How should I tell my boss if I don't want to take on a new project?

22 Comments

1. Cyndi RosenblattMay 12,2022 at 11:51AM UTC

   Is it an option to say there's a lot on your plate right now and you can't do anything with it for another week or two? That way you're hedging your bets in case the other job doesn't result in an acceptable offer.

2. AnonymousMay 12,2022 at 2:54PM UTC

   Thanks, Cyndi!
   There's actually a lot on my plate now. Unfortunately, I cannot use this excuse as my boss has plans to transfer one or more of my current projects to other people in different teams so that I can take over this new project. I am thinking about telling my boss that I really like the current projects and do not want to give them away and ask if there is an option for somebody else to take it instead.

3. AnonymousMay 12,2022 at 1:54PM UTC

   I like Cyndi's advice below! Declining the project without a formal offer and sign-on with the new company should never be a considered a true guarantee, especially, in this hiring climate. I sincerely wish you the best of luck!

4. AnonymousMay 12,2022 at 3:04PM UTC

   Thanks! If I cannot convince my boss to give this project to another person, I may very well just take it and see how things go in the next 2 weeks.

5. Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume WriterMay 12,2022 at 3:12PM UTC

   I would reach out to the new employer...let them know your boss wants you to commit to a major project, and you really want to avoid signing the NDA because you don't want to mislead your current employer. See if they can't expedite an offer to you.

6. AnonymousMay 12,2022 at 10:15PM UTC

   Understand your #1 priority which is your paycheck. You really do not know if you are going to get the job until you get the written offer and physically sitting in the new job role. So you should continue to operate as if you don't have the job. All managers get paid the big bucks with the added risk that any point in time their ee's can leave. When you do get the offer just be sure to give 2 weeks notice. Why would you jeopardize yourself by telling your boss about a job you don't even know you are guaranteed? If it falls through and you are still stuck at your current job, your boss may never give you a high visibility project again or may start shopping around for your replacement before you officially leave. Your self-preservation not someone else's feelings and circumstance needs to take priority here. hope this helps.

7. GirlBossanova934974May 15,2022 at 12:53PM UTC

   Get the new company to try and expedite their offer AND take on the current project at your current company. IF things work out well, you should have your new signed offer in hand before any real work is done on the new project at your old job. These are the consequences of AT WILL EMPLOYMENT. Employers have the right to get rid of employees whenever they feel it necessary and employees have the right to give a reasonable notice to depart. If I were your old or soon to be old employer, I would start asking some serious questions. Why are so many departing???

8. AnonymousMay 15,2022 at 12:59PM UTC

   If you liked this new project, would you stay at your current company, or at least see if they would counter? I would reach out to the recruiter and explain the situation. See if they can expedite things.

9. AnonymousMay 15,2022 at 1:09PM UTC

   Sounds like the worst case scenario is the NDA will prevent you from showing any part of that project in your work samples. I would have an attorney look at the NDA before signing it, if they give you enough grace period. I agree with a poster below, take the assignment, and let the offer happen if it’s going to. I do think if you start pushing back now in the process of getting that offer out of the other company, there’s a chance you’ll be dropped. So, it’s going to mean an Oscar winning performance on your part, but you’ll have to split yourself between both interests. You can do this. Look to see who you can “partner” with on the project so it can more or less be gracefully handed off.

10. Been there done thatMay 15,2022 at 1:10PM UTC

    I think you’ve got to be upfront and sayto them you really can’t start a new project as you are ‘full up ‘ and won’t be able to give it the 110% it deserves.

    you’ve already made the decision to leave your present company so even if the new position falls through at the last moment you, you will continue to look elsewhere.

    you are withdrawing from them emotionally and have one foot out the door, don’t commit to any thing new . Bright blessings

11. Stacey SchoonmakerMay 15,2022 at 2:20PM UTC

    Agreed. I’ve been here before and the client they asked me to cover was also the one I had already been interviewing with. I recommend letting them know you’d love to take the work on but, are at capacity.

12. Nicole FortuneMay 15,2022 at 1:23PM UTC

    You are being concerned about something that is not your responsibility. I have had to learn that as a women we tend to think emotionally and personally in our jobs. But the job/employer doesnt think the same way about you. Continue on as normal until you have an official offer.

13. AnonymousMay 15,2022 at 3:04PM UTC

    If you weren't leaving, would you be fine taking the project? If so, then don't say anything and continue like business-as-usual until you've signed a written offer with another company and give your notice to your current employer.

