity. Most of them congratulated me, though several asked if I still had the contact information so they could apply themselves.

Unfortunately, I didn't think about what would happen if Troy found out. One of the guards decided he'd try to get on Troy's good side and tell him that I was trying to lure other guards away to a new job. The next night Troy called me into his office to have a "chat". It was about the most tense fifteen minutes of my life. He screamed at me about loyalty and showing respect to the people who'd given me a job. He tore apart every aspect of my performance, and told me I'd been a horrible employee. I couldn't believe my ears. My own voice started to rise as I defended myself. Finally it seemed that we were both through screaming, and he looked me in the eyes and told me to pack my stuff and go.

I was devastated. I couldn't go home. I was worried about what my wife would think, and even more worried about how we would pay our bills. I'd made the two cardinal mistakes that so many employees make when they look for a new job: I talked about a potential opportunity to my co-workers instead of my boss, and I'd assumed the new job was a sure thing. I did wind up with the new job, but my family endured weeks of hardship trying to make up for the sudden loss of income.

It's a tough call on whether or not to tell your boss that you're looking for a new job. Some will react like Troy, and take your search as a personal attack. Others will understand that circumstances change and sometimes it's best for all parties for you to take a different job.

There are some good reasons to tell your boss that you're serious about your job search and you're interviewing for a new position:

  • It reduces the bitterness your boss will feel if he hears from someone else.
  • It's likely he knows more than you think. Job applications ask for your current and previous employers, so there's a good chance someone from the new company has already contacted your current boss to get a reference before they offered you an interview.
  • The company has time to start its own search to find someone to fill your position, which means less strain on your former co-workers.
  • You don't want to burn bridges. The security community is pretty small, and you never know when you might need a favor or a reference from a former employer.
  • Your boss has a chance to match the offer. If you like your job and you're only moving on because of pay or benefits, letting your boss know about your intentions and any potential offers allows him to make a counter deal.

At the same time, you have to be careful when discussing your job opportunity, because:

  • The company may just fire you. They don't want to waste time or resources on an employee who's not committed to their business.
  • You may stir up trouble before it's necessary. You don't need to tell your boss right away when you start looking at other opportunities. Through the application process you may find that there aren't any better paying companies out there, or you have to give up too many benefits to take a new job.

The best time to let your boss know that you are looking for a new job is right after you've scheduled an interview. Explain, in the nicest words possible, why a new job is attractive, and assure your boss that you don't want to leave the company or your co-workers high and dry. This not only shows respect, but keeps the relationship intact in case you need to call on it in the future. A good boss will listen to your reasoning and understand your decision; a bad boss will try to make you feel bad for wanting to move on. If your boss does respond negatively, it's probably a sign it's time to leave anyway.

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