Stealth Job Hunting
Confidential Job Search Tips
When you don't want your current employer to find
out that you are job hunting, there are steps you can take to keep
your job search confidential. The last thing you need to have happen
when job searching is for your employer to accidentally find out
that you're looking for a new job. It could jeopardize both your
current position and future references from your employer.
Here are some suggestions on how to
effectively job hunt on the sly, so that the wrong person
doesn't find out that you are looking to make a move.
Stealth Job Hunting Do's and Don'ts
Email Address
Do not use your work email address for job hunting. Use your
personal account or set up a free web-based email account
specifically for job searching.
Office Equipment
Don't use your employer's computers or phone system.
Many employers monitor Internet usage and review
phone call logs. Keep your resume, your email correspondence, and
anything and everything related to your job search on your home
computer.
Your Resume
Be careful where you post your resume. If you don't want your
current employer to accidently find your resume when searching
for candidates, post on job sites where you can keep your
employer and contact information confidential. For example, if
you post your resume on Monster, you can make it confidential
and your contact information and references won't be displayed.
You can block your present company's name by entering an end
date of present for your current position. Yahoo! Hot Jobs lets
you create a HotBlock to stop certain companies from seeing your
resume. Other sites offer a similar services.
Additional Resume Options
Other options for protecting your privacy (aside from blocking)
include listing a generic company name and job title, rather
than a specific one. You can also leave off company contact
information. Do the same with your contact information and phone
numbers. List your job searching email address and cell phone
number.
Telephone Tips
Do not use your work phone number for job hunting. Instead, put
your cell phone number and/or home phone number on your resume.
Be sure to have voice mail or an answering machine in place so
you get the messages in a timely fashion.
How and When
If you can't job hunt from work, what other options are there
besides evenings and weekends? Visit a bookstore, cafe or
library with internet access on your lunch hour and bring your
laptop if you can find a wireless connection to use. This is
also a good time to return prospective employer phone calls,
especially if you can take an early or late lunch to catch them
in the office.
Interviewing
Try to schedule interviews for either the beginning or the end
of the day or on your lunch hour. If you have vacation time you
can use, schedule multiple interviews for the same day.
Dress the Part
If you typically wear jeans to work, don't wear a suit when you
have an interview scheduled. Someone will start wondering what
the occasion is for dressing up.
Be Discreet
Be careful who you tell that you're looking for a new job. If
you tell co-workers, you can be sure that it will get back to
your boss, one way or the other. Do tell your family, so they
can take messages for you and so they don't inadvertently spill
the beans to your work colleagues and leave you a message that
someone is calling about an interview. |
