Busted! What To Do If Your Boss Finds Out You’re Looking For A New Job

Job hunting is difficult and complicated. So, you’ve put word out on the street that you’re open to hearing about new jobs. Lucky you – your boss just called you into her office to say she just found out you’re actively looking for a new job. In professional parlance, you’re busted. Here are some tips to manage this awkward reality:

1.     Don’t put yourself in this position. Manage your search with discretion. Don’t let anyone know. Don’t post your resume on job boards. Don’t activate the “Open to Work” icon on LinkedIn. Don’t use a company phone or email in contacting potential employers, since those are company property that track everything that’s on there. Conduct your search on personal time using personal equipment. Schedule interviews on a day off. There are only so many “doctor appointments” you can have before things get suspicious, so use common sense and keep your search a secret from everyone except people who absolutely must know (such as references).

2.     Assess the situation: You’re busted, but circumstances vary. Did you show up to the same job interview as your boss? Yes, that happens more than you think. Or were you careless and posted your resume on a public job board? Make as honest an assessment of all the moving parts in your particular case and proceed accordingly.

3.     Prepare for the worst. You may have no idea what kind of retribution may be forthcoming, which would not be surprising as this is a scenario that isn’t covered in most employee handbooks. With exceptions made for extreme situations like corporate restructuring that includes mass layoffs, it’s common sense that you don’t want your current employer to know you’re searching for a new employer. It’s like you’re cheating on them and hell hath no fury like a company scorned. The axe may fall.

4.     Are you the “Purple Squirrel”? If you’re one of the only people who know the secret formula for the widgets your company produces, or you’re the last standing COBOL programmer keeping the accounting software from wheezing toward a painful end, you may be the exception in this whole shakedown. It’s good to be indispensable. When they find out you have a foot and a half out the door, the company may take steps to retain you – or not.

5.     The coverup is worse than the crime: If you’re not immediately terminated, come clean. There is no reason to deny what there is clear evidence to support. Do not add, “lying through your teeth,” to the conversation. You can downplay the details but don’t lie. There’s nothing like a “moment of truth” to clarify what you want to do. If your admission rolls off your tongue easy as Sunday morning and you feel like a million bucks afterward then that is that. However, sometimes getting caught makes you realize you don’t really want to go anywhere. You’re inclined to stay, but only if your overall situation improved. For a brief moment, the door is open to that dialogue, as in number 6…

6.     If the door is open, take the opportunity to have a conversation about your career. If you’re caught looking for a new position, chances are you will need to address the situation directly. Request a meeting and express your commitment to your current role while emphasizing your reasons for exploring other options. Go in with a written career plan that spells out your long-term career goals and see if you can align on a path forward.

7.     Plan your next steps: Evaluate your options. Should you stay, or should you go? Only you can decide whether or not staying in your current position is the best course of action. Don’t make any false promises to stay. If it’s out in the open that you plan to move on, do so in as expedient and professional a manner as possible, and do your best work! Exceed expectations.

Philip Roufail contributed to this article.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.