You’ve maximized your potential in your current role. You’re eager to take your career to the next level or, perhaps, in an entirely new direction. While you’re ready to explore new career opportunities, you worry about what will happen if your current manager prematurely learns of your plans.
Although seeking a new job while you’re employed has distinct advantages, there can be some downsides. Here are some strategies for minimizing the risk to your current job during your search.
Stay engaged
It’s not easy to remain focused when you’re unhappy in your job or excited about your next role. It’s tempting to spend your time networking or researching new opportunities, particularly if you’ve already firmly decided that it’s time to move on. Disengaging from your team or your work, however, is likely to raise suspicions.
You might be a talented performer with limitless potential but it can still take considerable time to find the right next step. You’ll also likely want to use some of your current colleagues as references. Don’t risk burning bridges in your current job as you target your next role.
Be discreet
Searching for a new job is a roller coaster ride filled with excitement, frustration, and disappointment. It’s only natural that you’d want to share your experience with the people around you. Resist the temptation to discuss your plans with your co-workers, even if you think you can trust them. If news reaches certain leaders, you could find yourself shut out of key meetings or projects and you might even lose your job.
While you don’t want to discuss your job search with colleagues, you should engage your larger professional network. Others in your target field are best positioned to support your efforts. As you network, though, be selective about which contacts you approach and how much information you share.
Use social media wisely
These days, so much of our networking occurs through social media sites such as LinkedIn. These are powerful tools that should be incorporated into your job search strategy but be cautious about how you use them. Even the strictest privacy settings can’t fully prevent information from being leaked.
When posting to social media, don’t broadcast your interest in finding a new role or share information about your job search activity. Additionally, be strategic about your profile updates. If you’ve never been an active LinkedIn user and you suddenly connect with hundreds of new contacts or gain a slew of new recommendations, you will raise suspicions.
Navigating a job search when you’re employed can be complex. Keep these tips in mind to protect yourself in the process. And, most importantly, maintain the highest levels of professionalism and ethics at all times to maximize your overall career success.
