--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Try to keep your mouth shut until you…" description: "\"Try to keep your mouth shut until you have a job offer, especially if your move is not entirely certain. There are only a few cases in which I think it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/alexandra-levit-49070_boss_try-to-keep-your-mouth-shut-until-you-ha_733314.jpg" --- # Try to keep your mouth shut until you have a job offer… ![“Try to keep your mouth shut until you have a job offer, especially if your move is not entirely certain. There are only a few cases in which I think it would be appropriate to tell your boss what's going on. For example, if your spouse is being forced to relocate, obviously you are going to go…” quote by Alexandra Levit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/alexandra-levit-49070_boss_try-to-keep-your-mouth-shut-until-you-ha_733314.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/alexandra-levit-49070_boss_try-to-keep-your-mouth-shut-until-you-ha_733314.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/alexandra-levit-49070_boss_try-to-keep-your-mouth-shut-until-you-ha_733314.jpg) > “Try to keep your mouth shut until you have a job offer, especially if your move is not entirely certain. There are only a few cases in which I think it would be appropriate to tell your boss what's going on. For example, if your spouse is being forced to relocate, obviously you are going to go, and if you have a good relationship with your boss, then it might take some stress off of you to tell the truth. The general rule, though, is not to give your employer more power over your destiny than you have yourself.” [Alexandra Levit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-levit/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoid revealing job‑search plans to your current employer unless circumstances force transparency, preserving your bargaining power and reducing risk. **In simple terms:** Keep job plans private unless you must explain a forced move. Key Takeaway Protect your leverage by staying silent. Themes career strategy communication power dynamics Mood cautious pragmatic Type advice strategic When to use this quote - job hunting - relocation - manager discussions - career transitions Key Concepts employment law negotiation personal boundaries Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance transparency with self‑preservation? - When is it worth risking power for openness? A Different Perspective Silence may strain trust if overused; honesty can sometimes build credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Good relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-relationship/) [Our destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-destiny/) [Relocate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relocate/) [Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress/) [Telling the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-the-truth/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Your destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-destiny/) ## Related quotes > [We picked on something people identified with...a decent job at work, a relationship, a boss who needs to be loved and who is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/we-picked-on-something-people-identified-with-a-decent-job-at-work-a/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [“Finally, the review is an assertion of power for the boss, affirming she is the evaluator — not a coach or mentor. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-p-castor/finally-the-review-is-an-assertion-of-power-for-the-boss-affirming/) [J.P. Castor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-p-castor/) > [This is so much harder than I ever thought it would be...because the thing is, even if you're just working part-time, your boss is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-weiner/this-is-so-much-harder-than-i-ever-thought-it-would-be-because-the/) [Jennifer Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-weiner/) > [“My boss is going to kill me if I lose a client. Unless…” He lowered his sunglasses and let the top of his trench…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-erickson/my-boss-is-going-to-kill-me-if-i-lose-a-client-unless-he-lowered-his/) [Megan Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-erickson/) > [If you're spending a lot of time in the writers' room and then you're also acting, you have your foot in both of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-arnold/if-you-re-spending-a-lot-of-time-in-the-writers-room-and-then-you-re/) [Tom Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-arnold/) > [Most people see a job offer from Google as a victory, and I should have seen it that way. I should have at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-cooper/most-people-see-a-job-offer-from-google-as-a-victory-and-i-should/) [Sarah Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-cooper/) > [I was accepted to UCLA, but at the same time, I had a job offer at Chicago's Chez Paree nightclub. My father, being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/i-was-accepted-to-ucla-but-at-the-same-time-i-had-a-job-offer-at/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > [“Her first digitally published book is The Job Offer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-webb/her-first-digitally-published-book-is-the-job-offer/) [Eleanor Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-webb/) > [“Was that job offer you worked into the blessing? I never saw such tact.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/was-that-job-offer-you-worked-into-the-blessing-i-never-saw-such-tact/) [Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/) > [I was willing to go just about anywhere in the U.S. for the best job - except New York City. Of course, I received…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wagoner/i-was-willing-to-go-just-about-anywhere-in-the-u-s-for-the-best-job/) [Rick Wagoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wagoner/) > [Tell your boss what you really think about him and the truth shall set you free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murray/tell-your-boss-what-you-really-think-about-him-and-the-truth-shall/) [Patrick Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murray/) > [Tell your boss what you really think about him, and the truth shall set you free, from your job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tell-your-boss-what-you-really-think-about-him-and-the-truth-shall-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That's the mark of a good office. The people who do the work get on with it without bothering to tell the boss.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pearce/that-s-the-mark-of-a-good-office-the-people-who-do-the-work-get-on/) Michael Pearce > [I'm going city to city, I'm already lost. Tell the boss who is new in town. I'll ride this horse till it it bucks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sage-francis/i-m-going-city-to-city-i-m-already-lost-tell-the-boss-who-is-new-in/) [Sage Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sage-francis/) > [If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-tell-the-boss-you-were-late-for-work-because-you-had-a-flat/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Alexandra Levit > [If the job is not what you expected and not even your cup of tea, stay put and learn as much as you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-levit/if-the-job-is-not-what-you-expected-and-not-even-your-cup-of-tea-stay/) [Alexandra Levit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-levit/) > [If you must leave your job after three months - and I recommend staying a year unless you're totally miserable - then downplay the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-levit/if-you-must-leave-your-job-after-three-months-and-i-recommend-staying/) [Alexandra Levit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-levit/) > [You never know when a new job isn't going to pan out, or circumstances change, and you'll want to return to your previous company.