Here's what to do when your boss catches you looking for a new job
We've solicited readers to submit their most pressing career-related questions.
With the help of Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job," we've answered the following: "I think my boss knows I'm looking for a new job. What should I do?"
Whether you think your boss suspects that you're looking for a new job — or you're certain they know, because they caught you red-handed — you'll probably feel anxious and perhaps even doomed.
"Maybe you were caught visiting a job board; there was a snitch among your 'trusted networks'; or it turns out your boss actually does notice you — that is, your frequent LinkedIn updates, long lunches, and 'doctor visits' the days you come in wearing a suit. But before you seek refuge under the nearest credenza, take heart; you can recover from this," Taylor explains.
First, she says, you need to realize that this happens to so many people. "Most workers stay employed while they conduct a job search, and even if you do it on your lunch hour or breaks, there can still be other outward signs if you're not extra vigilant: a new, interview-worthy wardrobe, more absences and visible networking online, and an overall change in behavior," she says.
If you're in the midst of a job search or thinking about one, now is the time to be prepared for softening the blow to your manager (and to your career), she says. "Of course, more than an ounce of job hunting discretion doesn't hurt, either."
Here's what to do if your boss calls you out:
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Know where you stand.
Before you approach or respond to your boss, Taylor suggests you examine the following factors:
-Your current level of job security (Do you have a great track record?)
-How upset your boss might be as a result of this possible/perceived "betrayal"
-Whether you're willing to forfeit the job entirely
-How comfortable you are telling the truth
-Whether you feel your current job still has potential
-Whether there are external factors that may legitimize a search, such as a downsizing or pending merger
Stay cool.
When your boss confronts you, the first thing to remember is to avoid panic, she says.
"Just how you react to the ambush is almost as important as the 'misdeed,'" she explains. "Your boss is unlikely to be all smiles, so you'll need to quash the tension." Try to bring the conversation from contentious to constructive, with much as much diplomacy and respect as you can muster.
Be empathetic.
While it can sometimes seem dubious, your boss does have feelings and will likely feel dismayed and rejected, if not outright angry. "By identifying with his or her feeling of betrayal, your demeanor will be much more natural — and hopefully generate more patience and understanding," Taylor says.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
