Job Hunting while employed
 

I'm currently job hunting while still employed. The place where I'm working is not a bad workplace, and the people are nice enough. It's just that things would be financially better for me if I took the job I'm about to interview for.

Am I the only one who struggles emotionally with this? That I'm betraying the company I'm working for now?

Yes, I know that I could be fired or laid-off at any time. It has happened to me before. But I still worry about the hardship to my coworkers if I suddenly left.

you have to look out for your future and your interests staying in a postion that doesn't satisfy you because you don't want it to be inconvenient for others is no reason to stay...

As long as you interview on your time, and look for a position on your time, and try to give appropriate notice when you do find a new position, then no harm, no foul - you have to do what's best for you.

the company looks out for it's own best interests; you should be doing the same.

Quoted for truth. If any of my employees found that their dream job wasn't working for me (and I say that only half facetiously), then I'd tell them to go for it. Ultimately any business that forgets that its employees are people is doomed to have morale problems.

I'm sorry I didn't answer this originally.

I struggled with it emotionally at first. I didn't think I was betraying the company but was betraying my coworkers.

It's good that you know that you could be fired or laid off at any time. At Will work works two ways you are able to leave at will as well.

At the end here you mention worrying about the hardship to the coworkers or "friends/acquaintances" ask yourself these questions:

Are they contributing to the food you put on your table and the quality of it?
Are they contributing to the cost of the roof over your head and the quality of it?
Are they contributing to the dreams you have (vacations, cars, education, homeowndership, etc.)?

The answer should be a resounding no. If that's the case then why are you concerned about their input?

Gee, I think it's all about your needs. If you can make more money or enjoy work more there's no need to feel guilty about anything. Unless, of course, you've made some sort of commitment when you were hired.

As they say, it's not personal; it's business.

That's always hard - if you're invested in your current job, and they don't suck, it's hard to leave and not feel badly about it.
But as long as you approach things the way Mal suggested, you'll be doing all the right things. Just be honest when the time comes. They'll manage... no one is irreplaceable.

I had a grate job for a large company. Loved the people I worked with and the work I was doing. I had just gotten a big performance bounce and the group I was with had just been asked to figer out how to provide the service we provide in the states in Europe. Things could not have looked better. Then the company had a strategic realignment. Every on from the vice-president down was told that they has 2 months to find a new position in the company or take a severance package. We are talking around 10,000 people here.

The point is I loved my job and my co-workers my boss liked me his boss liked me but it did not mean anything in the end. The only one who really cares about your career is you.

Do what you have to d0

I've never been unemployed, which means that I was working somewhere else when I found every job I've had. The only time it was an issue was when one university needed a committment from me to stay and I had to stall them while I worked out a deal with another university. That sucked.

And I should take this perfect opportunity to thank my dear, sweet Grancey. As the trailing spouse to a professor, she's had to uproot many times when she wasn't ready and find a new job in a totally alien environment every time I switched jobs.

/big sloppy kiss

If you get fired or laid-off, your co-workers will still feel the pain, even worse than quitting because both you and them usually recieve no warning of your dismissal. If you quit, you can give them at least two weeks (at the very least) to pick up the slack in your absence.

Happy hunting!

If you've found something better, why not go for it?

This isn't the military, and most of your co-workers won't expect you to stick to some code of honor. Do it for YOU, not your job.

Racnad, I understand and remember how this can be a struggle. But as others have said, the days when the employer and employee shared a loyality to each other are gone. Stay true to your personal integrity, give sufficient notice, and do what is best for your future. And....it never hurts to allow your current employer to counter offer, if they wish to.

Good luck. :)

UPDATE:

I have a great offer, and it's time to give my two-week notice.

Now my stomach is a knot of anxiety. Tell me it's OK!!

you'll know if it's the right position for you - -buterflies are normal... and change does bring on a bit of anxiety... look at your long term goals - is this what you want to be doing? does it give you the opportunities you're looking for?

and congratulations

gratz

Congrats on the new gig!

always find the greener grass IMHO