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-levit/you-never-know-when-a-new-job-isn-t-going-to-pan-out-or-circumstances/) [Alexandra Levit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-levit/) > [One of the toughest situations to be in is when you are objectively good at something, but realize that it's making you unhappy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-levit/one-of-the-toughest-situations-to-be-in-is-when-you-are-objectively/) [Alexandra Levit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-levit/) > [Maintaining strong references is a critical part of effective networking, and I suggest sending your best contacts periodic updates, e-mails just saying hello, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-levit/maintaining-strong-references-is-a-critical-part-of-effective/) [Alexandra Levit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-levit/) > [“The reality is that being controversial generates attention for a little while, but it’s usually not good for your career in the long term.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-levit/the-reality-is-that-being-controversial-generates-attention-for-a/) [Alexandra Levit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-levit/) > [People can be so petty, can't they? This is why you should only give as much notice as is considered culturally appropriate in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-levit/people-can-be-so-petty-can-t-they-this-is-why-you-should-only-give-as/) [Alexandra Levit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-levit/) [Explore all 8 Alexandra Levit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-levit/) ## More Boss quotes > [ME AND SUMMER GUNNA BE MOVING IN TOGETHER HELL YA ITS GUNNA BE BOSS!!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hawes/me-and-summer-gunna-be-moving-in-together-hell-ya-its-gunna-be-boss/) [Jon Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hawes/) > [“having sex with her boss.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-henning/having-sex-with-her-boss/) Stephen Henning > [Once in a while there's wisdom in recognizing that the Boss is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/once-in-a-while-there-s-wisdom-in-recognizing-that-the-boss-is/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/) [Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/) > [It is reassuring for people to feel they have a boss, someone who knows the answers and has charted the course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-cukor/it-is-reassuring-for-people-to-feel-they-have-a-boss-someone-who/) [George Cukor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-cukor/) > [I don't have a boss or PR person, so I'm accountable to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-don-t-have-a-boss-or-pr-person-so-i-m-accountable-to-no-one/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [ I remember Robin \[Williams\] walked up to me after the last take and said, "Thanks boss! We nailed it!" That will probably be one… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-aguire/i-remember-robin-williams-walked-up-to-me-after-the-last-take-and/) Roberto Aguire > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Your manager is your boss and tells you what to do, what to wear and who to be, so our relationship changed. I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcdonald/your-manager-is-your-boss-and-tells-you-what-to-do-what-to-wear-and/) [Jane McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcdonald/) > [When I get home, I'm not the boss like I am at work - I slip into a more feminine role. I take everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/when-i-get-home-i-m-not-the-boss-like-i-am-at-work-i-slip-into-a-more/) [Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/) > [I can't say it was challenging for me to shake the image of Frasier. I've been fortunate to have had a very interesting career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/i-can-t-say-it-was-challenging-for-me-to-shake-the-image-of-frasier-i/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [You will be at your best forever, Even now you have good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-will-be-at-your-best-forever-even-now-you-have-good-moments/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Take lack of candor. ... I'm not talking about boldface lying, but a tendency to withhold information. That behavior is far more common, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/take-lack-of-candor-i-m-not-talking-about-boldface-lying-but-a/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [“Pizza as a reward at work, gotta love it. Personally, I'd rather have that than a raise. Give me a pizza, boss, and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/pizza-as-a-reward-at-work-gotta-love-it-personally-i-d-rather-have/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Let me spell it out: with the psychotic boss, nothing you do is ever quite right. They set traps, asking you to do things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/let-me-spell-it-out-with-the-psychotic-boss-nothing-you-do-is-ever/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) [Browse all 1,833 Boss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Try to keep your mouth shut until you have a job offer, especially if your move is not entirely certain. There are only a few cases in which I think it would be appropriate to tell your boss what's going on. For example, if your spouse is being forced to relocate, obviously you are going to go, and if you have a good relationship with your boss, then it might take some stress off of you to tell the truth. The general rule, though, is not to give your employer more power over your destiny than you have yourself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexandra Levit" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-levit/try-to-keep-your-mouth-shut-until-you-have-a-job-offer-especially-if/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Boss" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-levit/try-to-keep-your-mouth-shut-until-you-have-a-job-offer-especially-if/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/alexandra-levit-49070_boss_try-to-keep-your-mouth-shut-until-you-ha_733314.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/alexandra-levit-49070_boss_try-to-keep-your-mouth-shut-until-you-ha_733314.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/alexandra-levit-49070_boss_try-to-keep-your-mouth-shut-until-you-ha_733314.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Try to keep your mouth shut until you have a job offer, especially if your move is not entirely certain…” — Alexandra Levit", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alexandra Levit", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-levit/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Try to keep your mouth shut...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-levit/try-to-keep-your-mouth-shut-until-you-have-a-job-offer-especially-if/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-levit/try-to-keep-your-mouth-shut-until-you-have-a-job-offer-especially-if/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```