Keeping on Task While Looking for a New Job

For administrative professionals, job turnover can be relatively high, particularly in entry-level positions. At some point in your career, you'll probably need to conduct a job search while you are still employed. By treading carefully, you can leave your current job gracefully without sacrificing new job prospects.

Hunting for a job while you’re working is uncomfortable, but it is often necessary to maintain financial stability. According to a recent story in Businessweek, the US job market may not rebound fully until 2017; with the economic instability, it makes sense to hold onto your current position until you find a new one.

At some companies, employees are expressly prohibited from searching for a new job while they are still employed. Other companies, though they may not have a specific policy regarding job hunting, will automatically begin looking for your replacement when you announce plans to leave. Either way, it is usually best to keep your job search quiet to prevent negative ramifications at your current job. In most cases, you shouldn't tell even your most trusted colleagues; a single unintentional comment can land you in hot water and jeopardize your current livelihood.

Searching for a new job is a time-consuming process that often requires you to take action during the workday. For administrative professionals, who are often pulled in many different directions during a normal day, it can be difficult to stay focused. To make the job search easier, it is crucial to compartmentalize the responsibilities of your current job and your search.

The first step in compartmentalizing is to use separate contact information for your job search and your job. Use a personal email address and your personal cell phone number with all contacts relating to the job hunt. While you are keeping busy at work, turn off your phone and don’t open your personal email; that way, you’ll be less tempted to shift focus. By keeping communication channels separate, you can reduce the chance that your boss will accidentally hear a phone call or see an email relating to the search.

Once you’ve separated your communication methods, you must figure out how to compartmentalize your time. Not only is it unethical to conduct a job search on company time, it can ruin your reputation at your company. As tempting as it may be, restrict your search-related communication to coffee breaks and lunch breaks. Avoid using company computers to send emails or look up information. If possible, take your breaks outside of the office building; in doing so, you can reduce the chance that someone will overhear a conversation with a potential employer. By compartmentalizing your time, you can make it easier to stay on task while you look for a new position.

Conducting a job search is an exhausting and demanding process, but it is important not to let it interfere with your daily responsibilities. By keeping busy at work and staying on task, you can preserve your reputation with your current company.

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