Resume Writers Digest Theres A Right Way -- and a Wrong Way -- to Leave Your Job (Part 2 in a Series)

Resume Writers' Digest There's A Right Way -- and a Wrong Way -- to Leave Your Job (Part 2 in a Series) In my previous blog post, I talked about some examples of people who left their jobs in dramatic fashion. While they make for exciting news headlines, it's not a great strategy for our jobseeking clients if they value their career. I also outlined the three phases for jobseekers who are thinking about leaving a job. The first step talked about what they should do before you start their job search. In this blog post, we'll talk about how to advise clients to conduct a job search while they are still employed. Research shows its easier to find a job when you have a job, but there are special considerations jobseekers must take into account when conducting a job search while they are still employed. Here's what I tell my clients: The first is how they interact with a future/prospective employer.In correspondence with prospective employers or recruiters, mention that you are conducting a confidential job search. You can use a phrase such as I am contacting you in confidence about this position. However, keep in mind that prospective employers are under no obligation to respect your wishes. Also be careful when replying to blind advertisements (ones that do not provide a name for the prospective employer). More than one jobseeker has accidentally submitted a résumé to his or her current employer this way. Dont conduct your job search on the companys time or dime. Reserve your jobseeking activities to before work, on your lunch hour, or after work. If necessary, take personal leave (not sick time) to go on interviews. (You can simply say you have an appointment.) Dont use your company computer (including accessing your personal email account) for your job search. Dont take employment-related phone calls during your work time; allow these messages to go to your voice mail, and return the calls during breaks or before or after work. And dont list your employers phone number or your business email address on your job search documents. How you dress during your job search can also be tricky. If you work in a casual workplace, wearing interview attire to work can be a red flag that something is up. You may want to change into your more formal clothes before an interview (dont change at work!) or schedule job interviews on a day when youre not working. Providing job references is also likely to be an issue. Even if youve told the prospective employer that your current employer doesnt know that youre looking, you may still want to mention that you do not want the company to contact your current employer for a reference until they are ready to extend a job offer, so as not to jeopardize your current position. In this situation, you may need to provide several references outside of your company who can speak to your credentials and expertise. Finally, put your LinkedIn profile up sooner rather than later. Developing a comprehensive LinkedIn profile and building up your network of contacts is something to do right away. If you create one before you start your job search, you can honestly say that youre doing it to create a network of contacts to assist you in being more effective in your current position. Having a newly-minted LinkedIn profile (especially one that mentions youre open to new opportunities) can tip off your supervisor (or co-workers) that youre looking for a new position. Routinely updating an existing profile, however, is not as suspicious. In my next blog post, I'll tell you what I advise my clients about when and how to let their supervisor know they're leaving a job (including a sample letter of resignation). Read Theres a RIght Way and a Wrong Way to Leave Your Job (Part 3)