Even if your boss tells you you're safe looking for a job

"BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather" (bugeyedacura) 04/30/2014 at 17:09 • Filed to: None

9

41

Never tell him you are. It's a trap. No matter how earnest he seems or how much he says he's in your corner and cares. He doesn't. Don't every make the mistake of being honest at work.

In related news: Fuck people.

Brian Silvestro > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 17:10

2

C'monnnn give us some details!

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 17:13

4

Even if you are looking to transfer in the same company, you need to get approval about 3 levels above your boss before you start. Even better if you have someone outside your org chart make the request on your behalf.

People understand the need to keep things hushed, especially since if you start wanting to go elsewhere, and you are indispensable, your boss has a clear interest in getting you to stay put, even if you are miserable.

Don't ask how I know this.

Also: It's amazing the corporate world even FUNCTIONS, let alone functions as well as it does, with the sheer amount of stupid in most corporations.

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 17:14

12

The first rule about employment is:

You don't talk about looking for another job.

The second rule about employment is:

YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT LOOKING FOR ANOTHER JOB!

RacecaR > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 17:18

2

You are just a "resource". Do not ever forget that. Look out for yourself, and screw everyone else (when it relates to work).

jkm7680 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 17:25

2

Am I looking for a new job? I will never tell. Muahahaha.

If I were a boss, I frankly wouldn't give a shit. When it's time to move on to a new job, it's time to move on.

yamahog > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole 04/30/2014 at 17:30

0

Glad someone else said it first. I feel bad, but I also physically cringed reading the headline, knowing what was coming :(

Rico > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 17:34

1

Here's a better tip, you only bring up the fact that you're leaving in 3 instances:

1) You tell them once you have an offer ready to be signed, that you received an offer that offers you X, Y, Z, if they can match it you would like to stay if not you'll be tendering your resignation.

2) When you are ready to sign an offer, you let them know you have taken an offer from another company and you'd like to put your 2 weeks notice in. Leaving on good terms this benefits you and them, you can get a referral out of it etc.

3) When you are ready to sign an offer and your boss says something that particular day to upset you and you tell them effective immediately I resign from my position and you leave for good.

If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?

Stef Schrader > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole 04/30/2014 at 17:36

1

I've had a lot of "doctor's appointments" and "car problems to look into" lately. It paid off, though—new day job FOR THE WIN!

But yeah, anything said at work needs to be worded extremely delicately, and never, ever mention that you're looking elsewhere for work. Never. Not worth it.

Sorry if your honesty backfired, OP. :o(

ttyymmnn > yamahog 04/30/2014 at 17:37

0

And the first axiom of employment is that if you can't be replaced, you'll never be promoted.

yamahog > Stef Schrader 04/30/2014 at 17:42

0

Don't have too many "doctor's appointments" or the office rumor mill might decide you're pregnant! Even if you're 23, unmarried, and don't want kids ever. Stupid Midwest >:[

Bad Idea Hat > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 17:47

2

I actually have an interesting story about this. First off, I never, ever, ever ever talk about looking for another job, except with one person who I'm good friends with outside of work and who I know isn't going to tell a single person.

Anyways, a number of years ago, we hired a guy to help us out over the summer doing basic IT work. He was the husband of a teacher in the district, and had been laid off from his previous job a year before. Right off the bat he's the biggest kiss ass, and within a couple weeks he's already got the other full-time tech doing stupid crap, like leaving work 2 hours early to hit the bar, and taking 2 hour lunches. I saw all this happen, and decide that I'm going to do two things. First, I start working on my own, so that anything that happens involving those two will not fall upon myself (I'm naive, my boss is an idiot and I got blamed anyways).

The second part is relevant; one day, after a particularly ugly meeting where both the other tech and I got yelled at for something the dick suggested we do (and I didn't do, and did what I was supposed to do, and still got it), I decided to see exactly how badly he wanted one of our jobs. So I tell him and the other tech that one of my friends has a job, that doesn't pay as well but is a better situation. He says I need to take it, but excuse him he needs to use the bathroom.

He gets back from the bathroom, and 5 minutes late my boss calls me upstairs to ask in a yelling fashion whether I'm looking for another job. I tell her, truthfully, that I am not. She gives me this withering look and realizes that either I've figured out that the dick is a spy, or that her spy is untrustworthy. Either way, I went and did my own thing the rest of the summer, which ended up being about 90% of the work. Dick didn't come back the next summer. I've considered bringing this whole episode up whenever I get a different job as a reason that I was looking.

But yeah, do not tell anyone you are looking for a job, because people will give you the D just to make themselves look better.

Stef Schrader > yamahog 04/30/2014 at 17:58

0

Oh, truth. Either that or they'll skip right to the point and assume you're interviewing. Haha.

