It’s really true what they say: Everyone knows it’s easier to find a job when you’re already working. Keeping your job while you search can be a balancing act, but it’s incredibly important to maintain that connection. Staying employed takes the stress out of a search, and lets job seekers be more selective.
That’s why if you’re searching for new opportunities, you need to be sure that you don’t put your current position at-risk. What’s the best way to conduct a job search when you’re already employed? Here are some important things to remember, to help be sure that hunting for a new opportunity doesn’t cost you your job – or your professional reputation.
First, stay focused at work and don’t let your performance suffer. This might just be the most important thing you can do. Even if you know you’re ready to move on to new opportunities, you don’t want to burn bridges with your current employer.
In addition, watch your use of company time and resources. It’s never a good idea to use your company computer, phone, or email account to conduct a search. Even if you did manage to keep your search private, it’s still taking time away from your work – and that’s unfair to your current employer.
This might sound obvious, but it’s also worth remembering that you shouldn’t use your current supervisor or co-workers as references. (It’s a common mistake.) Instead, try to have letters of recommendation and testimonials already lined up. You can also use a mentor, or professional contacts from outside projects as a reference.
As you’re managing your professional network, take care not to misuse social media. You absolutely must have an updated LinkedIn account for networking, but be sure to manage your privacy settings. You don’t want to alert your co-workers, manager, or anyone who could potentially tip off your employer to your job search.
As you’re sending out your resume, be sure to send it only to people you can trust to keep it private. Loose lips really do sink ships. Don’t tell the people you work with that you’re looking for a new opportunity. Be sure that your professional network outside of work is going to be discrete.
For more privacy, get in touch with a professional recruiter. You don’t want to post your resume on a job board, because that can get back to co-workers and your boss. It’s also perfectly acceptable to tell potential employers that you’d like to keep your search confidential. Many hiring managers will also work with you to schedule interviews outside regular business hours.
Finally, when you do have an interview lined up be sure to schedule your meeting during non-work hours. When possible, use your sick days or vacation time. This saves you the trouble of having to sneak around on your lunch break, or the worry that coming in late or leaving early might arouse suspicions and decrease your performance.
Don’t forget, when you’re ready to search for a new position be sure to get in touch with us at Market Street Talent! We’re always happy to hear from talented, skilled I.T. people searching for new opportunities. We invite you to connect with us through our website, or social channels to find the right position!