Disclose to manager when applying for company position?

[NetWareHead]

Help me decide if I have committed a work faux pas please. I work for a large global company and applied to a position that became available in a different department and reporting to an entirely different manager.

I made the application and had a phone interview with the other department. I didnt think of mentioning it to my own manager; mainly the logic behind that was I never informed him when I appled for jobs outside the company.

But is this really the same situation? My own manager might find out since he could, by some remote chance, talk to the other department but I view that as unlikely. I guess it all boils down to respect: do I owe my manager a disclosure when applying elsewhere in the same company?

 

[cbrunny]

I've done both. Depends entirely on your relationship with your manager. If your manager genuinely cares about you, I would, as they may have helpful advice. If your relationship sucks or your manager is currently focused solely on the department/themselves, I would not.

Also, a lot of times they can put in good words for you, which can go a long way. To get the current job I have, my boss' boss' boss was a reference on my application.

 

[SearchMaster]

When I was managing a team, and one of them applied for another job in the company, the other manager always called me for my opinion first - often before even scheduling an interview with the employee.

If you go to the manager and tell them that you enjoy your job and team, blah blah blah, but this new opportunity looks like a great fit for you and you'd really like to apply for it, he'd be an asshole to interfere with it IMO.

 

[NetWareHead]

When I was managing a team, and one of them applied for another job in the company, the other manager always called me for my opinion first - often before even scheduling an interview with the employee.

If you go to the manager and tell them that you enjoy your job and team, blah blah blah, but this new opportunity looks like a great fit for you and you'd really like to apply for it, he'd be an asshole to interfere with it IMO.

Good point. But would you be offended or feel your employee went around you if he applied to another department or other job elsewhere?

Thats really the basis behind this post. Trying to gauge a possible reaction...

 

[SearchMaster]

Good point. But would you be offended or feel your employee went around you if he applied to another department or other job elsewhere?

Thats really the basis behind this post. Trying to gauge a possible reaction...

There were a couple of times that an employee applied to another department without discussing it with me, and I wasn't offended. But I'm a pretty empathetic person and I understand why someone would do that. Hell, I wasn't offended if they got another job outside the company. All I can do is provide the best experience for an employee within the parameters outlined by the company and hope that's enough to engender some loyalty and wanting to grow within the company. If they want something different - more money, more interesting work, better location, a different supervisor, whatever - then so be it, we're not married, it's just a business relationship.

 

[vi edit]

I guess it depends on the reason I was applying. I've been in toxic teams and wanted out at all costs. In those situations I've applied without notifying, went through the interview process and only told my current boss once there was an offer on the table.

In other situations, when it was a legitimate upgrade in position and I figured I would have my bosses support, I'd let them know ahead and use their recommendation as an asset.

 

[Ns1]

my previous post on the subject:
https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...ng-for-a-new-gig-as-an-internal-hire.2471423/

and how it ended up:

so I found out, it's company policy for me to inform my supervisor upon notification of final candidacy.