Maybe you have reached a point in your career where you are ready to move onto new employment. It is most ideal to look for something new while you still have the security of a paycheck and your current job to fall back on if it doesn’t work out. But, it comes with a set of challenges – most specifically, you don’t want your current position to know you are thinking about jumping ship.
Here are a few tips, suggested by Jennifer Parris in How to Job Hunt While Still Employed, on how to search for a new position without risking the one you currently have.
Instead, emphasize why you are looking for new employment in terms of growth, using your skills to your full potential or pursuing long-term career goals.
Don’t be obvious. You really want to make sure your current boss doesn’t know about job hunting … and that requires some creative scheduling on your part. Schedule interviews before or after work, during a lunch hour or take a vacation day.
“… if you have to, take a day off and try to bundle them together. After all, if you show up to work in a three-piece suit (and your normal attire is jeans and a t-shirt), you’re going to attract some very unnecessary attention at the office,” says Parris.
Don’t tell your boss or coworkers. Assume no one can keep secrets in your workplace. No one. News that you are looking, or have even accepted another position, is likely a juicy piece of gossip and could spread like wildfire. You open yourself up to being fired or made to quit.
“Absolutely do not tell your boss–doing so will compromise your most valuable asset, namely, your current employment. As soon as the company discovers you’re looking, they will start looking for your replacement. Your job is probably toast. You’ve ‘crossed the Rubicon’ and there’s no going back,” Donald Burns, career coach and strategist, is quoted as saying in 8 Tips for Job Hunting While You’re Still Employed. Continue reading →
