During the darkest days of the Great Recession, any American fortunate enough to be reliably employed clung to his or her job for dear life, no matter if it was unfulfilling or extremely stressful or a dead end. A paycheck, after all, was a paycheck. But now that the job market is improving, discontented and underemployed workers are beginning to seek out new opportunities.
If you’re one of them, take a moment to formulate a strategy before sending out piles of résumés.
Finding a job that’s a better fit for you is a great goal, but in many cases, it’s wise to keep your job search confidential from your current employer. A successful job search campaign might take several months—or even longer—to conduct, but some employers might show you the door tomorrow if they learn you’re planning to move on. Take steps to ensure that you leave on your terms and your timeline.
My book Super Job Search IV guides readers through the complicated process of conducting a successful job search campaign. Best of all, Super Job Search IV isn’t “just” a book—it’s a systematic approach to finding a job that includes online resources and an app.
Here’s some advice to help you keep your job search confidential:
Don’t be a blabbermouth. Sure, you might be excited about your plans for the future, but think twice (and maybe three times) about who you share them with. (You never know which friend might know someone else who plays golf with your boss!) Do not mention your search to anyone other than interested parties. Be sure to explicitly ask them to keep your campaign confidential.
Be mindful of who has a copy of your résumé. Keep in mind that anyone who has your name can find who your present employer is online, so be discreet in circulating your résumé—even if you’ve purposefully been vague in describing your current position.
Don’t conduct your job search on company time. Do not use company computers to send out personal correspondence or to do online job searches. Some employers may have methods to check your computer usage and browser history. But beyond that, it’s best to conduct your job search with integrity. Don’t ‘steal’ time and resources from your current employer. Use your personal laptop or mobile device on your own time.
Don’t make it “Facebook official.” Do not discuss your campaign on any social or professional media—even if your privacy settings are strict. However, use LinkedIn to identify people in companies you wish to approach.
Meet with your references ahead of time. Discuss your search plans only with references you can trust. Actually, I recommend talking or meeting with your references before launching your job search campaign. Talk about your goals and your desire to keep your search quiet. Make sure your references are prepared to support claims you’ve made about your achievements, skills, and experience without sharing information you’d rather keep confidential.
Be wary of blind ads. In general, be wary of blind advertisements, which don’t identify the advertiser and often use ambiguous language. Sometimes blind ads do advertise an actual job; other times, however, they represent a recruiter searching for assignments, candidates, or both. If you’re currently employed, you risk exposure by applying to blind ads because you don’t know who is on the other end. If the ad seems too good to pass up, ask a trusted friend to apply on your behalf without revealing your identity. Super Job Search IV includes a model letter.
Work with recruiters who will respect your confidentiality. Keep in mind that most recruiters are hired by companies to fill open positions. They work primarily for their clients, not for you, the candidate. The point is, don’t blindly trust recruiters. Ask for assurances that your name and information will be kept confidential unless you give permission otherwise.
As long as your job search is confidential, omit the name of your current employer on the résumé you provide recruiters—merely list the industry. If you have skills that you know recruiters are looking for and wish to be a little daring, write a cover letter sharing information about yourself without indicating you are seeking to make a change. That way, if your letter ever reaches your current employer, your desire for a change will be less evident. For example, ‘Dear Executive Recruiter, I do not believe I am in your database of electrical engineers. As part of my career maintenance, I am enclosing my current résumé. If I can ever assist you with referrals from my network, I would be delighted to help.'”
Schedule meetings in your free time. Whenever possible, arrange meetings and interviews at lunch breaks, after work hours, or on weekends. This will help prevent inconvenient questions and unfavorable assumptions by your employer. For out-of-town interviews, use your vacation time—preferably before dipping into sick days or family leave.
All of this said, bear in mind that you don’t absolutely, without question, have to keep a job search campaign confidential if you’re currently employed. If you have a sympathetic, supportive boss and it’s clear that you are in the wrong position, underemployed, or unhappy, you might discuss with him or her your desire to make a change. (Use your judgment—you probably have a good idea of how your boss will react to this news.) Indicate that you will stay to fully train your successor for a smooth transition and ask for your boss’s support. He or she might even go out of his or her way to help you.