14. AnonymousMay 15,2022 at 5:05PM UTC

    In this situation, I would go business as usual. I would accept the project, do your job. If you get that job offer then by all means accept the offer, then give your current employer the formal two weeks notice. If the job offer does not pan out, then keep looking for other jobs. It is best not to rattle cages in this scenario. out flat telling the employer your looking for other jobs and not going through with the project only puts you in hot water with your current employer. I would not give an employer an real excuse to layoff or terminate you, if you do not have anything in writing as for another job opportunity.

15. Vidya RajaMay 15,2022 at 5:37PM UTC

    In today's scene of At Will employment, there is no need to be emotionally attached to any employer.
    Take it as business as usual and accept the project after you have clearly and fully understood the terms of the NDA. If you finally get the new offer and really sure you want to accept it, do so by all means.

    From my personal experience, I don't get attached to any employer. I sincerely do my work throughly and to the best of my capabilities while I'm employed. It's hard, but you have to get out of the emotional aspect. If these employers want to terminate an employee, they do so in a blink and without any human or emotional considerations. So why wouldn't you want to behave in the same way? It's a business relationship after all...you work for them and they pay you for it. Nothing more and nothing less.

    Good luck!

16. Rosa GoesMay 15,2022 at 6:16PM UTC

    Congrats on the last round of interviews! I think you should proceed as usual with your current job. Nothing is guaranteed until you get the offer, and if you do you can tell your boss you wanted to wait until you got an offer to give notice. You will be demonstrating good work ethic. Goo luck to you!

17. Wanda ShawMay 16,2022 at 1:00AM UTC

    I tend to agree with others that have said that you should proceed as you normally would in this regard. Just as your manager tapped you as a replacement for your departing co-worker, I'm pretty sure that they will have no problems finding a replacement for you should you have a new job offer in hand.

18. Bradford McCormickMay 16,2022 at 4:43AM UTC

    This does not sound like a pleasant situation. But if you are employed on an "employment at will" basis as many of us are these days, you boss could terminate you today for no reason (as opposed to age or gender, f course) and likely you would have no recourse, so it's the same all around, isn't it? What's "loyalty" in either direction worth these days?

    I thought the question was going to be a different one: No thought of leaving the job but not wanting (for whatever) reason to not take on a specific assignment. In that case I was going to answer that the best path if possible is not to tell you manager anything about YOUR feelings in the matter but to offer him (her, other) sound business reasons why the company should not want you to take on the task, like you already have a very high priority task which is taking up all your time so doing the new task would slow down your progress on this current task which is very important to them. Or you do not have the background to do the task so you would need time to come up to speed by studying the skills you do not yet have....

19. Maria Paula CalvoMay 16,2022 at 10:10AM UTC

    Wow, this is a great problem to have!!! All the excitement of a new job offer while being at high demand within your present job!!!! Still, you have to move on and do not give anything for granted: you don´t have any commitment from the potential new employer yet what means that at present you have to continue focusing on doing your present job right. Taking responsibility over the new project, if you do have the skills to manage it -what I would asume is the case with your boss asigning you to it- is the only possible path. This will not stop at all you making the right decisions for your personal and professional future at due time. And I believe only then you would have to open the communication with your present manager.

20. Karen GongawareMay 16,2022 at 1:51PM UTC

    When you actually have an offer in writing is when you state you are leaving. In the meantime, hedge your bets by being part of the project. Your leaving won't have that much of an impact as it will be in the early stages. Your boss would not consider your feelings or needs before firing you. So you take care of you.

21. Farah BajwaMay 16,2022 at 9:45PM UTC

    I would add to carefully read the NDA to ensure it won't have any affect on your potential new role. I've seen in come cases where because of the type of work being done, companies will ask that you not work for their competitors for X amount of years. So just make sure the NDA doesn't have any weird stipulations.

22. Liz MilneMay 16,2022 at 11:47PM UTC

    Assume you're not going to get the job, sign the NDA, start the new project. That covers you with your present employment.

    Keep a (secure) record of what is being done on the project, what still needs to be done, and how far each step has progressed - update this daily, or more often if needed. That way, if you do get the new job, you can tell your boss, 'I'm leaving, but here is absolutely everything on the project, ready for whoever replaces me.' That covers the client, and means you'll go to the new job with a clear conscience. Win-win-win.