The Bridge - Issue 2, 2020 - 21

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3. Interview outside traditional
work hours
An attentive boss will notice an uncharacteristic
spate of mid-day appointments and potentially
unearth what an employee is up to. As such,
it makes sense to schedule job interviews
either before the start of a workday or at
the completion of the workday. Prospective
employers may also be willing to accommodate
requests for lunch time interviews. Also
consider taking a personal or vacation day for
such interviews as well or to schedule several
interviews for one day.
Job searching while employed should be conducted stealthily.

8 Tips for Handling a Job Search
While Working Full-Time
Marie Donlon

Job searches tend to be stressful no
matter what the circumstances, and this
is no less true for those looking for a job
who already work full-time.
Conducting a job search while gainfully
employed requires a certain amount of
stealth and precision to keep a current
employer from finding out that a valued
employee is looking for employment
elsewhere. Worst case scenario is that a
current employer might view the search
for employment elsewhere as an act of
deception or disloyalty to the company;
and such an act may encourage that
employer to begin his or her own
search-for a replacement.
Following is a list of dos and don'ts to
consider when conducting a job search
while already employed.
THE BRIDGE

1. Avoid advertising it
A job search should be conducted discreetly
when an applicant is already employed. That
means those in search of a new job should not
announce it on LinkedIn or on any other social
media platforms where it could get back to a
current employer. Likewise, applicants should
not post their resumes on job boards in their
industry. The internet can be
a very small world; treat it as such.

2. Do not use employer time
or equipment to search
While it might be difficult, avoid conducting a job
search during work hours as much as possible.
Likewise, avoid conducting a search using
company equipment. Job searches conducted
using a work-issued laptop or other device will
undoubtedly be tracked by the IT department of
a current employer.

4. Dress for the job you have,
not the one you want
If feasible, avoid going to a current job dressed
for a job interview if those clothes are not typical
of what is worn day-to-day in the current office.
Dressing more professionally than usual might
attract the attention of coworkers or supervisors.
To avoid detection by a nosy co-worker or
supervisor, wear standard attire to work and
change elsewhere ahead of an interview.

5. Use references from previous jobs,
not from a current job
Do not list a current coworker, boss or anyone
else at a current employer as a reference.
Regardless of intention, word could get out
that a valued employee is preparing to leave,
which could trigger a host of unexpected-and
potentially unwanted-events to unfold.

Summary

6. Ask for discretion
Most prospective employers will understand
that an employee requires a certain amount of
discretion during a job search. Do not hesitate
to ask a prospective employer from keeping
that information from a current employer and
anyone else associated with that employer.

7. Keep at it
Regardless of what else is going on with the
job search, try to maintain previous levels of
workplace productivity. There is no telling what
could happen by not completing current workrelated tasks around the timing of an interview.
Inevitably, being passed over for a new job
will leave an employee in their current one.
Employees should avoid jeopardizing future
reviews, recommendations and any goodwill
built up during their employment history by
maintaining the status quo.

8. Do not badmouth
Badmouthing a current or previous employer
is never a good strategy and prospective
employers tend to take notice, perhaps
envisioning that same conversation being
had about them at some future date. Such
behavior will reflect more on the candidate than
on the candidate's previous employer. Avoid
badmouthing them at all costs.

The Bridge - Issue 2, 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Bridge - Issue 2, 2020