There are some advantages to job hunting when you already have gainful employment. But it's not all sunshine and rainbows. If you want to look for a job when you already have one, you can expect to come across a few unique challenges. The logistics of job searching while you're employed can be a nightmare. Unless you're careful, the search could cause you grief with your current employer.
Like everything in life, accomplishing your goal of new employment is possible. All of the following tips can make the process a little easier.
1. Keep Your LinkedIn Up-to-Date
There are recruiters on LinkedIn, and they could be looking for you. By keeping an active and updated LinkedIn account, you increase your chances of a recruiter finding you. At any time, an employer could come across your resume and reach out to you about an opportunity.
There are a few things you can do to make your LinkedIn connections and networking more secretive. For one, you can turn off all notifications. Otherwise, everyone in your network will know what you're up to. Secondly, ensure that you don't have your profile as looking for a new job. Although this is exactly what you're doing, you probably don't want to broadcast that news to your employer.
Once that's done, you can update your skills and other relevant details. As long as you don't make a dramatic change to your LinkedIn, the minor alterations won't tip off your current employer.
2. Don't Rely on Job Boards
If you post your resume on a job board, you can expect to be inundated with emails and phone calls. Furthermore, your employer might come across your resume. To keep the job search discrete, refrain from posting your resume on any job boards.
Instead, rely on networking. People often underestimate the value of networking during the job hunt. The truth is, networking may be the only thing you need to do to get a job offer.
3. Don't Mention It
No matter how excited you might be about an interview or job prospect, resist the temptation to tell your co-worker about it. All it takes is one co-worker to spread the news of your job search. Regardless of how much you trust someone, avoid telling them about your quest for a new position.
The same goes for your social media accounts. While you might want to share your frustrations or excitement with your friends on social media, doing so increases the chance of your employer finding out your intentions.
4. Schedule Interviews When You're Not at Work
Perhaps the biggest challenge that comes as you look for a job when you already have one is scheduling. After all, most companies want you to interview during the normal work day. If you constantly have "doctor" appointments, your employer will know you're up to something. Furthermore, your workplace performance could suffer.
To be less obvious, schedule breakfast and lunch interviews. When that's unavoidable, take a personal day.
5. Watch Your Wardrobe
It doesn't take much for an employer to realize that you're on the hunt for a new job. If you show up to work dressed better than usual, someone might realize that you're coming from an interview. You can avoid this by bringing a change of clothes and changing before you go back to the office.
6. Don't Give Up on Your Current Job
When you're searching for a new position, it's easy to check-out and give up on your current position. A change in your attitude or quality of work could be what tells an employer that you're seeking new employment.
In addition to revealing your intentions, giving up also burns bridges. While you may not intend to use your current employer as a reference, you never know when they can be a valuable connection. Maintain a high standard of work, and you could have a reference for future job searches.
7. Be Cautious with Your References
And that brings us to the next tip - don't include your co-workers or employer on your reference list. People do this for a variety of reasons. For instance, they might not think an employer will actually check their references, or they may assume a co-worker will remain quiet about their involvement. Either way, find other references to use.
There's a chance a hiring manager might ask you why a current employer isn't on your reference list. If they do, you should know that it's perfectly acceptable to say that you don't want to inform them of your job search.
8. Ask for Discretion
Typically, hiring managers and employers assume that job applicants aren't transparent about their job search with a current employer. However, you shouldn't make any assumptions. To ensure that they don't reach out to your employer, be upfront with the hiring manager. If a company is unwilling to be discrete, then they're not right for you.
9. Make Time for the Job Search
You shouldn't look for a new position while you're at work. So how can you find the time to dedicate yourself to the job search? The key to this is organization and time management.
Before you start the search, plan ahead. Set deadlines and create a spreadsheet of job applications. If you need to use your lunch break to fill out applications, then use your personal smartphone to do it. In some cases, you may need to dedicate a few hours of your weekend to job hunting.
10. Be Patient
After you go on an interview, you might be confident a job offer is on its way. But you need to remind yourself that nothing is set in stone. Before you give notice to your current employer, wait for a written job offer. Until you have a written offer, you can't be sure the job search is over.
As you search for jobs, remain patient. A job offer doesn't happen overnight. If you start to develop negative thoughts, remind yourself that there's hope. The future could be one job application away.