Many jobseekers would tell you: Looking for a job is a full-time job in itself. From preparing job applications to attending networking events and job fairs and going out for job interviews, a job hunt can be time-consuming. If you’re working full-time while you’re looking for a job, you must become efficient in how to juggle both without compromising one. Of course, you’d have the luxury of time as you’re not really in a rush to get a new job immediately. But remember landing a good job requires concerted time and effort, so you still need to invest heavily in reaching out and pushing hard for your new job.
Meanwhile, you must keep your performance and productivity up in your current position. First, you don’t want your employer or coworkers to know that you’re on the hunt for a new gig, and second you need to keep your job experience with the employer as positive as it can be to protect your reference. So how can you achieve this balance, and make sure that until you get a new job, you’re not compromising your current one. Here are a few tips to follow:
Set time aside
So you made the decision to move on and find a new job, don’t expect a casual browse of job boards in the evening to yield the results you’re looking for. In addition, don’t even think about taking time at work to look at job posts or send application. These are not only bad ideas; they actually could get you fired. So when can you look for a job?
The answer is you need to set time aside. Two or three hours during the week, plus a chunk of time in the weekend. During this time, you should go through job posts online, in the paper, or other places and send applications. Even if you see an interesting opening in some other time, don’t just rush to apply for it. Instead, save it — if you would not miss the deadline — and apply for it during the designated time. By doing so, you’d be able to give your application the attention it requires to be successful.
Keep your job a priority
You don’t know how long it will take you to find this next job. If you seem uninterested or simply checked out already from your current duties, you may run the risk of having problems at work that make it even harder to find a new job. In a worst-case scenario, you may get fired. In a less severe situation, you may lose opportunities for advancement or better pay for your lack of enthusiasm.
At this stage, you probably don’t care about pursuing a better position with the current employer, but you still don’t want to blemish your record by the end of your service. In addition, you never really know what might entice you to change your mind. A better position coupled with a higher pay with the current employer and a reality check of the job market may be what get you excited about staying and climbing the ladder internally instead of pursuing greener pastures.
Too early to share
If you’ve just made up your mind on pursuing a new job, that is too early to share with almost anyone other than your family and friends. In fact, you should keep your job search as discreet as possible in professional circles until you’ve a job offer in hand. Many employers could have concerns about confidentiality and resources, and they may choose to terminate an employer who is on the hunt.
In addition, you may shoot yourself in the foot if you appear too desperate for a new job. Your professional contacts who may be a good source for potential job openings might wonder if you’re having troubles and you see yourself losing your current job.
The best route to landing your next job is to be as successful as you could be in your current one. Keep your hints to being open to consider new opportunities clear but discreet, and don’t jump at the first mention of an opening. You’d be doing yourself a favour if you take your time to think through your next move while protecting what you have in hand.
The writer, a former Gulf News Business Features Editor, is a Seattle-based editor.
Juggling work with job hunting
Your current job is a priority
Designate time for job hunting
Stay discreet about your interest
Be and appear to be successful
— R.O.
