Job Searching While Employed - Walrath Recruiting, Inc.

Job Searching While Employed - Walrath Recruiting, Inc. Are you one of the many people out there looking for a newer job, better job, or just a career change? This situation becomes very awkward for many people while they are still employed at their current job, you are definitely not alone in this feeling. Job searching is never an easy task, as it is time consuming and needs your full attention. Searching while still employed can be a cause of additional stress and can create ethical issues for many when not handled correctly although, there are a few things that you can do in order to make this process a little easier on yourself. Photo Credit: alixsmith310  via  Compfight  cc Create a schedule for your job searching: It is important to schedule and plan your time accordingly so that you can hunt while still working full time. This means that you need to allocate time in the mornings or evenings, and on the weekend to your job hunting. Do not put your current job in danger by not being able to give 100% while you are on the clock, leaving a job is an area where you need to tread lightly in the first place and leaving on the best terms possible should be your end goal. So, do your best to make the process as easy as possible, work hard while on the clock. Also, it is just ethically wrong to be on the hunt for a new job while you are at work. Always be prepared: Stay up to date, updating your linked in profile on a regular basis so that your information is always up to date is important, regardless of whether you are searching for a new job or not. Social media is an important part of our daily lives helping us to network and can potentially benefit the work that you do. Social media activity such as major profile(s) overhauls and updates, can also be an indicator that you may be looking for a new job, if your employer takes notice. You want your information to be current for potential employers to see and in order to network as best as possible in your current position but this should be a continual process. As you research and apply for jobs, be certain that employers will be doing their own research on you as well which makes it very important to always stay current. This does not mean that you should post your resume online or make posts on social media about your search, be selective with your applications, dont place it out there for t he world to see if you want to stay under the radar while you search. Dont talk about it: Keep your hunting under wraps and out of the lime light, basically, do not make it known that you are looking for a new job. This may seem like common sense, but it is often overlooked as it can be hard not to tell your co-workers (friends at work) and is something that many people do. The fact of the matter is, people at the office will talk, talk = gossip, and gossip will spread. Gossip can reach your employer, which can make for a very uncomfortable situation for both of you. Keep in mind, you are an adult and you DO have the right to your privacy. Ethics!: It is very important to be ethical in your pursuit of a new job while employed. There will be negative results on multiple fronts if you get caught doing otherwise. I have never heard of a potential employer being happy about a candidate displaying unethical qualities during the selection process, and the current employer could very quickly become your former employer if they found you looking for something else while on their dime. Solution: Dont search, email, print, copy, fax, have phone conversations at your current place of employment or on any of their resources. Ethics come into question by many when taking time off to interview. You may feel like you are doing something unethical when you tell your employer that you have a doctors appointment but are really going to an interview, which is common amongst many job searchers. There ethical ways around this dilemma like, saying that you have personal business to attend to, or that you are networking with other people in your industry/field. Neither of which would be false, and both allow you to take the personal time you are allotted to have without raising a red flag. Be proactive, if you have personal or vacation time available, predetermine days to take off and then try to set up your interviews for those days, if you cannot get interviews set for those days, dedicate them to the search process. Remember, you do not have to tell your employer that you are looking elsewhere, they most likely will not be telling you they are looking to replace you. Confidentiality is not dishonesty, but you will want to answer honestly when a potential employer asks if you are currently employed. Let them know to contact your previous employers for reference rather than your current employer as you are keeping your job search confidential for the time being. Keep your integrity and credibility intact! Work hard while you are still at your job, try to make your exit (if you do get a new job) go smoothly, you do not want to burn any bridges if possible. You never know when you may cross paths in the future. The search for new opportunity/self-improvement should always be something you are doing, but if you are happy where you are, tone the search back so you do not jeopardize the opportunity you currently have. Do you have any additional thoughts, or tips? Let us know! Happy hunting! By: Renee Walrath