Should I tell my manager I'm applying for another internal position.

Should I tell my manager I'm applying for another internal position. I have been in my current role for about 9 months and my manager has been not very nice. My old manager reached out to me for a great opportunity to rejoin her team and further my career with the company. I'm coming up on my 10-yr anniversary and definitely don't want to leave. Should I tell my current manager that I applying for a position back on my old team or what until she gets notified and explain my career decision?

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19 Comments

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  1. Anonymous

    Can you ask that your manager not be notified during the process? I can do that at my current company and I like it that way for my own peace of mind. I don't want to be asked why and I prefer to tell my own business when it is time to tell it.

  2. Anonymous

    Company doesn't allow you to request for your current manager not to be notified. The have to verify if you have had any bad performance reviews, how long you have been in your current role.

  3. Anonymous

    Wait until you receive an official offer then give 2 weeks notice. You owe her nothing more than that. You cannot guarantee nothing until you get that offer so say nothing until then. Protect yourself at all costd

  4. Barb Hansen

    Should you tell your current "not very nice" manager that you're applying for another role in the company prior to getting that job?

    Short answer: No

    Longer answer: Noooooooooooooooooooooo ;)

    Wait until you get the new position, talk to your new manager about a transition plan and then talk to your current manager.

  5. Anonymous

    Our HR system doesn't allow us to apply to an internal position without notifying our current manager.
    If yours is similar, you likely won't see that piece until you're ready to submit your application.

  6. Anonymous

    Same

  7. Anonymous

    Our company doesn't allow you to request for your current manager not to be notified. The have to verify if you have had any bad performance reviews, how long you have been in your current role.

  8. Julie Humbird

    No way. I've seen managers complain to VPs to get someone blocked from an internal move.

  9. Tomilyn Richards

    I always encourage a transparent process for internal moves, but I have had supportive cultures that have also protected that. If you don't feel confident in communicating with your boss without retribution, you should reach out to your HR person and discuss...

  10. Just Me

    tell her ahead of time

  11. Paulla Fetzek, MSEd

    I like and agree with all of the answers thus far.

    I would say to contact your HR Department for advice. Some companies will require you tell your current manager you're looking to move. Others, you don't have to say anything until you've accepted the job.

    All the best!

  12. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist

    Since you've been there 10 years, you probably know the rules but I would check with HR or an Employee Manual. Some companies require you to be in a position for a year before you can apply for an internal transfer and some companies require you to notify your current manager.

  13. Audrey Kirsch

    Your old manager should have reached out to your current manager. Teams shouldn’t work against each other. If your old manager is expanding their team, HR should know about it. I don’t know why it would be kept secret from your current manager, but don’t think it’s your job to enlighten them. At my company you have to discuss interest in an open internal position with your manager before applying.

  14. Crystal Howell

    It might be in your policy to notify the current manager.

    Just a professional courtesy

  15. Valerie Rieger

    Does your company have an internal notificaiton policy? If it does, you may be required to notify your manager of your internal application/interview status.

  16. Goalsetter607190

    Yes, tell your current manager of your intent to apply. This is a professional courtesy, and they're going to find out anyways, either from a notification system if one is setup, from internal communications (e.g. old boss calls new boss to discuss applicant or rumor mill), or when you actually decide to leave. It has happened to me before when I wasn't notified, and it definitely made me feel blindsided when I found out from another manager that my current direct report had applied for their team. It's just a professional courtesy to give them a heads up and to start thinking about backfill options in case you do leave.

  17. Krishma Chhibbar

    Yes u must inform your current boss as honesty is best policy

  18. Laura S

    This is a tricky one. In general I’d agree with what’s written below; but given her behavior towards you, I wouldn’t put it above her to sabotage your transfer.

    if I were you, I’d ask your old manager how serious she is about bringing you on board (or, if you know she’s serious, skip this step). Then tell this new/old manager that you’re not sure how best to broach the subject with your current manager, that you’re not sure she’d be happy for you to leave, even if it meant furthering your career, and ask if she has advice for how you can approach it. She may have certain words or phrases that would be good to use, or she may be able to alert your manager herself.

  19. Anonymous

    Like others mentioned, you may have a policy around this.

    My company would let us apply to new roles without telling our manager, but if we got an interview we had to tell our manager.

    Secondly, we also had to be in our current position for a year before we could take on another role in the company or department.

    I am thinking you could talk with this old manager and see how they can support you in speaking with your current manager.

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