Next week I have my 2nd interview with one of the Big 4. The following week I have my interim review with the performance manager at my current company (tier 2 / 3 SI). When we last had a PM chat he asked me directly was I thinking of moving as he had heard I was (which I suspect was him fishing) and I denied this, but I expect he will ask me again.I doubt I will have heard from Big 4 about attending a final interview before my PM review and I certainly won't have an offer. However, I was wondering if I do admit in the PM review that I am looking at my options so that when I announce I am leaving it isn't a surprise and, hopefully, together we can be constructive about looking for the reasons I shouldn't move.What are the thoughts of the wise? Is it too risky to discuss that I am unsettled and exploring options?

I think it would be a big mistake to say you're looking. If there are some aspects of your current role that could be improved which might lead to you being happier (i.e. staying), then by all means discuss these with him. But don't let on about your search. Remember, you haven't secured a new role yet. If your manager knows you want to leave, he could give up on you, give you the worst roles, make it difficult for you to attend interviews, etc. So you could end up with no new job and your current one ruined. If and when you do secure an offer, then you can look to give as much notice as possible, but only do this once you're absolutely certain of leaving. Keep quiet for now.

Rule of a thumb, never mention or reveal any intentions about leaving until you have received a offer letter. Even if you have been given the interview feedback and it was successful, you never discuss it until you have an offer and starting date in hand.

I would make the distinction between pushing your employer to acknowledge your value to them and actually coming out and saying you're actively thinking of leaving.In my consulting career I used every appraisal meeting as an opportunity to reinforce that I saw myself - as did colleagues - as amongst the top performers of my peer group; so I was happy with my situation all the time I saw myself being fast-tracked and rewarded accordingly.This sends the message that you are one of the team and don't want to be in a position of ever having to look elsewhere, but you do expect to see decent career progression and your managers do need to be pushing on your behalf in order to be sure of retaining you.In this scenario you are perceived quite differently from someone who is actively voicing their discontent and making it known they are looking for new opportunities. As per the other comments, once you are perceived as someone who is heading out the door the incentive to have you staffed on the best projects and to be pushing for raises and promotions on your behalf is hugely undermined. So I would agree with the other comments that if you are going down the route of applying elsewhere then you don't discuss this at all until you have a contractual job offer in hand - at which point your employer may choose to counter offer.Hope this helps and good luck with progressing your career.Tony RestellTop-Consultant.com

Thanks all for some sensible advice. Tony, I will look to use next week's review meeting to further raise my "concerns" and my enthusiasm to push into the areas I can add greatest value.Incidentally, the 2nd interview went well and I am waiting to confirm dates for the final interview.