Magic Pot of Jobs

With the current state of the economy, many people are on a job search. Some, however, are wondering how they can search for a new job if they’re already employed.

It’s important that job seekers in this position remain professional and not use company time to look for new jobs or schedule interviews. According to an article by the Indy Star, some more creative and discreet ways to look for a job include joining a trade group, networking and being willing to help others in your own network. Also, if your current employer finds out that you’re looking for other work, you should communicate with them about your situation.

“If you do submit a resume, the chances of someone learning about it at your organization is like dating,” Karl Ahlrichs, a partner at ExactHire, said in the article. “They will learn.”

There are some important steps to follow if you’re searching for a job. First, increase your visibility. This can be done by joining a trade group or professional networking group, or by volunteering for a committee, all of which will make your name more known.

“Becoming a member of a committee gives you a reason to interact with managers and board members, and members of other organizations in a professional way not related to a job search,” Ahlrichs noted in the article, adding it’s better to join a committee that portrays you as an expert in your field. “You will become a brand name and make people more aware of you professionally.”

You should always respect your current employer. While many employers offer access to the Internet during work hours, this time shouldn’t be used to look for a new job or schedule interviews. Most companies will be willing to work around your current work schedule if need be.

Also, you should always communicate. If you want to leave your current position on a positive note, you should communicate with your employer about your situation. If your position isn’t challenging enough, your employer may be able to offer more challenging work or a promotion. If this isn’t an option, then you can decide to keep looking for a new position.

If you get caught looking for other work, you should be up front an honest about it and explain what prompted your decision. It’s important to stay on good terms, as you may need a good reference in the future.

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 6th, 2008 at 11:31 am and is filed under Job Search. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.