Photo: Franck Boston (Shutterstock)
When looking for a new job, you may feel unfulfilled in your current position and so get over your boss that instead of approaching him and hoping for a change, you are ready to jump in and send off completely.
Especially if you and your boss don’t get on so well – and you don’t feel like you are a support system for you – how terrible would it be if they realized that you were actively looking for an escape route? If Heaven forbid you lost a job You had an interview and had to keep working for a boss who now knew how unhappy you were, the idea of continuing to work under him every day would be utterly humiliating.
This is why you need to know how to search for jobs at the lower level.
Be careful when looking for a job on LinkedIn
LinkedIn has a feature called #OpenToWork that you can use to show recruiters that you are actively looking for new roles. As LinkedIn explains:
If you’re looking for a job, you can let recruiters and your network know on LinkedIn that you’re open to new job opportunities. By providing the types of job openings you are interested in and your preferred location, we will help ensure that your profile appears in search results when recruiters look for suitable applicants.
However, there is a balance here. Advertising that you are ready and able to apply for and accept a new job makes it easier to apply for and accept a new job. But it also makes what you’re up to pretty obvious. Recruiters may also have scoured LinkedIn at your job, and they could give you away if they see you’ve enabled this feature.
This could of course work in your favor. Perhaps if they knew you were looking, your HR or boss would come to you with a solution to your complaint or an offer of a raise. For this reason, it is important that you consult your boss with your complaints and requests before you seek a deposit.
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But you know your workplace culture and all of its specifics. If that were an option, you probably wouldn’t be actively searching. So keep in mind that if you apply as available, your boss may find out. Prepare for this conversation and any inconvenience that follows.
You can also prevent it by checking your settings. Make sure that the “Notify your network” setting is disabled. The #OpenToWork function also only makes you known to people outside your network. So connect with the entire HR team of your company to avoid moles being seen once you have them activated.
How to interview when you already have a job
Interviews are difficult to plan when you already have a job. In order to get to the potential employer during working hours, you may have to leave your own job during those working hours. We do not recommend lying and saying that you have a doctor’s appointment, but think about your wording in advance. Simply saying you have “an appointment” might work if your supervisors are not very careful about where you are when you are away from your desk.
When coordinating an interview with another company’s recruiter, no matter how dire your situation is, don’t sound too desperate. Ditching your current employer is a no-go when looking for a job, but you can gently explain that scheduling conflicts can arise and you would appreciate the recruiter’s help, which is right for you and the hiring manager. It is their job to attract good candidates for the interview, so work with them and try not to weave a web of lies.
We live in a workaholic, capitalist society and in many companies lunch breaks and appointments are rigidly scheduled. If you’re on vacation, be sure to redeem one for your interview day so you don’t run out of time. If all else fails, you may need to rush to the interview during your lunch break, but let the hiring team know in advance so this can go smoothly and on time.
If you are actively looking for a new job, start dressing up for your current job every day. Not only will this put you in a very business-oriented mindset, but it will also make it a lot less suspicious if you show up in a fancy interview outfit one day. If your current workplace is really casual, change into interview clothes somewhere next to your office bathroom. Nothing is as suspicious as coming out of the toilet in a dress and high heels before “lunch” or “an appointment”.
Communicate clearly with the hiring manager
Once you get into some sort of conversation with a recruiter or hiring manager, be honest with them. As mentioned above, work with them to plan interviews that will not raise suspicion in your current office environment.
In addition, make it clear from the start that you prefer your activities to be confidential. You have the right to ask them not to contact your employer and to tell them professionally that you will remain silent. If they push you back, it could also be a sign that the work culture is not good there, so consider sticking out with the devil you know while you apply elsewhere.
Avoid using your work computer to find a job
If your company provided you with a computer or phone for business purposes, try using it only for business purposes. This is a never-ending guide, but it’s hard to follow. Corporations have a lot of money and the small ones have a lot less, so it’s likely that your work phone and computer will be faster and better than the ones you bought for yourself.
But remember, anything you do – yes, anything (yikes) – on any work-exhibited device – is something your boss is legally allowed to see. The people on the IT team are probably too busy to sift through all of your communications, but still play it safe. You could easily do a search after entering your two week notice and find all of the resumes that you have saved on your desktop or emails that you have sent from your work phone. It doesn’t look good and it will burn a couple of bridges so it’s best to avoid that altogether.
Take advantage of remote working
During the pandemic bans, most of us got to know Zoom and Slack well. Use this to your advantage by working from home for job interviews or interviews. Some interviews can even be video calls and your boss never needs to know.
However, don’t let the job search – or your general dissatisfaction with your current gig – affect your performance or productivity, however difficult it may be. This can arouse suspicion or even get you fired before securing a landing site with another company. At some point in the hiring process, you may also need to demonstrate that you are working in your current job, although hiring managers should ask you before contacting your HR department. Hopefully, don’t do anything in the last few weeks to give them a reason to look down on your potential rescuers.
Don’t tell your current co-workers that you are looking for a job
If you hate your job, your coworkers probably do too. Kvetting over happy hour after work is common and can encourage camaraderie, but a shared interest in nonsense doesn’t mean you have to help your coworkers find a job. In a toxic workplace, you have no guarantee that they won’t use your desperation to get off the bus to throw you under the bus to make them look good in front of a boss.
Plus, it’s downright embarrassing when you drive up an interview and then don’t get the job. Move around in silence, as they say, and don’t let anyone know what you’re up to until you file your resignation.
