indecision in accepting job offer - when is the right time for talking with current employer?

Question

I work for a French start-up and I am actively searching for a new job elsewhere. It would be my first "job transition" and I wonder how things would/should happen after a successful interview. Is the following scenario correct?

1. the new company accepts my application and sends me an informal job offer
2. I have a few days for thinking about it (how many? 2-3? 4-5?)
3. I communicate to the new company my decision to accept or not the job offer
4. assuming that I accept, I receive a formal job offer
5. once I get the formal job offer, I can safely quit my current job

My question is also the following: at which point should I talk about the job offer to my current employer? If, during step 2 above, I am not actually sure about whether to accept the job offer or not, can I talk about the offer with my employer and try to negotiate my role and/or duties in the company? Especially because these are topics that I wished to talk about with him anyway. And moreover, should I see that he is not that interested in keeping me at his company, I will have fewer regrets in accepting the new job offer.

Or maybe it's better to talk with him about these topics before receiving an actual job offer? Otherwise it could be perceived as blackmailing?

Answer 1

There are many reasons why you should not mention active jobseeking, and especially formal offers, to a current employer. There are very fee reasons why you should - and most of them are also a reason not to.

First, your employer may fire you for simply doing so. This might not be permitted in your jurisdiction, but why risk it?

Second, if your employer is only going to give you a raise because you're leaving, they were already underpaying you. Otherwise remuneration would have been at that level already. A employer who will clearly undercut you unless and until absolutely necessary, is not an employer you should want to stay with.

Third, it disrupts the environment for your colleagues, who now have no idea how much longer you'll be there, and have to wonder why you're looking to jump ship. What do you know that they don't? What can they afford to tell you, that may backfire on them later? It makes everything uncomfortable for everyone - and then if you don't get the new job, you've burnt that trust for no gain.

Keep of to yourself until you have accepted the new offer. Then tell the person directly responsible for your activity as you hand them the letter of resignation. Whether and when you tell your coworkers will depend entirely on how well you know and like them, and the reasons for your leaving. Generally, the more friendly you are or the more professional they have been, the more time you give them to work out an exit and continuity plan.

Answer 2

After you get a formal offer, look at your start date, look at your salary. Negotiate salary if you need/want to. Negotiate the start date to make sure you have enough time to give your current employer notice and that your new job start won't overlap.

I would guess you have about 1 week to do the above.

Once you accept your offer, and you get a confirmation, you notify your current employer.

If you tell your current employer before accepting a job, you will probably get fired and if your offer falls through, you will be left unemployed. Even if they match the new offer, you are marked as disloyal employee so they will probably start looking for replacement.