Searching for a job when you already have one: When unnecessary becomes necessary

When you’re out of work, few things feel better than signing your next offer letter. A regular paycheck, benefits, new colleagues – at the outset, it’s like you’ve won the lottery, a lucky feeling that you hope will remain. If down the road you still wake up each day and can’t wait to get to the office, you’re truly blessed.

But for some, that lucky feeling wears off. Perhaps gradually, perhaps suddenly, you begin to feel that the paycheck and benefits don’t make up for a lack of satisfaction, or a toxic workplace, or a stalled career path. You begin to think: “I have to get out of here.”

And so it begins: the search for a new job when you’re already employed. They say looking for a job is itself a full-time job, but since you already have a full-time job, the search is like taking on a second job. Can exhaustion be far off?

Maybe not, but you don’t want to leave your current job until you find a new one, so you need to devise a strategy to deal with the challenge of securing that next opportunity. There are a lot of factors to consider, tips to follow, and pitfalls to avoid as you plan your path forward.

First, as the doctors like to say, do no harm: avoid silly mistakes that could jeopardize your current position. For example, if your wardrobe suddenly changes every day because you’re dressing for interviews during lunch or after work, people will notice, and they’ll guess what you’re up to. And don’t use your office PC or telephones for communication (I’ve seen it happen), since these are often monitored. Use your own personal smartphone or your own personal computer. It’s also important to know which colleagues to trust – in fact the preferred number here is zero, because, let’s face it, people talk. And PLEASE make sure potential future employers know not to contact your current employer – if you make that clear enough, prospective employers will likely honor your need for discretion.

Another big danger is the obvious, social media. Once information is online, it has a life of its own. You’ve got to be careful what you share, and how you share it. The less shared, the better. Also, be careful how you use a valuable website like LinkedIn, which can be both very helpful and very perilous. It’s beneficial to update your profile, for example, but a suddenly revamped presentation of your background, skills, and accomplishments can become a noticeable red flag that you’re in the market for a change.

Even when you find opportunities online, look for a way to respond to the prospective new employer offline – by letter, or in-person. Information in cyberspace can drift in front of the wrong person at the wrong time, so always be aware of the risk. At this point you may be willing to take a chance, but at least be aware of the potential downside.

Time management is also an important consideration. Remember that, as I said before, you have two jobs now – one is your regular job, the other finding that new job, and those two jobs must be kept separate. It’s essential that you remain committed to performing well at your current job: work hard and stay enthusiastic (even if it is difficult at times). The best way to balance your ongoing obligations with your new priorities is to set up a schedule of times suitable for job-search activities, and stick to it – the key to time management is discipline. You may even need to use vacation time for interviews – if this leads to the right position, the sacrifice is worth it.

Networking is a very common way to find a job, but here again, in the context we’re discussing, it’s important to be aware. Some of the people in your network may also be connected to other people at your company, and again the word can spread like wildfire. Do your due diligence – know who you’re talking to, and make sure they understand (and respect) your need to keep the search confidential.

Stay organized – if you need different versions of your resumé, get that done right away (on your own time), and if the same information is needed for multiple job applications, keep it all in a file that can be copied and pasted where possible. Of course, “stay organized” is really just basic job-hunting advice, not specific to the challenge of “finding a job when you already have one.” Part of your strategy should be fully understanding the dos and don’ts.

Perhaps the most important piece of personal advice, however, is this: stay positive! You’re going to find that new job, even if it takes a bit longer than you would like – so anticipate that there will be ups and downs in the search, and don’t let the downs discourage you! A positive attitude will help you continue to excel in your current role, right up until the day you say farewell. Leaving on a positive note will pay dividends later in your career – ALWAYS avoid burning bridges.

Finally, consider this: a good place to start looking for a job when you already have one is a staffing agency. At Garnet River, we hear from people all the time who need to keep working while they’re searching. And we’re here to help with the search – so if the need arises, feel free to give us a call. We would love to help you get on that road to a better future!