What is my obligation to my current employer when changing jobs is imminent but (at this point) not guaranteed?

Question

I am scheduled for a second interview for a job with a company that I would like to have. Changing jobs would require changing cities, which would also mean more opportunity for my spouse. If the opportunity is offered (and if the money is right), I have got to take it. The company is also excited about my application. I was worked through the preliminary interview pretty quickly, and the tone of it was more towards selling me on the company than me selling myself. I currently have no offer, but one is likely to come in about a week-and-a-half. If the offer comes, I will put my 2 weeks notice in and begin the preparations for a move.

In the interim, though, I currently work for a small city, for which I do a lot of web and mobile development. I just recently had an app submitted to Apple's app store be accepted, but due to organizational politics, certain people want to pull it back. Additionally, some might want to go ahead and release it if they can get their changes built into the next release of the app (i.e. version 1.1).

My employer is also looking to invest about $5k (that's a lot of money for my organization) in a vendor-built API, on the premise that I build an iPad app that integrates between enterprise systems.

Finally, it is also unlikely that my employer will be able to (or even want to) replace me with a like quantity. If I don't build the integration app or the second version of the submitted app, nobody likely will.

My question: What am I obligated to do here? Do I need to tell my supervisor that I am possibly on the move, and that no second version is likely to be built? My new position would be with a consulting company, so if they wanted a new version, they could have it--they would just have to pay more to get it. So it's not like I am telling them it can never happen.

EDIT: another dimension of this, is that my supervisor wants to have a conversation with my director about the timing of the second release. I don't want to lie here (i.e. I'll have it in December), but I also don't want to tell the truth (i.e. I am likely to have a job offer in a week, and I will leave this place so fast it will make your head spin).

Answer 1

Until you actually have the job offer from the new company in writing you are best to keep quiet about any potential move. You are under no obligation to tell your current employer anything about your job hunting. In fact doing so might well hurt your future employment with your current company were the job offer not to materialise.

Think about it from the other side - how much notice would your employer give you if they were thinking of making your job redundant?

Once you have that offer in writing, then tell your current employer that you are leaving, giving as much notice as you either have to legally (should there be such a law where you are) be it 2 weeks, a month or whatever, or what notice you can given the date the new employer would like you to start.

If you think that leaving with this notice is not sufficient for your current employer to make arrangements to cope without you then you could try to negotiate with your new employer for a delayed start - but don't make it too long otherwise they might have second thoughts about you and retract the offer.

You have to attend meetings etc. that discuss things you hope you are not going to be around for as if you were still going to be working there. Anything else is unprofessional. If you think that the job offer is going to come through in a few days or a week then suggest that the meeting be put back - though you'd have to have a convincing reason for this - then any potential awkwardness is sidestepped.

Answer 2

Unless there is a contract involved with your current employer, then you don't owe them anything. The fact that they might never build the next version can't be your concern. Though I admit the idea that they may purchase a API in the next few days while you are in limbo would cause me to have some regret.

Don't tell them anything until you have accepted the offer. Because you will need to move, you have no idea when your last productive day in their office will be. Only tell them after you have finalized the schedule with the new company.

A meeting discussing schedule can be bizarre, when only you know that you will not be there for the bulk of the project. Any company that starts a projects knows that there are risks. If you tell them it will take 90 days, and you quit 30 days into the project, they will be unlikely to meet the schedule, especially if they need to hire a new employee. People leaving is a risk that is in every project. If you are the only person with that skill set, that is a big risk they live with every day.

Many times when you move to the new company you are unable to go back and help them. I have been able to help old projects when I transferred to another part of the same company, but never when switching companies.

I mentioned contracts because sometimes you will owe them a certain amount of time if they helped pay for your degree, or sent you to a special training class, or helped pay your moving expenses when you joined them. They either want a specific number of years, or for you to pay them back if your don't stay the entire duration.

Answer 3

Your obligation to your employer is to give them notice, as specified in your employment contract, when you want to leave. That's your obligation.

Now if you arrange things in a way to minimise damage to your current employer, as long as this doesn't put your own interests at risk, that's a sign of good character and recommendable. Minimising damage to your own employer while putting your own interests at risk, that is stupid and very likely to backfire and cost you dearly.

Let's say you tell them "maybe you shouldn't buy this API because I might not be here to implement the application". Quite possible that they give you notice, demonstrating that you were less needed than you thought, and if your new job falls through, you have nothing.