If you’re not happy in your current role you’ve probably started looking for a new job. You might have told your family and close friends, maybe even a few trusted colleagues but there’s one person you probably haven’t told, your boss.
It might sound counterintuitive, ridiculous even but there are times when you should tell your boss that you’re on the hunt for a new gig.
It gives you leverage
It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book but it still works to this day. Telling your boss that you are considering your options elsewhere is a great way to negotiate a potential promotion or raise. However, you need to make sure that you don’t come across as threatening. If you genuinely want a new position letting your employer know might open some more doors for you.
No employer wants to lose a valuable employee. When faced with the prospect of losing you they may try to meet your demands in order to keep you on board. It is much easier for them to accommodate well-trained staff instead of training new recruits.
It gives them time to find a replacement
Hiring someone new can be extremely expensive. Not to mention the time that will be wasted finding your replacement and getting them up to speed. Wouldn’t it be great if your boss could find a new recruit and have them trained by you before you leave? It would certainly make the handover process a lot easier
By telling your employer that you’re planning to move on you are giving them the opportunity to hire someone else. Who knows, they might reward you with the freedom to go to interviews and time off to prepare.
It promotes a culture of openness
If you have a good relationship with your current boss then you probably won’t like lying to them or trying to sneak off to go to interviews. The easiest way to get around this is to just be up front. They might try to convince you to stay or they might accept that you’re ready to move on. If you give them plenty of notice then there’s really no reason why they would take offense.
Really great bosses are often even happy to act as a reference or put you in touch with people within their own network that could help you to find your dream role.
