The Best Way to Job Search When You Are Employed

The Best Way to Job Search When You Are EmployedThe Best Way to Job Search When You Are EmployedJob searching and interviewing for a new position when you are currently employed can be tricky, especially if you dont (and you shouldnt) want your employer to know that you are considering quitting. Its important to be careful how you go about your job search and how you take time off for interviews, so your employer doesnt discover that you are job searching until you are ready for them to know. You dont want to becaught job searching by your bossif you can help it. The reason its important to be careful is that employees have been fired for even saying theyhate their jobor their company, much less that they are thinking of quitting. For example, dont put a job title on Facebook, or any other social media site, that says Slave at UPS. The person who listed it was a friend of a friend who didnt have his privacy settings adjusted as he should have.? Tips for Job Searching When You Have a Job Having information like that available for anyone to see isnt going to impress your old employer - or your kompetenzprofil new employer who may also see it. Be discreet, very discreet, when youre employed and job hunting. Plan Your Job Search Take the time to plan yourjob search, both from having everything you need lined up before you start -resume, acover letter outlineyou can customize for each job you apply for, asolid LinkedIn profile, andprofessional references(non-work references) who can attest to your ability to do a new job. Take the time to plan to job search as confidentially and strategically as possible. Streamline Your Job Search There are some greatjob search toolsthat will enable you to keep your job search organized and managed. Use thesejob search enginesand set up email alerts so you are notified when new jobs are posted. Review theseten easy steps to organize your job search to get started. Dont Job Search on Work Computers Dont use your work computer for writing your resume, applying for jobs, or communicating with employers. Use a Gmail or other personal email address for all your non-work-related communications. Use Your Personal Email Address Dont use your work email address for job hunting. Use your personal account or set up a freeweb-based email accountspecifically for job searching. Dont Use Your Office Phone Number Dont put your bro phone number on your resume and job applications. Use your cell phone or personal landline number. Keep Your Job Search to Yourself Dont advertise on social media or tell your co-workers that you are looking for another job or dont like the one you have. Even if you tell one person, thats one person too many. The more people who know, the better the chance that your current company will find out you are job searching. Very Carefully Tap Your Connections Do talk privately, however, to the professional connections you know are trustworthy. Ask them if they can send any leads they come across your way, reminding them to keep your confidences and not to disclose the fact that youre job seeking. Also, tap those connections to see ifthey will provide a reference for you. Use Non-Work References Dont use your supervisor or any other references from the job you have now. If the hiring managers ask permission to talk to your manager (and they probably will), you can tell them you would need to have a preliminary job offer first, but that the final offer could be contingent upon their talking to your work references. Dont Interview From Work Many employers use phone interviews for first-round screening. Dont schedule aphone interviewfor when you are at work unlessyou have a private sekretariat. Try to schedule on your lunch hour or early or late in the day, and do it on your own time and from your own phone. Schedule Your Interviews Carefully On a related note, schedule your interviews carefullyso that you wont be missed at work. Again, early or late in the day are easier to explain to your current employer. Another alternative would be to take personal or vacation time. If you have multiple interviews to schedule, you may be able to do them on the same day. Bring a Change of Clothes Dont walk into the office wearing a suit if your normal office attire is business casual or casual. Bring a change of clothes and change elsewhere before you head out to the interview and back to work. When to Give Notice Dont give notice to your current employer until you have a firm job offer and you have accepted it. Id wait, as well, until your references have been checked and you have a start date scheduled. It does happen, on occasion, that an employerwithdraws a job offer. You dont want that to happen and end up with no job at all. Quitting Your Job If youre careful, you can leave your old job and move to a new one without alienating your managers and colleagues. Giving adequate notice and offering to help with the transi tion that will arise from your departure workwell for avoiding hard feelings when you quit. Hereshow to resign gracefullyfrom your job. The Bottom Line KEEP YOUR JOB SEARCH SECRET Dont give your current employer reason to fire you by telling them that you intend to find a new job with a different organization. Conduct your search, if possible, outside the office, using your personal phone number and a non-work-related email account.BE DISCREET ONLINE Be careful what you share on social media about your desire to find a new job. Should this information get back to your supervisor or co-workers, questions will be asked about your intentions and you may find that your current job is suddenly in jeopardy.WAIT TO GIVE NOTICE Dont give notice to your current employer until you have a firm job offer in hand, with a scheduled starting date for your new position. If possible, negotiate with your new employer so that you can provide your current supervisor with the standard two weeks notice.