Honesty with boss when looking for new job? Unhappy with current situation.

You start looking for your new position the day you’re hired.

Without an offer in hand I can’t say I’d be too quick to say anything about looking for a new job, but I wouldn’t hesitate to bring up why I was unhappy (consider your current financial situation carefully first of course). But then again she may be genuinely offering to be a positive reference which is always a good thing. I would be up front, but only after confirming there are other companies with positions I was interested in (and had a realistic chance of attaining) available and preferably after talking with thier CEO/Department head(s).

It’s hard to say for sure without knowing her.

Personally, I’d wait until I had a job offer before I disclosed anything. However I’ve a history of crappy managers who’d stab you in the back soon as look at you.

@wonderingwhy – Thank you for the input. I actually interviewed with a company yesterday that seems far more suited to handle my ambition and need for growth. It was after this interview when I began to ponder if I should mention anything at this point.

My boss is a really nice person but is stuck in a level of fear which puts my “head at the ceiling” meaning I have no where else to grow.

I have brought many ideas to the table on how to create more income for the business but she has been to cautious and comfortable with her current level of income, which prevents me from moving forward.

@JeffVader – yep, that is what I am concerned about.

Never tell your boss you’re looking for work. Never.
If you tell your boss you’re unhappy and looking for work, you might as well go the whole nine and pack up a box with your stuff now.

I think she was just letting you know you need to find a new job. Since she was nice enough to give you a heads up, you should give her a two week notice when you get a new position. She also might mean there would be no problem if you had to take off a couple of hours for personal business. Just don’t say it’s a job interview.

@galileogirl – thank you. I would probably give even more notice if needed. I’m just that type of person :)

Funny that you said that about taking time off. I just said yesterday, I need to leave early and left it at that.

Why is it that some people are threatened by others who can think around corners and out of the box? I’ve worked at a couple different places that straight up ignored point papers that I had submitted for process improvement. At one place, I made a suggestion that would have cost a tiny minimum in man hours but I predicted that it would reduce call-backs by at least 25%.
Middle management told me later that they were going to try something that a supervisor had suggested that was going to cost god knows how much in time and money for a minimal gain. It never did pan out, as I could have told them. There was no gain at all and a net loss of thousands of dollars and time.
Whatever.

Do not tell you boss that you are looking.

Let them know when you have a firm offer that you have accepted. Give them your departure date. You would know if they accept notice in your industry. (Some places make you leave the day you tell them.)

Like most others said, have your new job offer in hand, in writing first, decide when your last day will be, then let your current boss know. No matter what they say. No one wants someone working for them if they don’t want to be there.

I have to admit when I worked corporate, when someone gave notice I would let them go immediately if possible. Some people become a distraction when they have nothing left to lose. I always had enough pride that when I was leaving a job I made sure everything was in order and I left notes an my phone # for my replacement.

Immediate dismissal worked for the employee because labor law in CA said they had to be for the term of their notice.

Uh, this communication from your boss sounds like a veiled invitation to “get looking.” If you weren’t looking before, you’d better start now.

I see that @galileogirl beat me to that answer. GA there.

be PAID for

@CyanoticWasp – I guess I should have mentioned that I brought up ideas and explained to her that a 5% raise every year was not exactly my idea of “moving on up”.

Anyway, I am concerned because we are a two person office so once I’m gone, she’s left to fend for herself.

You don’t have to let your boss you are looking for a new job. You should, if you are not happy with your current position, communicate that to your boss if it is within his or her capability to make a change. If you are simply in a position with nowhere to go, there is little to communicate. In employment, you are the one you should be looking out for.

Thanks Fluther peeps – one last question: in my state of discontent, it is best to smile and shut my mouth rather than have verbal diaherra during this time of transition, no?

Oh, Yeah!