Would you tell your current supervisor?

[Anonymous]

I work for a public institution. I applied for a higher level position and am getting interviewed. The position is brand new and the department where the new position is located already has a person at my level (I am assuming the person will be applying as well).

I have not told my supervisor about it, but should I? I am sure that if the person at my level applies, they will get the job as they have worked there for four years already and know the ins and outs. My supervisor is mediocre and I do not have the best relationship. My supervisor knows the person who is the one hiring for the new job. They are in meetings periodically as they work in the same building. I don't know if the new supervisor has informed my current supervisor that I will be interviewed. I did not list my supervisor as a reference.

[Anonymous]

Yes. You need your supervisor to speak highly of you. The hiring manager will ask. Duh....

[Anonymous]

I don't tell my supervisor I've applied for something until I'm fairly far into the interview process, even jobs in my agency. He doesn't need to know that I put in 5 applications last week for remote jobs or jobs with a better commute in anticipation of higher in-office requirements, at least not until I'm actually in the running for one.

[Anonymous]

I call around and informally ask about every internal candidate I interview. So...it's understandable that you might want to avoid that awkward conversation with your supervisor, but I'd bet that the hiring manager will call them anyways. I'd talk with my supervisor about it just so I could have more control of the narrative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I call around and informally ask about every internal candidate I interview. So...it's understandable that you might want to avoid that awkward conversation with your supervisor, but I'd bet that the hiring manager will call them anyways. I'd talk with my supervisor about it just so I could have more control of the narrative.

Huh? I don’t think that it’s appropriate to call unless you’re planning to hire them and it would turn me off of taking the job if I knew you’d done this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I call around and informally ask about every internal candidate I interview. So...it's understandable that you might want to avoid that awkward conversation with your supervisor, but I'd bet that the hiring manager will call them anyways. I'd talk with my supervisor about it just so I could have more control of the narrative.

Huh? I don’t think that it’s appropriate to call unless you’re planning to hire them and it would turn me off of taking the job if I knew you’d done this.

Ok. So don't take the job. It's completely normal to call around to people you know to get an impression of someone you might hire. It'd be silly not to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I call around and informally ask about every internal candidate I interview. So...it's understandable that you might want to avoid that awkward conversation with your supervisor, but I'd bet that the hiring manager will call them anyways. I'd talk with my supervisor about it just so I could have more control of the narrative.

Huh? I don’t think that it’s appropriate to call unless you’re planning to hire them and it would turn me off of taking the job if I knew you’d done this.

Ok. So don't take the job. It's completely normal to call around to people you know to get an impression of someone you might hire. It'd be silly not to.

People, yes. Current Supervisor? No. That’s not something you should just do without asking them first. I have never had this happen and I’ve been at 4 agencies. I’ve also never done it and I’ve interviewed several people.

[Anonymous]

OP, perhaps just let them know that you have not indicated to your supervisor that you applied? That is totally reasonable and understandable, and also a tip off for them to keep that in mind if they are exploring references.