How to (Quietly) Job Search While Employed

Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”.

We’ve all been there. We want to quit our job but don’t want to alert our employer. It can be tricky looking for a job while working. On the plus side, one of the main benefits of looking for a new job while currently employed is you will generally be more attractive to employers. However, one of the risks includes someone finding out that leads to you getting fired or damaging your reputation. Balance is key when going through a situation like this. Even your LinkedIn profile development has to be done with caution so you don’t tip anyone off at your current workplace. Here are some tips to consider for balancing your job search and your current job.

Timing Your Search is Critical

Minimizing the amount of competition, you have is always beneficial. Try holding off on your job search until the late summer months, since there are typically fewer applicants for jobs during that time frame. You don’t want a job search to drag out very long when you already have a job, so timing is critical to making the process go as quickly as possible. Another great time is during the holidays. Most people mistakenly think companies aren’t hiring (they are!) during the Christmas holiday so get your resume ready to send out during that time

Truly the best way to find a job is networking and LinkedIn.

ERIN KENNEDY

Keep it Confidential

It’s usually not the best idea to let your boss or anyone else in your organization know you’re searching for a job. You don’t want to be let go before you find your job. However, you also don’t want to lie to your boss. Just do whatever you can to keep your search confidential, and you won’t have to answer any tough questions.

Attend Networking Events Outside of Work

Attending networking events is a great way to expedite any job search. Having morning coffee meetings or evening social gatherings can go a long way in developing relationships, while not having to worry about someone from your current job seeing you. Throughout your LinkedIn profile development, you may consider joining groups that can lead you to some valuable events to attend. Quietly let your network know you are open to new opportunities. Truly the best way to find a job is networking and LinkedIn. It’s through who you know, or who you can get introduced to. Set up meetings with common contacts that work at a company you are interested in. That’s one way to get your foot in the door.

Use Caution with Social Media

Although you may want to find a new job as quickly as possible, it’s not the best idea to announce it on social media. That is one nearly guaranteed way you can get in trouble with your current job, and potentially damage your job search as well. How many times have we heard about people complaining about their jobs on social media only to have their employer find out—and promptly fire them. Keep your actions private throughout your LinkedIn profile development as well, so you won’t inadvertently announce your intentions to your connections who may currently work with you.

Think Critically About Who Receives Your Resume

An executive resume writer will always tell you to be selective to whom you give your resume. Tailoring your resume to a particular employer is a great way to be noticed and will also better ensure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. It’s also important to tell the recipient that your job search is confidential, so they don’t contact your current employer.

Professional Resume Services is here to help you with any aspect of your job search. We take pride in being the best resume writing service for executives, but we also enjoy being involved with your searching and networking efforts. If there’s anything we can help you with along the way, don’t hesitate to contact us at any time.

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