I've been contacted by other companies about employees, I tell them the truth and then decide if it is worth it to try to retain this person. Sometimes it solves problems, you don't get an increase in unemployment insurance when someone walks.

 

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Let the company contact your employer, then use that as a leverage to get a bigger bonus? You want me to stay? How big of bonus you gonna give me. You said they are hemorrhaging talent, If you are let then show you with a big bonus.

 

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I've been on a few interviews over the past year. I have another tomorrow. Standard line for me is to not contact my current employer unless an offer is imminent and work history needs to be verified.

My current companies policy, right now, is to simply verify employment anyway. No good or bad reviews allowed.

 

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Tych beat me to it.

Tali if you want to leave, leave. If you like your current job but are simply worried abotu stability, let the interviewer contact your employer, raise the alarm that you may be leaving, and that will allow them to negotiate with you. Long term contract, bonus, perks, etc. If you are a good employee and I am sure you are, do not fear; especially if they have already been losing people. That makes you a commodity and and a valuable one at that.

No risk no gain.

 

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It's too much of a risk, but I've had the same thought.

I had already made my mind up about leaving before I started the job search.

At this point, the safety of diversifying my families income far outweighs short term financial goals. If I wait until the studio shuts down, I am then competing with 200 engineers in a very small market for employment.

I feel I've earned my bonus and am entitled to it. But leveraging my employer for more pay only solves a temporary problem. It also doesn't do much for my future earning potential as they've pigeonholed me.

My guess is my current employer is going to make that offer when I turn in my notice anyway.

 

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You don't have to stay. You said the Bonus and the new job process are going on at the same time. play for the bonus, knowing you will be moving on. If you get the job before the bonus great, if you get the bonus before the job BINGO!! It's a win / win. Not sure what the problem is.

 

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Dammit Imho

 

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You have the right idea, more or less, on how to handle this. Ask for discretion contacting your current employer. Companies deal with this all the time.

 

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I lost the Bronco / Pats bet with Tych..... he chose this icon for me for a week

 

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You can provide the name but not the contact info - write that they can only contact the reference with your permission.

Generally they shouldnt call them unless you have accepted the offer.

Normally, i tell the people that are my referene that they are my references and that they might get a phone call. The last time i told our VP of engineering that i wanted to use him as a reference and i asked him to keep it secret. He agreed to do it, he said he was disappointed i was leaving but this was a personal request i made; so he was respectful about it and did not bust my balls.

Edit: and then after he got the call, he stopped by my desk to tell me everything they asked. It was interesting to get that side of the story.