How To Handle Leaving Your Current Company

By PAMELA ROBINSON

The question of whether or not to let your boss know that you want to leave the company and your current position is asked quite often. "Should I tell me boss that I'm looking for another job?" "I really want to be honest with him/her." This question pops up periodically because it is a delicate situation and you want to handle it properly. Some people don't know quite how to handle this scenario especially when their boss & their peers have become friends.

As a general rule, you should keep your job search confidential. Depending upon what is motivating you to make a job change - not enough money, blocked advancement, a miserable boss, a corporate culture with which you don't feel compatible - there are various steps you can take leading up to your making a decision to leave the company.

For example, if you are unhappy with your current day to day responsibilities because they are not what you initially joined the company for, the employer may have misrepresented the job to you. This is not uncommon. You should discuss this directly with your boss as soon as possible. If he/she listens to you, recognizes your problem & offers to ameliorate it, then give the company some set amount of time to correct the situation. If indeed nothing changes, then of course you'll want to leave. By disclosing the fact that you are unhappy & have begun a job search, you risk the fact that your boss could ask you to leave on the spot... he/she may feel you are being disloyal to the company by using company time to look for another position. You never really know how a person will react. Oftentimes candidates say to me that they are friends with their boss, and that their boss will be supportive of their move. That is possible, but I suggest that you test the waters before jumping in. Also, certain companies have policies and precedent for whether or not they let execs out of contracts, and how they respond when an employee opts to leave. So tread carefully and be aware of all the pitfalls if you decide you want to confide in your boss.

The important thing to remember is that you need to look after numero uno - YOU. You need to protect yourself in every way so that your transition from one company to another is smooth. Here are some tips to keep in mind when you are interviewing:

1. Never speak badly of your boss, or anyone in the company.

2. Keep your reasons for leaving clean & concise with no blame to anyone. It is your choice to leave in order to further your career.

3. Ask your interviewer to please keep the meeting totally confidential. This may seem obvious, but especially in the entertainment community, people know each other & talk a lot. So make a point of this.

4. Choose your confidantes wisely!

Remember that keeping your job search confidential is not a sin! If you handle your former employer with respect, and don't burn any bridges, you'll leave still being friends with the door wide open to reconnect should you both desire.