27, unmarried, total prude, and don't want kids, either.

thebigbossyboss > yamahog 04/30/2014 at 18:12

0

I have had a lot of doctor appointments. Then again showing up on crutches helped.

yamahog > thebigbossyboss 04/30/2014 at 18:22

1

Nice try, but we can all see that baby bump.

Manuél Ferrari > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 18:31

3

Also - it's a trap when girls tell you that it's OK to date other people.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole 04/30/2014 at 18:41

0

I was told as long as I kept making money, bringing in deals, and hitting my metrics, I was safe. Apparently it was all a lie, and my manager feels like he "can't trust me". Then right after our little conversation, I closed another deal. By myself. So fuck him. He wouldn't even look at me.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Rico 04/30/2014 at 18:42

1

I'm 24. So old enough where I should know better. I was just promised that as long as I kept doing my job, it wouldn't be an issue. And that's exactly what I was doing. Now I've been givin 60 days to find another job.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 04/30/2014 at 18:44

0

Amen to the last one. Yeah, after my transfer request fell through, I was told that if I wanted to look elsewhere, and as long as I kept doing my job as well as I had been, that it wouldn't be a problem. Now it's an issue all of a sudden. Fuckin asshole.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Brian Silvestro 04/30/2014 at 18:48

5

So after my transfer fell through last last month, I was told that I was welcome to stay, or that I could get time off if I needed it to find something else. Basically as long as I kept doing my job as well as I had been, it wouldn't be an issue. However, today, after my interviews earlier in the week, I was marched into the corner office. I was told that I had come up to an even higher level, and that they wanted to know what my plans were. I told them that I'm still working just as hard every day, but that I was still looking elsewhere. I was promptly given around 60 days to find another job. Basically it was a stay-or-go ultimatum. I don't do well with ultimatums. So I didn't lie to him, because I have the morals, but I also have a backbone. And even though I've become fairly adept at my job and I told him I could be there for a while, he feels he can't "trust me" not to just bounce at any moment.

Like I'm the one that can't be trusted. Fuck him.

Oh and share this if you think others need clarification.

Brian Silvestro > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 18:50

1

Well that's just a bunch of bullshit. Hope everything works out.

jkm7680 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 18:52

0

That's a crock of shit on the bosses part.

Fuck him for being like that.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Brian Silvestro 04/30/2014 at 18:54

0

Thanks man. Right now, I'm still waiting for word from my interview from Monday. But until then, since I've been fed to the wolves, I'll need to start campaigning myself hard.

Brian Silvestro > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 18:55

1

Hopefully you get the job, sounds like a step forward from the seemingly awful environment you're in now.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > jkm7680 04/30/2014 at 18:55

1

Yeah man. He says it's being handed down from our director, but it's pretty hard to see that happening unless my manager is just feeding him every little bit of information I share. Fuck em both!

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Brian Silvestro 04/30/2014 at 18:57

0

It definitely will be. No way it could be any worse. No cold calls, and working for a 200 person company instead of a multi-national corporation.

Brian Silvestro > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 18:57

1

From what I've seen and heard, the smaller the company, the better the job.

jkm7680 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 18:58

1

Wow, That's super unprofessional. He should just be lucky that you actually are still doing your job as well as you previously had been.

Good luck getting out of there, and securing the new job!

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Brian Silvestro 04/30/2014 at 18:58

1

That's exactly what I'm finding out (the hard way).

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > jkm7680 04/30/2014 at 18:58

1

Thanks man! Here's hoping it falls into place.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > jkm7680 04/30/2014 at 18:59

0

I think you are because you are sick of making food that is "cold"

04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 19:02

1

My girlfriend just got fired once her boss saw she was looking for another job.

Funny thing is that she runs their entire inventory and warehouse by herself. And, she takes shipping home with her everyday because we live just a few minutes from the distribution center. Let's just say I was livid, but realized they just screwed themselves ten times more as no one is going to come and work for them at they pay, with the responsibilities that she did.

jkm7680 > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 04/30/2014 at 19:03

1

That too. Luckily I haven't been there since Tuesday. As it's a part timer. I left my sunglasses in my locker, and good God some of the others who work there speak no English whatsoever.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > 04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. 04/30/2014 at 19:08

0

I wonder how long it takes for them to realize they fucked up and call/text her back?

Lekker > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 19:10

1

So sorry to hear man. That was exactly me 8 months ago. I had just graduated college, me and my wife had a house, all was great. Two weeks after graduation, I get a couple of offers from IT places around the US, and I share that with a coworker whom I considered trustworthy. He was a fellow manager, so there was no competition. The next day, I come in early as usual about 25 mins before everyone else, but I find my HR guy (the company was small so we had one guy) and my direct manager. They asked me to step in politely, as usual. Its when they ask me to close the door when shit gets real. So long story short, they asked me to pack up and leave. In Arizona, you can be fired for no reason with no notice. Their reason? I was over-stepping my "boundaries" by proposing a whole new section of the company that I myself made calculations for, plots, regressions and future estimations of 2 to 60 employees, with hours, average revenue, everything. All this while still doing my managerial responsibilities. They said I wasn't hired for that. Then, at the end, they whisper "besides, you have other job offers more in field you're interest on, don't you?". Boom. Like that. I was jobless for 6 months, used up my savings, and now I'm 1500 miles from my house and wife working for a company that lied to me in order to take the job.

