First a little backstory...

I've been with my company for almost 9 years (my first out of college) and i've had the same boss (boss A) for 8 of them. He was recently moved to a directorship, so I now report to someone directly under him (boss B).

Over the course of my career, boss A has helped me grow as an employee and I've followed him into different departments while letting him know of my desire to reach upper management in the future. I've only been working with boss B for about a year and while I respect him, I don't agree with a lot of decisions that are made and would do things differently if I was in charge.

This week, a job opening became available for boss B's job at another location. The company is close knit so I'd have some dealings with both of them if I get the job. I submitted my resume this past Friday as a last minute thing. I didn't tell either one of them. I still have the chance to tell them Monday morning.

So what's my play? Is it best that they hear it from me that I've applied for this position? I'm not sure what their reaction will be. I have a feel that one or both of them may take it personally.

Yes.

Tell your new boss then your old boss. You should have at least talked to your old boss about it to see if he could put in a word.

You want an upper management position but you can't figure this one out? I don't see what the big deal is. It's not like you're stealing B's job, you're just applying for the same position right? Then who cares. Man up, do what you gotta do, and then let them know as a sign of respect. Maybe they'll even help you. Seems simple to me.

My main thought it that I'm starting to feel like Boss A might not be fostering my growth, but more so keeping me under his wing.

I've done a lot of side projects for him with good results in the past. When others in the company remark about my work he has kinda takes the stance that it's partly because he hired me (not direct words). I used to feel somewhat indebted, but I dont' feel that way any more.

This of course.

If you're lucky, he will offer to help. But if he's smart, he will likely decide the way you went about things indicates you are not ready for such a position.

Definitely better to go to them first as they'll likely have a large say over who gets this job. You want them on your side. Too bad you just "submitted a last minute resume" instead of seriously pursuing the job.

It was really a matter of timing. I didn't find out about the posting until late Thursday afternoon. The deadline for the posting was Friday 5 PM. I submitted my resume at 4:45 Friday because I was undecided most of the day.

In hindsight I guess I should have made it a point to tell them Friday. Hopefully I can tell them first thing tomorrow without any love being lost.

That's a super dick thing to do and I can't imagine anyone really doing this. Good managers let their best employees move up or move around to what they want to do. We want to keep our best people happy so they stick around. You don't do it by forcing them into positions they don't really want or keeping them from moving up.

Yeah, catch them first thing in the morning. Monday here is MLK day -- federal holiday celebrated by those of us who still have a dream.

Good luck.

ok but what do bad managers do

how do you even apply for a job internally without having the approval of your existing boss? obv. you're going to need his support to get it.

Do you feel resentful that Boss A didn't come to you about his promotion and the space opening up below him? Or was it completely out of his control? Regardless, did you even have a conversation about the promo and opening with Boss A?