How to Look for a Job Without Your Employer Finding Out

How to Look for a Job Without Your Employer Finding OutHow to Look for a Job Without Your Employer Finding OutLearn how to keep your job search efforts confidential while still employed. QuestionHow do I search without my employer finding out? Erica B.AnswerIts so important to have a strong zugreifbar presence when youre looking for a job. I would argue everyone needs a professional online brand just to stay on top of their careers these days But this can definitely be a challenge when youre still employed and trying to keep your search on the down-low.I will say this I think its reallyrarefor an employer to be caught completely off guard when an employee gives notice. Unless your boss is incredibly disconnected and clueless, most will pick up on the signs that say you want out. Your energy level or willingness to put in the extra hours changes. You have more sick days or doctor visits. Youre spied sporting a suit when the office dress code is more casual. Your lunches are suddenly l onger. People pick up on those things.You have to ask yourself, what will happen if they find out Im looking ? What happened to the last employee who was caught searching for a job? Were they fired? Personally I know people whose employers found out they were looking and countered with more pay to get them to stay. What do you think would happen to you? The outcome is completely dependent on the company and how it operates, so Ill leave that judgment call to you.That said, I can understand why you want to be cautious. To keep a low profile, you need to think aboutallthe ways you go about searching for a job, not just deutsche post aging your resume online.When youre looking for a job, dont rely on only one method to find jobs. Incorporate the 3 primary methods to make sure youre learning about all the opportunities out there published or hidden. This means (1) applying (and properly following up) to online job listings, (2) networking with your social and professional contacts, an d (3) engaging with recruiters.Here are some tips to keep your job search efforts quiet around the workplaceOnline ApplicationsIf you find a job posting that you think is for your company, do a little detective work. Do you know what your companys hiring practices are? If your company uses third-party (read not employed at your company) recruiters for their positions, youre in good shape. No third-party recruiter will offer you up as a candidate to your current employer theres no money in that for them. Also, check your companys internal job board to see if the position is listed.As for posting your resume, you need to be careful. Some services, such as Ladders, will allow you to hide portions of your resume to maintain confidentiality. Before you post your resume to a site, check out the features available and contact the companys customer service department if you arent sure. If the site wont allow you to post confidentially and you think your employer will react negatively if s/ he finds you, then I recommend only submitting your resume for specific applications and keeping the resume off the site. Recruiters will still be able to find you in other ways, such as through your online profile.NetworkingNetworking requires you to have a strong professional online profile on websites like LinkedIn. If youre suddenly fleshing out your profile and connecting like crazy to everyone you know its pretty obvious youre looking for a job. To combat this, first make sure you change the security settings so your activity wont show up in your feed that way, your employer would need to actually visit your profile on a regular basis to know what youre up to who has time for that? You can also hide who you are connected to and what groups you join.If your professional network seems a little risky at the moment, consider reaching out to former colleagues who you trust (it helps if they left the organization a long time ago). Do you have any trade shows or conventions coming up that are for your job? Just because youre not handing out your resume at the event doesnt mean you still cant network. Theres nothing wrong with speaking to other people in your industry and making connections just meeting new people in your industry can help your search. I also recommend tapping into your personal network you have no idea who your sisters best friends husband works for. He might be a valuable asset in your searchRecruitersIf youre afraid to post your resume onsite, consider directly reaching out to recruiters that focus on your industry or line of work. You can search for appropriate recruiters on Ladders, LinkedIn, and through recruiter directories such as Oya. Find specific recruiters at these agencies and reach out to them directly with your cover letter and resume. If you cant get any response from a particular recruiter, then you can post your resume to the agencys website (if possible). Again, as long as its not a corporate recruiter working for your com pany, you really dont have to be worried about your boss finding out.Assuming your online profile is fully fleshed out and aligned with your resume and job goals, you can expect recruiters to occasionally contact you, even if you arent explicitly stating that youre looking for a job. Recruiters like to reach out to anyone whose background and experience fits in with their clients wish list, especially people who are considered passive. Whether its fair or not, youre usually considered more desirable to employers and recruiters when youre currently employed.Rule of thumb dont do any of your job-search activities in the office or on company equipment. Dont post your company phone number or email address for your contact information. At the end of the day, use common sense (and a little detective work) while you search and youll be fine. Use these tips and youll be able to successfully search for a job without raising too many red flags with your current company.