It is better, but more difficult, to conduct a job search while employed.
It is better because employers often see candidates who are working as more desirable than those who are not. It also is better to have a job search under way, in the event of a layoff.
“It’s not impossible to get both jobs (staying employed and finding a new job) done, but you have to be smart about it,” warns national career author and columnist Stanley Bing.
Be smart, careful and above board, suggests Denver-area executive leadership coach Frank Traditi. “As bad as things may seem at your current company, always take the high road and don’t burn the proverbial bridge,” he said.
*Keep business clean*
Be aware that “spending time looking for a job while you are at work can be detrimental,” Traditi said. “If you are currently employed, think of setting up your career-search program like setting up a new business. Keep everything separate ’¢â “ phone numbers, e-mail, expenses, supplies, work time and so on, so that there is no crossover with your current employer.”
Here are more ideas from About.com:
– Don’t discuss a job search with co-workers ’¢â “ Other people won’t keep it quiet if you can’t keep it a secret.
– Make it clear in all interviews with prospective employers that all conversations are to be confidential ’¢â “ “All over America and the world, folks who have jobs are talking with people who are offering new ones,” Bing wrote. “A vast majority of the time, nobody gets busted.”
– Don’t use your work telephone or e-mail to job search ’¢â “ Employers sometimes monitor phone calls and e-mail. Use home e-mail and a personal cell phone. Don’t make job-search-related calls where someone may overhear you.
– Don’t job hunt on your employer’s time ’¢â “ Use your own time, such as break time or lunch hour. Schedule interviews and job hunt meetings at before-work morning breakfasts, at lunch and after work. If you leave the office during the day, your boss may know something is up. Instead, take a personal day off for an interview. Don’t take too many days off at once, though.
– Don’t job hunt on your boss’s dime ’¢â “ Use your own paper, computer and printer to make copies of your resume. Use your own postage to mail them.
– Don’t slack off at work ’¢â “That’s a good way to draw unwanted attention and inquiries.
*Mask your intentions*
– Be careful about how you dress ’¢â “ If you come into the office dressed for a job interview, your manager may be suspicious. You may have to find a place to do a quick clothing change.
– Use former employers as references ’¢â “ Explaining to a prospective employer that you can’t use your current employer as a job reference because you want to keep your job search confidential for now should not harm your chances of getting a job offer.
– To avoid the intrigue and anxiety of a job search while employed, stop looking for a job, but start looking to meet people. “Pursuing things you love doing with people you enjoy will position you better to get a job; other people will notice your commitment, passion, skill and personality, and they’ll want to either hire you or help you get hired.” That’s what Peter Bregman of Bregman Partners Inc. recommends as a more low-key path to a new job. He is CEO of his global leadership development and change management firm, and the author of Point B: A Short Guide to Leading a Big Change.
Similarly, Traditi sees meeting new people as developing a career network, which is a proven way to get connected to job openings. “Attend networking events, seminars or workshops where you can meet new people in your current industry or a new one. Go to lunch with new people at a company or industry in which you would like to work. “It’s easy to get so caught up in the day-to-day grind of work that it becomes an afterthought to create new relationships,” Traditi said.
– Online social networking is another way to “meet” people. The business-focused LinkedIn site has more than 37 million members, adding a new one almost every second. Discreet use of Facebook and Twitter also can help job-hunters widen their net without attracting the attention of their employer.
_Linda Gaber is a copywriter and coordinator of JobsWeekly at the Denver Newspaper Agency._