Decorum, etiquette, and integrity; three characteristics needed when it comes to job searching while still employed. Conducting a confidential job search is not always easy, but many workers who have ambition and drive want to grow their skills and talent. It’s certainly ok to branch out into new areas of your career, but doing it while showing some level of respect to your current employer—and not risking your job, takes some finesse. WorkSource explains three ways you can find a job when you’re already working.
Job search outside the office
Work is still work; you need to be respectful of company time. Just as you wouldn’t idly talk on the phone to a friend during work hours, the same holds true for job searching. Company email, phone line or fax is company property, and is subject to back end checking by an employer. There is plenty of time outside of work hours to job search—mornings where you usually drink coffee and catch up on local news before work can be blocked out for job searching, as can your lunch break (provided you use your personal laptop). Utilize quiet time after the kids have gone to bed to do some job searching or put a resume together. If you don’t own your own laptop, most local libraries offer free computer time or ask a friend if you may borrow theirs.
Bite your tongue when it comes to social media
Social media is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to networking and connecting to like-minded professionals, but it can a double edged sword. Places like LinkedIn and Twitter still offer public profile views, and while you may not be directly connected to your boss, colleagues might be. They can also see your activity if you fail to activate your privacy settings or share mutual acquaintances who acknowledge your job search through a post or tweet. Many times, people post announcements such as, “open to new job opportunities,” on Facebook or LinkedIn, forgetting that those they are connected to might be connected to the boss. If you wish to reach out to a contact from social media, use back channels (i.e. personal email, personal cell) to contact them in search for leads or opportunities. Simply explain that you are trying to maintain a level of courtesy to your boss and do not want to risk disrespecting your current job situation.
Interviews should be scheduled outside of work
Everything up to this point has been done professionally and respectfully. You’ve followed our tips and landed an interview—great! Don’t put yourself in the hot seat now by scheduling the interview during work hours. It is necessary to keep productivity up at work, not give your boss a reason to be suspicious. Be honest with the prospective employer and let them know that this interview is confidential and needs to be scheduled around work hours; most employers will accommodate the request. Use personal days, before or after work or even a vacation day to go on the interview. As with everything we’ve said up to this point, keep your job searching separate from your current employment. It is also important to remember not to use current colleagues as references. Pull from past jobs and only offer a current colleague or boss as a reference once an offer has already been made.
WorkSource, a WRC-certified premier staffing agency, makes quality and service our mission. We can help you get to that next step in your career. Contact the expert team of recruiters at WorkSource today to find out how we can help you.