Applying to other jobs - how to approach supervisor
Applying to other jobs - how to approach supervisor
(OP)
I'm working at an engineering job in the US that I moderately enjoy. There a good things and bad things about the position. I believe I'm slightly underpaid for the position and have some other issues with the company but overall I am grateful to have the job.
I have decided to begin sending my resume out, and actively apply for other jobs. My current supervisor enjoys the work I do and wants me to stay at the company for a long time. As I try to apply for other jobs, my supervisor is going to be a necessary and important reference. I have worked incredibly hard for my supervisor and I believe I should have earned a strong reference.
Questions:
1) How do I approach my supervisor (who wants me to stay at this company) to let him/her know that (1) I am actively seeking other jobs, and (2) would like this person to act as my primary reference?
2) If I tell my supervisor about this, will it damage my position at the company? Will it damage my professional relationship with my supervisor?
3) Could this result in me being fired by the company?
Surely I'm not the only engineer on this board who entertains outside job offers. How do you approach this situation with your boss. The majority of positions will seek to speak with my current boss to assess my strength.
Thanks!
I have decided to begin sending my resume out, and actively apply for other jobs. My current supervisor enjoys the work I do and wants me to stay at the company for a long time. As I try to apply for other jobs, my supervisor is going to be a necessary and important reference. I have worked incredibly hard for my supervisor and I believe I should have earned a strong reference.
Questions:
1) How do I approach my supervisor (who wants me to stay at this company) to let him/her know that (1) I am actively seeking other jobs, and (2) would like this person to act as my primary reference?
2) If I tell my supervisor about this, will it damage my position at the company? Will it damage my professional relationship with my supervisor?
3) Could this result in me being fired by the company?
Surely I'm not the only engineer on this board who entertains outside job offers. How do you approach this situation with your boss. The majority of positions will seek to speak with my current boss to assess my strength.
Thanks!





RE: Applying to other jobs - how to approach supervisor
RE: Applying to other jobs - how to approach supervisor
2) The result depends very strongly on the nature of your relationship with your supervisor, and just as strongly on the nature of your supervisor. We here can't know that.
1) You can ask your supervisor to be a reference. It is best to do so just before someone calls him to speak about you. If you are dealing with reputable recruiters and reputable employers, they should notify you before attempting to contact your supervisor. I would not do so right away; it may take a while to find anyone who is interested in you.
Some people think it's possible to conduct a 'stealth' job search. I tried that once; took a day off and flew to a distant city for an interview. My supervisor never knew. But my company's Chairman, with whom I had a 'dotted line' relationship, apparently found out from the other company's Chairman, and mentioned something about the trip in conversation. That company had 5000 employees all over the world, and the Chairman knew everybody, and their spouses and children's names, too. I miss him every day.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Applying to other jobs - how to approach supervisor
Stealth Job applications never work, A company I was working for went onto short time, so I applied for a job with a different company. Lo and behold the two company bosses were golfing buddies. I got the job with the other company, after, being hauled into the bosses office ,and being given the " What's this about you leaving." speech.
Talk with your superviser Mention the reasons why you are unhappy , If your supervisor really wants you there ,he will go to bat for you, If not you are already on your way out anyway . This is the time to ask for a reference.
B.E.
You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.
RE: Applying to other jobs - how to approach supervisor
I'll also add, I've also worked with several guys that told managers they were applying for other positions (some internal, some external) and there were never any hard feelings. I think most people understand that people sometimes want to try different things and go different places, and good managers are supportive of that.
RE: Applying to other jobs - how to approach supervisor
There are a lot of "ifs", but if your current boss is a decent guy, and if he truly respects you and your work, asking for a reference should not be an issue. If you don't feel you can be honest about why you're leaving, then that may say something sub-consciously about how you believe your boss views you...
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Applying to other jobs - how to approach supervisor
JMO but if you are unsure how your supervisor will react to news that you are leaving then you are probably not close enough personally and professionally to consider them as a reference.
RE: Applying to other jobs - how to approach supervisor
RE: Applying to other jobs - how to approach supervisor
I've not had many situations where I would have been afraid to tell my management that I was leaving; there was a couple of temporary a*holes where I would have walked away at any instant; their a*holeness wasn't temporary, sadly, just my life's intersection with them was temporary. In one case, I had a retention contract, in the other I was still worth more to the company as an employee than not.
A manager is supposed to cultivate employee improvement; since when was lack of improvement a company goal? And recognize that lifetime employment/servitude ended decades ago; employee turnover is a fact of life. Of course, I'm not saying that finding these paragons of managerial virtue was easy to do...
TTFN (ta ta for now)
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RE: Applying to other jobs - how to approach supervisor
RE: Applying to other jobs - how to approach supervisor
Being put on a PIP simply for interviewing with another company is insulting, to say the least. Your performance hasn't lessened, only their grasp on you.
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Applying to other jobs - how to approach supervisor
Best regards, Morten
RE: Applying to other jobs - how to approach supervisor
RE: Applying to other jobs - how to approach supervisor
I had a great relationship with my previous employer. I told him well in advance that I was looking for other work - it was to both our benefit...it mean't I didn't have to hide that I was looking elsewhere, and it gave him plenty of time to plan for my departure. He eventually helped me find my next job. Mutual respect goes a long way. I realize that this scenario is the exception rather than the rule, but it can happen.
RE: Applying to other jobs - how to approach supervisor
But if pay is a major factor and you do have a good relationship with your supervisor, you at least owe them the courtesy of a brief discussion. Ask about possibilities for next pay increase, keep it light, gauge their reaction, and make your reaction easy to read. Or just be blunt, "I think I should be earning $XXX and am trying to make that happen soon, one way or another." You should get one of two responses: "hold up, let me see what I can do" or "sure, good luck with that."