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Keeping A Job Search Confidential
by Nathan Newberger
This http://www.WorkTree.com career article
by Nathan Newberger gives you some great advice on conducting a confidential job search.
When economic conditions improve, it means companies will be looking
for more workers, which means you might be looking for a better job.
However, you can't just forget about the job you have or let your
employer know you are planning on leaving. Finding a better job while
staying financially stable requires you to conduct your job hunt in
secret.
This article covers four important items to consider when
conducting a confidential job search. These include:
1. Online Cloaking
2. Basic Common Sense
3. Networking Hazards
4. Honesty Works
4 TIPS TO HELP KEEP YOUR JOB SEARCH CONFIDENTIAL
1. ONLINE CLOAKING
Online job banks and resume sending services have made it incredibly
easy to deliver your resume out to hundreds of companies with just
the click of a button. That click could potentially send your resume
to your own boss. A poorly run internet job search can have severe
repercussions in your current job. When using these types of
services, extra precautions must be used.
For your own benefit, consider these especially important safeguards:
- If possible, find out which internet career services your current
employer's human resources department uses. You can keep your
search a secret by avoiding the chance of having your resume end
up on your boss's desk.
- Be skeptical of internet services that ask for too much
information. In reality, they need little more than a name, an
email address and a user name. If an internet job search site
demands you reveal more information, there is a good chance that
site will automatically send your information to other parties
without your permission.
- Always Read An Internet Site's User Policy.
2. BASIC COMMON SENSE
Choosing to conduct your job search at work is a very dangerous game.
Not only do you run the risk of being caught, you are also neglecting
your actual work. An employer does not want to pay you to slack off.
To keep your job search a secret and to keep your current job, you
must keep the job search out of the office.
It is especially important to take the following precautions:
- Do not give out any work contact information. If you must be in
contact with recruiters or possible employers at any time of day,
use a cellular phone. That way you can step out of the office to
take the call.
- This also includes email addresses. Employers could be monitoring
your emails for security purposes. Set up a professional looking
email address specifically for use in your job search. This will
also keep you organized.
- Do not schedule interviews during office hours. Coming in late to
work can cause suspicion. If necessary, use vacation time for
interviews.
- Avoid using a reference from your current job. Unless you can
absolutely trust this person, you run the risk of being exposed.
Moreover, if they are contacted during work hours, news of your
job search can spread around your office unintentionally.
3. NETWORKING HAZARDS
One of the most powerful tools in a job search is word of mouth.
Knowing the right people is an invaluable resource, and networking is
the only way to meet the right people. Whether you network at a job
fair, convention, or happy hour, getting your name out on the market
is important. At the same time, it is very hard to broadcast your
information while trying to keep your job search a secret, especially
when interacting with people in the same industry.
Consider these tips when networking for a job:
- Don't use business cards that have your current company's logo and
information. Consider printing personal business cards for use in
your confidential job search.
- Find out where your contacts work before talking about your job
search. It's a small world, especially when looking for work in a
particular field. You never know when someone could be a partner
or client of your current boss.
- Also find out if your contacts are looking for work. Your cover
could be blown if your contact ends up becoming your boss or
coworker.
- Closely analyze a contact's personality. When the job market is
tight, people become a little more willing to backstab their way
into new positions. A person who knows your secret may expose you
in an attempt to steal your job. BE CAREFUL.
4. HONESTY WORKS
Recruiters and interviewers have been in the game for a while, and
they have seen their fair share of confidential job searches. Telling
a recruiter or interviewer that you are trying to keep your search a
secret is not the end of the world; in fact, it is far from it. Not
only will they understand, recruiters often assume that searches are
confidential. So do not be afraid to tell the truth.
It is very important that you take these particular steps:
- Stress that your search is a confidential. Do not just hope that a
recruiter assumes so. There is no need to be shy or worry about
being overbearing when it comes to this subject.
- Demand a written job offer before giving a recruiter permission to
contact your current employer. It is completely reasonable to want
to protect your own security. You should question any employer
that refuses to give you an offer before talking to your current
employer, because they are knowingly putting your career at stake.
CONCLUSION
The job search is always a risky game. It is nice to feel secure
financially as you spend time searching for that dream job. It
relieves a lot of the stress associated with a search; but to keep
that stress level low, you must make sure that your job search stays
a secret. Hopefully, the tips contained in this article give you
some helpful guidelines on the intricacies of the confidential job
search. Good luck!
This article can be read online and shared with others directly at:
http://www.worktree.com/newsletter/keeping-a-job-search-confidential.html
Sincerely,
Nathan Newberger,
Managing Editor
http://www.WorkTree.com
"Helping You Find More Jobs Faster"
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About The Author
Nathan Newberger is the job and career expert at http://www.WorkTree.com Nathan has over 10 years
experience in staffing and human resources. He has worked both as a recruiter and career counselor.
Mr. Newberger has been the Managing Editor at http://www.WorkTree.com for the past 5 years and his
articles have helped thousands of job seekers.
Re-Print Guidelines
Permission is granted to reproduce any of these articles but the article content CANNOT be altered and credit must be
given to the author and also an active link to http://www.WorkTree.com.
As a courtesy, please email Nathan at support@worktree.com if you decide to use any of his articles.
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