Maybe you really dislike your current job, perhaps you don’t get along with your boss, it could just be time to move on – whatever the case may be, looking for a job while you’re currently employed can be a little tricky. A few things to keep in mind during your search:
1) Keep quiet - This may seem obvious, but don’t let your coworkers know that you are in the market for a new job. No matter how close you are with your fellow workers, office rumors can fly faster than you can imagine and you don’t want everyone talking about how you’re not happy with where you are. There’s a big possibility that this could get back to your boss and make things a little awkward at work.
2) Don’t search at work - Whether you’re looking from your computer or your phone, make sure you only search on your own time, and not while you’re on the clock. I once worked at an office where a girl was printing out job postings on the office computer. She wasn’t very fast at rushing to the printer to collect them and her boss saw them instead. Talk about uncomfortable! I’m sure you can imagine the trouble she got in. So while it may be tempting to search on your down time… don’t do it! It’s really not worth it.
3) Don’t slack off – You know you don’t want to be at your current job much longer and it may be hard to stay motivated to do the best you can, but push through it and continue to work as hard as you did when you first started. Finding a job isn’t easy and it may be awhile until you find something worth leaving your job for. You don’t want to risk getting fired because you’re putting more effort into looking for a job than doing your job.
4) Don’t quit your job - If you’re really unhappy and thinking about simply quitting while you’re waiting for the next opportunity, I cannot say this enough – don’t! In a competitive market you want to have every advantage you can and showing that someone else wants you on their team is a big one. Think back to the last time you were searching for a job, especially if you didn’t have any income coming in. Not the best feeling right? Push through whatever it is you’re not satisfied with at your current job and remember that it’s better than not having a job at all.
I know that every situation is different, but these tips can really help navigate the job search process so it doesn’t get in the way of your current job. Good luck!
About Kim Costa
I am a store manager of fast food restaurant, and one of my duties is hiring hourly employees. I like to ask this kind of questions. I learn from their answers and how I feel about them. I hire lots of teenagers, high school kids who don’t have work history and want to get extra money and build their resume. It’s funny how some of them think working at fast food as cashiers is easy. They have no idea how hard dealing with difficult customers who look down on you because you work at fast food restaurant.
If you are at a job, and you are looking for a different job. Do not ever tell a co-worker. Never ever tell a co-worker. Even if they are a friend. I told a co-worker who I thought was a friend. He asked me, in front on my manager, how my interview today went? What a jerk! Now I am without work at all. Thank you for doing that to me Tim Thompson!