DancingNugget
DancingNugget

Advice, should i tell my manager about job hunting

Hey guys, i'm looking for a job switch from my stressful job, the work that is given to me is very complicated and it stresses me out. I have survived for 9 months in my current role but my mental health is not good hence I wish to leave ASAP.

I can't ask him to not give me complicated work as it won't look good, I think i was unlucky and landed in the wrong place.

I want to tell my manager that i'm job hunting due to my mental health

I think if I do this then he'll get off my back and stop pressing me to deliver quickly as he knows i'll be leaving. But with the current IT market and how the global economy has gone to shit, i'm not sure how long my job hunting will take. If it takes longer than 2 months then he'll think what this guy is still doing here.

How would you guys handle it if you were in my shoes. Asking for a team change wont work as most teams are crap, they'll have to change my department, which I don't think they'll do.

24mo ago
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DizzyJellybean
DizzyJellybean
PayPal24mo

Nope, definitely don't say anything to him. Your job hunting has nothing to do with your current responsibilities. You are expected to work and deliver as long as you are drawing salary from the organisation.

Put yourself in his shoes, he doesn't know how long it will take you to find a job and quit. So, how should he plan for your work? Should he reduce it? If yes, then from when should he reduce? Today? Next week? Next month? Since you don't have a job, he doesn't have an end date to reduce your workload

So find a job and then quit

DancingNugget
DancingNugget

Thanks man, i was frustrated and about to do something stupid but reading your response has given me some clarity, I'll try to stay as long as i can while I continue my job hunt and if things become unbearable, I'll give my manager a proper date as when I'll be putting down my papers.

Thanks a lot bro/sis

BouncyMochi
BouncyMochi

Please understand that your manager also has a manager who is expecting things from him. Your manager can't do your job for you, or expect other team members to do your job as long as you are around, he has treat everyone fairly. If you are in office, you will be treated as a 100% functioning resource and will be utilised.

SquishyLlama
SquishyLlama

"I think if I do this then he'll get off my back and stop pressing me deliver quickly as he knows I'll be leaving"

Lol. Bahot sikhna hai bhai tujhe abhi. Manager ka kaam hi kaam nikal na aur chutiya banana subordinates ko.

FluffyPanda
FluffyPanda
Swiggy24mo

dont open ur cards till u have 2 offer letters in these times of recession and bad market.

DancingUnicorn
DancingUnicorn

You have the right problem, but the wrong solution.

It's hard but what you need to communicate back is that I have X no. of things on my plate, and please help prioritise what is more urgent. And then doing A, B, C first means expect D, C afterwards. Under promise and over deliver.

I know we have that innate feeling to be the 'pristine Superman self who can do it all' image to our colleagues. But no we are humans and there's limits to what's humanely doable.

This is negotiating on the core problem - think from managers pov, if you negotiate on work priority and timelines, they only have a small worry and small action item to do than say when hearing 'you are looking out' and very likely they will also do something impulsive (it's just human thing).

This will be a negotition with pushback from both sides:

  • Most like scenario they will agree with your delivery timelines and give inputs on prioritise coz they don't know how much load is on your plate.
  • in a medium resistance case, where you to and fro propose expectations and you make it clear that you understand and pushback - this will be remembered by manager going forward with all task assignment.
  • Worst case - the extremely overloaded with work case like you mentioned going through will only happens very rarely since you created a negotiation barrier meaning manager has to justify it really well - like a big product release with tight deadlines, or any special case (not for business as usual stuff).

So to summarise - talk to your manager and discuss on the expectations. Very likely this should help with work load. In the off chance they push back fully and not even give any room to decrease and show some toxic traits suggesting you will be fired and all - then you still stand your ground. Show you are not happy or aligned. That will signal to them in good context that you will be leaving. (This is so much better than you telling you will be leaving without give reason or chance for manager to fix).

SleepyWalrus
SleepyWalrus
Groww24mo

I am in a similar condition. Talking to the manager is never going to help. Infact this will further complicate the things. They will start looking out for your replacement which will make you more vulnerable. And if the replacement arrives before you have a job(which is more likely, as market is full of immediate joiners), you might lose your current job too. Then you will lose your bargaining power with other companies.

SleepyWalrus
SleepyWalrus
Groww24mo

Just keep looking for jobs and keep doing your office work until you have an offer in hand. Companies are lowballing candidates who don't have a job in hand.

DizzyMarshmallow
DizzyMarshmallow

nope never. finda job and quit. telling the the person who got you into this is going to make them push you out harder they have been doing it already. take help peoper, certified experienced help out side of work. start working on the next switch. get the offer and push it clean. I am talking from experience/s. vimp - one thing at a time when you are analysing and picking an action plan. market is bad, we all get it but don't make hard on yourself by being honest to. person who is causing all the trouble in thw first place. market is bad only till you find your next job and get in. tc @GloomyTurn18

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