You Should Always be Job Searching

Even if you're happy at your current job, you shouldn't give up on the job search entirely. In fact, Careerealism contributor Steven Nash says you should always be searching for new employment opportunities. Staying in search mode is especially important if you want to advance your career, as it allows you to identify jobs with additional responsibilities and a matching increase in pay.

If you're wondering why you should continue your job search long past your hire date, it's an issue of security. It doesn't matter if you have been working at your current company for six months or six years; there is really no such thing as job security. Unless you have a contract stating otherwise, your employer has the right to terminate your employment at any time. If you are always in the middle of a job search, a sudden termination isn't going to hurt you as much as it does someone who is completely blindsided by the job loss.

Another reason to keep your job search going is to make it easier to take advantage of new employment opportunities. If you don't read job postings regularly, you might miss out on a job opening that is a perfect match for your skills and level of experience. Just because you are looking at job postings doesn't mean you have to apply to any of them, but it gives you an extra advantage in a competitive job market.

Staying engaged in a job search is a way of staying on the offensive and expecting the unexpected. You never know what is going to happen with your company, so it's best to be prepared. Searching open jobs gives you some insight into what employers expect from candidates. If you lose your job or decide you need a career change, you have all the information you need to create an outstanding resume and cover letter.

If you want to keep your job search active, there are a few ways to go about it. One is to set up alerts for companies or job titles in your industry. This is a low-stress way to stay on top of what is happening in your local job market. After you select relevant keywords, you don't have to do anything. Simply sit back and wait for the alerts to show up in your inbox. It's also important to maintain a strong list of references. You don't want to apply for a job only to find out your best reference is out of the country. Get in touch with your references once every six months or so, and make sure you have updated contact information for each person.

When it comes to your career, it is much better to be proactive than reactive. An unexpected job loss is almost never a good thing, but keeping your job search active is a great way to avoid struggling through months of unemployment.

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