Whether you loathe your lengthy commute, have skillfully outgrown a standstill position, wish to escape a toxic culture, etc., working in a stable job actually increases your chances to procure a better opportunity elsewhere. However, the chances of securing a different job directly correlates with your ability to attend interviews and make a positive impression. Certainly, this proposes a unique challenge requiring you to carve out blocks of time while balancing your current job-especially as more companies return to the workplace. Interviewing while currently employed requires an effective plan of action and thorough preparation as competition stiffens in a period where countless Americans explore more fulfilling roles. “Well, what’s my best course of action?” Today, we’re going to walk you through our recommendations when searching for a new job.
DO:
- Be upfront with hiring managers: As you work with hiring managers to coordinate an appropriate interview time, disclose your status of employment and communicate your current working hours. Depending on the employer, they may be willing to schedule interview times outside typical working hours-allowing you more flexibility. At the very least, hiring managers will further understand why you may not be able to attend certain times.
- Use personal or sick days for interviews: Personal and sick days exist for a reason; don’t feel guilty if you decide to use this specified time away from the workplace to line up and attend a few interviews. Get ahead of your work tasks beforehand to minimize the workload on your co-workers when you take off a day.
- Schedule off a Monday or Friday: Periodically taking a day off on a Tuesday and leaving early on a Thursday draws higher suspicion than taking off a neighboring weekend weekday. Furthermore, this prevents you from missing important work dates that typically fall in the middle of the week.
- Stay committed to your current job: As your job search continues, the desire to perform inadequate work may grow. Avoid working with one foot out the door and never speak distastefully about your current employer(s) to any potential ones. Furthermore, it’s imperative to socialize with your coworkers as normal to prevent speculation and strained relationships.
- Tactfully provide your two weeks notice: If you land a better opportunity, congratulations! While you’ve solidified your new position, never announce any resentment or cause a scene, respectfully provide your employer with a formal two weeks notice and follow through.
DON’T:
- Complete job application tasks at work: Refrain from updating your resume and applying to jobs during your work. Other than maintaining a professional integrity, this further allows you to separate employment search from your current job-ensuring your satisfactory performance.
- Post on social media: Whether or not you utilize privacy features on your social media accounts, you will never know who may stumble onto your account. Instead of using these platforms to announce your job hunt to those in your lives, contact close friends and family directly over the phone or in person. Additionally, rather than posting your resume on job boards, directly apply to companies, as your current employer may come across it if they are hiring.
- Take every interview: As you begin receiving responses related to your resume, it’s important that you evaluate each company initiating an interview and assess whether or not the opportunity is worth pursuing. Consider scheduling a prior phone interview to gain further insight into the position and what it has to offer. If you find that the job description differs from the one posted, you can respectfully communicate that you are no longer interested.
- Mention your job search at work: Keep your employment search completely to yourself as you send out resumes and attend interviews-no matter the strength of your relationship to your co-worker. This will avoid any doubts or conflict about your loyalty attributes and will allow you to resume your position in case an opportunity doesn’t work out.
- Feel the need to specify: If/when you take personal time to attend interviews, understand that there is no obligation for you to describe the nature of your time off. If you mention to an employer that you need to take off a certain day to undergo a root canal, this may present an uncomfortable situation when presented about it the following day. To minimize any unnecessary stories and falsehood, communicate a clear expression along the lines of, “I need to take off Monday for an appointment.”
- Let your interview wardrobe stand out: Typically, going to an interview requires a step up in the wardrobe department. However, if your office emphasizes a casual culture, dressing up may indicate concern. Either bring your interview outfit to change prior to your appointment, or decrease noticeability by dressing up every now and then.
Undoubtedly, the methods and protocol in searching for a better opportunity propose a full time job in itself. While your time may seem extremely limited and inflexible, these points provide direction and a fresh outlook to prevent any feelings of hostility.
As individuals continue leaving their current jobs at an alarming rate to pursue more fulfilling positions, job offers must stand out in terms of enticing value and appealing company culture. Unfortunately, many businesses lack the necessary funds to offer incentive and resources to provide significant benefits. If your business is feeling the adverse impacts due to hiring struggles and employee maintenance, our team of experts at MCDA CCG, INC. can help with our effective HR service solutions. We offer in depth consulting in areas surrounding employee relation issues, employee handbooks, hiring processes, and more-all tailored to your unique budget and company related resources. Don’t wait any longer than you have up to this moment, contact us today.