If you’re looking for a new job whilst you’re still employed, the last thing you need is your current employer to find out that you’re looking elsewhere. This could cause tension at work and put you in an awkward position.
In this instance, the secret to success is going to be just that, a secret.
You need to make sure that you are conducting your job search discreetly and keeping this information to yourself.
But if you’re not happy in your current position, this can be tough. It can be tempting to give a lot of your time to the job search, which increases the risk of you getting caught.
So, if you want to job hunt without alerting your boss, here’s how to do it.
Don’t take your job search to the office
It can be tough to avoid looking at job descriptions or exploring opportunities on LinkedIn throughout the day, especially as this tends to be when new job opportunities are posted. However, this is a sure-fire way to raise alarm bells.
Wherever you can, it’s best to save the job hunt for when you’re at home. This is most likely going to be in the evenings and on the weekends.
That said, if you are going to job search during work hours, try to save this for lunch times and ideally use a different device or incognito browser. This means avoiding using your work computer, perhaps using your smartphone or tablet instead.
This can be trickier still if you need to reply to emails or take phone calls that are time-sensitive. In this instance, it might be best to arrange to work from home or take a personal day. This way, you can continue the search without prying eyes.
Keep your job search discrete
Keep it to yourself
You might have known your co-worker for the last 10 years, but it’s still best not to involve anyone else in your job search. No matter how much you think you can trust someone, just one wrong word from them could land you in hot water, even if they didn’t say the wrong thing intentionally.
For this reason, it’s best to keep the initial job search to yourself and only alert your colleagues and friends once you have a new job arranged and you’ve informed your current employer.
Plan interview carefully
It is possible that you might take part in several interviews before you secure your next role, and you need to be careful how you go about this.
If you have an interview coming up, it’s best to book a day off or try to arrange this for later in the day. Most employers will understand that you need to work the interview around your current job, so they are willing to be flexible.
If you work from home, this can make attending interviews much easier, providing you’re not due to be on any calls or video conferences at that time.
If you’re going for an interview during the day or straight after work, try to get changed and ready away from the office. Suddenly appearing from the toilet cubicle in a new outfit is a red flag, so if you need to prepare yourself, do it away from the office.
Use your cover letter to ask for discretion
Your cover letter can be the ideal way to let a potential new employer know about your current position and your notice period. This indicates to them that you’re still working and that you need some discretion.
However, if you’re concerned that they might try to get in touch with someone at your current work for a reference, you could even go a step further by asking the reader to resist reaching out. This will help you to avoid any awkward calls to the HR department.
Pay attention to your contact details
You would be surprised by how many job hunters are caught out by using the wrong email address or phone number. When searching for jobs, avoid using your work email or an email address you use daily at the office. This can increase the risk of someone finding out.
What’s more, although your work phone might be the primary way to reach you during the day, you don’t want to risk recruiters or potential employers getting in touch this way. Instead, be sure to use your personal phone number when setting up job alerts, and the same applies to your email.
You could even set up a new dedicated email just for job searching if this will make things easier to manage.
Although looking for a new job can be an exciting time in your career, you need to do your best to keep this hidden from your colleagues and especially your boss.
Follow our tips above for a discreet but successful job search, and you’ll avoid any awkward conversations or discoveries until you’re ready to officially hand in your notice.
