Should I be honest?

Eliza252

I've got a bit of a dilemma.
I have two interviews for new jobs. Unfortunately the offices for one of the interviews is in the building adjacent to my current employer and believe it or not the second interview is for a company whose front door is directly opposite our main entrance (and not even over the road, I mean a few paces across a pedestrianised area).
The likelihood of someone from my company seeing me go to the interview is really quite high. Should I admit to my boss that I am looking for another job and save it getting back to him via office gossip? Plus save the embarrasment of bumping into someone on my day off wearing my suit and walking into said companies offices?
I really didnt want to let on that I was looking elsewhere, because if I dont get either job I'm keen to hang on to my current position and as its a very small team that i work with so its going to be very awkward if they know about my job hunt.... not sure what to do!!!

jenpoptab

I'd say nothing until anyone commented, in case nobody sees you, and anyway it's up to you what you do on your day off!

lush_walrus

God what a difficult one!

Only thought I have had of how to get around it, is to talk to the companies who you are being interviewed for and see if they can interview you early in the morning before most people come to work or later or at a different location.

The companies may well be understanding of your situation, and I personally would rather try that tak first before telling my employer incase as you said you end up staying where you are.

Baby_A

I work in HR and had a similar incident when interviewing, the applicant contacted me and explained so I agreed to meet elsewhere which was convienent for him.
Im sure if you explain this to the company where your being interviewed they will understand, and I am sure they know you work a few doors away from your CV so it will tally up.

Savvy_Sue

jenpoptab wrote:

I'd say nothing until anyone commented, in case nobody sees you, and anyway it's up to you what you do on your day off!

I agree. Also any chance you could be going in to those offices for some other reason?

Plus it's sometimes no bad thing if people do find out you're looking elsewhere, even if you would be happy to stay where you are if you don't get another job. Think about what you'd like to happen if you stay in your current job, and be ready to talk about that if they find out you're looking elsewhere!

Pennywise

I had a similar thing when I once advertised for staff. The applicant knew our receptionist who was very friendly with her current boss. A quick telephone call easily found a solution - our HR manager agreed to meet her in our car park at the back of the building and bring her through to my office herself. Result: easy solution, applicant subsequently hired, no problem. There's no harm in giving them a ring to explain the position and see if there are any simple solutions.

Though, if it is such a problem, why did you apply to them anyway?

Ted_Hutchinson

There must however be some things about your current job that have encouraged you to seek employment elsewhere.
If these factors which, while not causing you sufficient stress to hand in your notice are sufficient to encourage to to look elsewhere, it may be worth your while mentioning it to your line manager so that they can think about offering you an incentive to stay by increasing your pay or making changes which would discourage you from moving.

If they are "Good enough" employers that you don't really mind staying if you have to they may also be prepared to meet you halfway and so save you the bother of changing jobs. If you don't mention the possibility of changing jobs to them before you get the offer of a new job they won't really have much chance to modify your current terms to encourage you to stay.

So I'd let the know what I'm doing and why and hope they might want to keep me.

Eliza252

Thanks for all the replies!
The jobs I am applying for are all in the charity sector as I wanted to move away from the highly commercial area that I'm currently employed in.
Basically its highly unlikely that my company would be able to convince me to stay (if I was offered another position), otherwise I would seriously consider letting them know as a good leverage for getting a pay rise!

Think I will maybe call the recruitment agency (that I got the interview via) about the charity thats based right opposite our door, they are really friendly and will probably know whether it would be appropriate to ask them if we could think of an alternative interview venue. Quite a few people seem to have done this before. Its such a good position though am quite nervous about asking them for favours.

The interview at the other place, which is near by but not in plain sight of the building I will just have to hope no one sees me, if anyone does and it looks like its gonna get back to the management team, I will just have to go and see my manager quietly and confess. At least that'll look more professional than something that got overheared by the coffee machine.

Dagnammit! I had the whole of London as a potential new office and it has to be two places that are right next door! and they're not even related organisations! at least I wont get lost going to the interview

Becles

You could be going to the charity for another reason

eg if it's an elderly one, you wanted to see what help your Grandma could get. If it's an animal one, you were concerned about a dog barking in your street. etc

louise1234_2

Does your present job work office hours? If so, are many colleagues going to be outside at say 11am?? Do the windows of your current office look out at these entrances?

I think the chances are quite slim if you time it correctly, and I'd be tempted to not rock the boat if it's not that likely you'll be seen.

Although the suit is a dead giveaway if you are spotted......

Lipsticklady

If questioned by your current employers, you could always tell them that you fundraise for the charity or were completing some voluntary work. With this information the current employers might even promote you!!!! LOL :-)