Shit could be worse brother. I am glad you were given 60 days, even the option to stay there at all. And I do feel your pain, I'm sorry you're putting up with that.

Renescent > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 19:55

0

Couple of things from a manager of almost 20 years.

* Keep your mouth shut; it's your business and your business alone.

* No one, and I truly mean no one, is irreplaceable.

* Don't burn bridges; piss someone off on your way out the door and it will come back to bite you in the ass down the road.

* Performance speaks louder than words.

* Routinely save project docs, policies you've written, ideas you present that don't get adopted etc. to a thumb drive or email to yourself. These things can be used in your portfolio and/or future companies may like the ideas your previous company didn't.

Personally, I'm happy if someone is looking for better opportunities for themselves and will often mentor staff who have the cajones to come and talk to me about it... hell, I'll even help them tweak their resume. Selfishly, these folks become a part of your network and you never know what may come of that strengthened relationship.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 19:57

0

man, Your boss is a bastard, but I can sort of feel where he's coming from. One of my junior techs took 18 months to find another job. 18 months where he was like "yeah nah I just want something different" but wasn't willing to get himself accredited to transfer him to one of our other teams. No hope of progression planning.

We couldn't get rid of him because he still turned up to work each day and did his work as it was in the job description.

If we fired him because he wanted another job he could go straight to fairwork.gov.au and get us done for unfair dismissal. When he finally did give us his two weeks he left the next day anyway.

That was two weeks where we were undermanned by one technician while trying to interview new prospective employees.

Thankfully the new guy is twice as good and doesn't mind going on coffee runs for me huehuehuehuehue

04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 20:03

0

Not sure, but I said at this point I'd ask for pay similar to what she would be making at similar places (at least $2-3/hr more) and tell them to suck it up or have good luck finding someone to replace her. And similar to your situation she hasn't become any less dedicated to the job she already had, it was just the fact that they ask too much for too little and don't want to budge (they complained about giving her a raise at the first 6 month review after she had practically reinvented their inventory management system).

I've had similar experiences, and most of the time I go with my gut feeling to say one of two things:

1) I have an offer at 'xyz' and they're willing to offer me X, Y, Z but I would like to stay with you instead if you could meet me in the middle (definitely wasn't the case with my last job, even though I loved the job the company just never would've said yes to that proposition)

2) I've signed an offer to another job and I would like to submit my two weeks notice.

Most have fell into the latter option as I'm still worrisome with most companies that after following through with the first proposition that they wouldn't try and replace me anyways.

I honestly wish you the best of luck, but I would advise to always be the better man and to keep doing everything as you have been. They can act as they wish, but you're actions are what will carry you to better and bigger things. Plus, sometimes a little pressure like this can lead to great things. Always be hopeful and forward-looking, as it shows when you're doing interviews for future prospects.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 04/30/2014 at 20:05

0

I put in the time and effort to learn our products so that I could transfer to the tech team. And the company fucked me the first time on that one. And now its just coming around for a second turn.

Rico > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 20:16

1

I'm 24 too but listen bosses will say anything to you, take everything with a grain of salt and only let them know stuff on a need to know basis. At my job I took a vacation day that I request 2 months in advance to go to a concert. Now if I try to take a vacation day my boss has a backhanded comment about me going to another concert and partying too much. In hindsight I should've just lied and said I needed a vacation day to handle some errands.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 20:22

1

yeah it sucks, that's why your boss is a bastard. and an idiot who put himself in this position to begin with.

The Compromiser > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 04/30/2014 at 20:44

1

I've been on both sides of this discussion. It's no picnic there either. I've had to hire and train replacements with no warning and had people take alot of sick days or Doctor's appointments. Once you see the writting on the wall, you have to react or you get fucked.

He sounds like a dick, but if you are looking for another job in earnest ( interviewing and missing time) he needs to plan for your departure. If he fires you after bringing in "help" to learn/work with you, don't be surprised. I've seen it happen.

Guy I knew and worked with handed in his notice. Gave 2 months as he was a specialist. They threw money and perks at him to stay. He was going to stay. I said you are leaving with a job to go to on your own terms. Now the boss knows you are not happy and willing to leave. He will hire someone to train and turf you with no job to go to if you stay. He was going to change his mind and the boss knew it. After another month, the boss brought in a new guy to "train". I gave the what did I tell you look. Another month goes by and the dude cleans out his space and does the handshakes. The boss says where are you going, you were staying? He says notice is still in and I am leaving on my terms.

I was so proud of him. Then I quit. Because fuck him ;)

TL:DR run while you can. Bosses are dicks.