10 Ways to Keep Your Job Search Under the Radar

You have a job. Maybe a decent-paying job.

You like your team, but the company culture? Not so much.

Your boss is a good person. Or maybe a miserable, insecure, control freak-y person.

You felt challenged when you started. Now, you can practically phone it in.

You tell yourself, Time to start looking.

If you’re working and thinking about changing jobs, you’re certainly not alone. Even during times of job growth and increased opportunity, there’s restlessness out there in the workplace.

And why shouldn’t there be? We spend a huge portion of our lives at work. The more hours we burn, the harder we work, the more life throws inevitable curve balls at us (both in the office and beyond), the more we start to evaluate our time, compensation, professional goals, values, priorities, and whether we should consider a change.

Consider These 2018 Employee Engagement Statistics

  • Only 15% of employees worldwide are engaged in their jobs (Gallup)

  • 82% of employees are continuously looking for opportunities elsewhere (Jobvite)

  • 29% of professionals plan to look for a new job in the next 12 months (Accountemps)

  • 33% of professionals selected “I’m bored, need new challenge” as their motivation for moving on to another job (Korn Ferry)

  • 25% of employees are actively looking for new job opportunities and 55% are passively open to new opportunities (Ajilon)

  • 60% of employees report being stressed all or most of the time at work (Udemy)

  • 45% of professionals feel their company does not promote a healthy work/life balance (Execu│Search)

  • 54% of professionals’ career choices are motivated by seeking a healthy work/life balance (Execu│Search)

  • 80-90% of the U.S. workforce wants to work from home as least part of the time (globalworkplaceresearch.com)

Are you nodding your head while reading this?

If so, how do you start exploring possibilities while keeping it under the radar at your current job?

10 Tips for an Active, Low-Profile Job Search

  1. If you’re updating your LinkedIn page, make sure you have the broadcast feature turned off. Under the “Me” tab, select “Account,” then “Settings and Privacy,” then the “Privacy” tab. Tap Sharing Profile Edits, then toggle the setting from Yes to No. This will keep your network from getting announcements every single time you make a change to your profile.

  2. You will also see sections titled “How Others See Your LinkedIn Activity,” “Job Seeking Preferences,” and “Blocking and Hiding.” You have more control on LinkedIn than you may think. Just remember, you want to be seen and found, rather than invisible.

  3. Create and order a networking business card rather than giving your company’s business card to people while networking. This should have your name, job title/type of position you’re targeting, and a branding tagline that answers “Why You?” or the promise you offer, i.e. “Produce Memorable Corporate Events that Expand Audiences.” You will also want to include a phone number, email address, and LinkedIn address. Be sure to leave the reverse side of the card blank in the event that the person you give it to wants to jot down a few notes about where you met, who they want to introduce you to, or anything similar.

  4. Do not use your company email, phone, or photocopier for job search activities.

  5. Plan to network, have coffee, and interview before work, during lunch, or after work.

  6. Continue doing a good job where you currently work, so as to not raise any red flags.

  7. While interviewing, request the prospective employer to please not contact your current employer to verify job status.

  8. Be discriminating in who you share your job search with at work, even among people you trust. It’s irresistible fodder for gossip.

  9. Remember that using LinkedIn is how the world’s working population now represents itself. You need to present yourself there as the consummate, valuable employee you are; everyone does, even when not looking for a job.

  10. Work toward expanding your professional network on an ongoing basis, rather than only when you’re in active job search mode. It’s all about building new relationships, refreshing old ones, and staying top-of-mind. That’s the real secret to finding the job you want!

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