Are you an IT professional searching for new opportunities? If you’re already employed but seeking a new job for the challenge, growth and other potential benefits, then read on for best practices to conduct your search!
First, the basic question most people have is whether or not they should keep their search confidential. As a general rule, we’ve found that most experts agree that you should keep your job search quiet. Why? Keeping it close to the vest protects you from loss of opportunities at your current position, or (worse) being let go before you’re ready to leave.
When you’re searching for a new position, go ahead and keep it confidential and be sure to let prospective employers know about your situation. It won’t hurt your chances, and the fact that you already have a job might even make you a more attractive candidate.
As you’re putting your resume out there, be sure to use personal email addresses and phone numbers as your contact information while conducting your search. A big mistake people often make is forgetting to change and update contact information to reach them. If you have a work phone number or email address listed on your Linkedin profile, for example, change it.
Keep your professional profiles updated during the job search, but be careful how you use social media. You should already be maintaining Linkedin profile with the most current information, whether or not you’re job searching. If you suddenly update your profile at the beginning of a search, this could tip off people in you HR department or other colleagues. A better practice is to maintain your sites and update them on a regular basis.
If you do need to update your Linkedin site, here’s a bonus tip: Turn off your stream updates while making changes and turn them back on when you’re ready to go. (Use these tips from Market Street for securing references and updating your Linkedin info here.) Also be very careful about how you announce your search on social media sites. You might think your privacy settings will protect you, but you’d be surprised what people can find.
In addition, you’ll want to be careful about which devices you use to conduct your job search. This may seem extreme, but we advise you don’t use the office desktop computer or mobile device to send out resumes or even look at listings. Why? It only takes one inopportune call or email to alert your colleagues, supervisor or other coworkers that you’re looking for a new position.
Along the same lines, you really shouldn’t be using your office hours to look for new employment – not only because you might accidentally let the cat out of the bag, but also because it could reduce your productivity levels. If you suddenly start underperforming, that’s not only a huge tipoff, but also doesn’t do your former employer justice. It’s far better to maintain a level of respect and professionalism you can be proud of.
Be selective about who you send your resume to. Your resume isn’t spam, so don’t just send it out to everybody. You should also be careful when using job boards, and not post your resume. In addition, if you’re asking members of your professional network to circulate your resume then take care that your friends are selective.
If you’re actively talking to recruiters or a hiring manager, most will understand that discretion is part of the process. Many will also agree to speak with you during lunchtime or off-time hours. You can list the best times to reach you in a cover letter, or on a resume.
Finally, give your references upon request. You should have at least three solid references lined up from previous employers – not your current boss or colleagues, just because you don’t want to put them in the position of keeping things confidential for you. However, if you list a colleague as a reference and news of your job search gets back to your boss, don’t ever lie about whether or not you’re looking. Again, you want to keep things professional.
For more great tips for job searching, check out this recent CIO.com article 8 Tips for Job Hunting While You’re Still Employed. Then visit Market Street Talent online. We have new opportunities for you to explore, and would be happy to hear from you!