Job Hunting on the Down-Low
Looking for a new job while working somewhere can be difficult to do. Don`t get caught in the act! Here are some tips from career coach Matthew Youngquist of Career Horizons on how to keep your job hunt a secret:
Looking for a new job while working somewhere can be difficult to do. Don`t get caught in the act! Here are some tips from career coach Matthew Youngquist of Career Horizons on how to keep your job hunt a secret:
Tip #1: Don`t tell anybody at work.
"One of the toughest places to keep a secret these days is the modern workplace," Youngquist says. "While you may think you`re talking to somebody in confidence, you`ve got factors like open-air cubicles, restrooms, e-mail "reply to all" mistakes, and instant messaging that can easily vault your "secret" information into the public domain." Youngquist`s simple solution to this issue is to keep quiet. "Only talk about your search off-site with trusted friends where it`s far less likely for somebody to overhear you," he says.
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Tip #2: Emphasize "low-hanging fruit" channels.
"People working a full-time schedule may not always have a lot of extra bandwidth to regularly meet people for lunch, coffee, and cocktails," Youngquist says in regards to networking for a new job. He suggests using online job boards and published advertisements, and getting your resume over to job recruiters eager to assist. "While these channels account for only 20 to 30 percent of all the jobs filled out there, they take far less time to implement than networking," says Youngquist. "They also tend to produce better results for working professionals versus those people who are between assignments."
Tip #3: Make yourself easy to find.
Stand out from the competition and get employers to find you. Make your online profiles rich with keywords relevant to your ideal job. "Make sure to include all of the buzzwords and terminology (however basic or seemingly obvious) that your ideal customer might use to track down a professional such as yourself out of millions of random candidates," Youngquist suggests.
Tip #4: Be careful of the (online) company you keep.
Even though you want to make yourself easy to find, you have to be careful about who can see you online. "While many professionals are becoming increasingly adept with social media tools, you`ve still got to be a little careful with how you use these sites if you`re searching for work under the radar," Youngquist says. He recommends going through all of your profiles and adjusting the settings to ensure that only the right people are seeing your information. "This greatly reduces the chances that you`ll tip your hand to the wrong people," she says.
Tip #5: Don`t "dance" for your next employer.
"Employers almost always prefer to hire people away from other companies versus off the street," says Youngquist. "The fact that somebody is currently drawing a paycheck strongly implies (rightly or wrongly) that this person`s skill sets and talents are current, useful, and marketable." A good employer should be willing and able to cater to your needs by scheduling interviews at discreet times. If a potential employer isn`t willing to accommodate your interviewing needs, Youngquist says, "that`s a sign it might be time to say, `thanks but no thanks,` and wait for another employer who will appreciate you more."
Along with Youngquist`s helpful down-low job-hunt tips, 123Movers recommends not expressing interest in moving to your coworkers, either. A seemingly casual conversation about how you`ve been thinking about moving to New York City can turn into a pink slip quick!
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