Don't risk your job when you are looking for a new one.
Now that the job market is starting to show signs of recovery, many people who have been stuck in jobs they weren't happy with have decided to start looking for a new, better job. But, until you have a solid job offer, this isn't the time to risk your current position and job security.
The tough reality is that when you are looking for a job, there are many changes you have to make, and many of these will be red flags for your current boss. It may feel dishonest, but publicizing your intention to find a new job is the best way to end up out of a job. Most employers dislike keeping employees who are planning to leave. It is bad for moral, and most of the time, departing employees are a high risk for leaving with confidential information.
When looking for a new job, discretion is crucial. Don't make silly mistakes like coming to work dressed nicer than usual and claiming you have a doctor appointment. You aren't fooling anyone. Be careful not to use your work email or office phone number on applications or your resume, and don't use office equipment to print out cover letters and resumes. This is bad form and shows a lack of integrity at best. At its worst, it is theft of office resources and company time. If you are “on the clock” while job hunting and your boss finds out, you may even face legal charges.
If you are trying to keep your job search a secret, here are a few tips:
- Use your own computer at home to search job boards – Most companies have internet monitoring software installed, and they can easily see what types of webpages you are viewing while at your desk. Even if you are just browsing listings because you are having a bad day, your boss may be alerted to your activities and decide to give you more time to pursue your career change.
- Don't advertise – Making sudden changes in the way you dress is an obvious red flag that you are looking for a new job. If you have to leave work and go straight to an interview, leave a bag in the car and change en route. Often you can dress down interview clothes for your job, then add a tie and a jacket on the way to the afternoon interview.
- Be careful who you tell – If you need to ask a trusted co-worker for a reference, make sure that they are someone you can count on not to alert anyone else to your job search. All it takes is one careless bit of gossip and suddenly your job search is being broadcast across the office.
- Don't let your performance suffer – Devote yourself to your job, and then spend your evening working on your job search. When you are focusing on why you want to leave your job, it becomes very tempting to start slacking at the office. These days, a job search may takes many months, and if you have become a less productive employee, your references and work performance won't reflect your true abilities. Any way you look at it, it is never a good idea to burn bridges or get fired for poor performance.
What tips do you think are most important when trying to keep a job search under wraps? Let me know in the comments.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for RetailGigsBlog. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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