3 Tips for Juggling Your Job Search and Your Job

3 Tips for Juggling Your Job Search and Your Job 3 Tips for Juggling Your Job Search and Your Job While they say it’s easier to get a job when you already have one, job hunting while employed comes with its own set of challenges. For one thing, discretion becomes more important, since you must balance your responsibilities to your current employer against your own desire to create new opportunities. You may have limited time for juggling your job search, less flexibility to schedule interviews during the workday, and face issues with your current employer when trying to maintain confidentiality during reference checks. With these realities in mind, let’s review three essential tips to increase your chance of success while juggling your job search and a job: 1. Stay professional. While you may feel very motivated to make your next move, particularly if you’re targeting a position that offers more flexibility than you currently have, it’s important to honor the commitments you’ve made to your present employer. Avoid burning bridges by scheduling phone screens and in-person interviews on your own time, not on your company’s dime. Use your lunch hour or take a day off for job search purposes. This goes for company resources as well- be sure to use your personal cell phone or laptop to communicate with potential employers, not devices that belong to your current employer. 2. Keep it quiet. It’s exciting to explore new opportunities, and it can be tempting to share the news with friends in the office. But think twice before spilling the beans about your intention to move on. There’s no way to know how quickly you’ll land a new position, and it’s easy for word to spread after telling just one person. If your boss finds out you’re looking for a new job, it could hurt your chances for internal advancement, which could be a problem if your job search takes longer than expected. Your secrecy strategy should extend to social media as well. Even if your account or profile page is marked as “private,” certain sites make it difficult to keep all information confidential. Better safe than sorry should be your motto when using social media to communicate about your job search. 3. Be strategic. You have some control over how different elements of the job search process will go down. To make a difference, though, you need to think through in advance what you want to happen. For example, some hiring managers may ask if they can contact your supervisor or other references where you’re already working. You can decline this request in the interest of protecting your job, particularly early in the process. Let the recruiter or employer know that you do want them to have access to your most recent references, but make sharing this information conditional on first receiving a job offer. Juggling your job search when you already have a job can be tricky, but you can make it work by employing some savvy search strategies. Prioritize maintaining a good relationship with your existing employer, be discreet about sharing information at work related to your intention to find a new position, and ask for what you want to happen when it comes to protecting your current job until you’re ready to make a move. You’ll find that taking the time to manage your job search thoughtfully while employed can make the experience more comfortable and successful for all involved. How are you juggling your job search while managing a job? What tasks have worked for you? Which have failed? Share with us below!