We thought finding a job straight out of college was hard. But nothing compares to ramping up the job hunt when you’re already employed. This process can be quite tricky if you don’t have the proper expertise. That’s why we’ve put together this list of dos and don’ts—to make your transition as smooth and professional as possible.
1. Don’t: Give up at your current job
Do: Keep giving it your best effort
Just because you’re looking for a new job doesn’t mean you can start slacking off at your current place of employment. If you start phoning it in instead of putting in the effort you know your boss and coworkers deserve, it won’t go unnoticed. You risk your employer finding out that you’re looking to leave the company, and as Tom Dezell, professional career advisor and author of Networking for the Novice, Nervous, or Naïve Job Seeker, explains, this is a big proponent of lost connections: “The best thing you can do is give your top effort all the way through your tenure… Just leaving companies, on its own, isn’t likely to burn many bridges.” You owe it to your current job to give it your all up until the day you depart. This is a do you just can’t budge on.
Related: 10 Ways Your First Job is Different From Your Dream Job
2. Don’t: Use company time or resources
Do: Work on the job hunt outside the office
Using absolutely any of your employer’s resources—we’re talking phones, computers, the fax machine, copiers—toward your job search is a big no-no. Instead, Dezell suggests keeping a tight schedule in terms of your former free time outside the office: “Work time into your weekly schedule away from your regular job to send and update resumes, complete applications and the like. Try to handle telephone correspondence on lunch or other breaks.”
You especially should not devote the time you’re supposed to be on the clock to your job search. Sure, time is probably the thing you’ll have to sacrifice the most of during this period, but Dezell reiterates the risk of using company time is not worth it. “A strong search will require a commitment of significant hours per week,” he says. “It’s often those who don’t realize this that slip into the dangerous area of using current company time to search.” Basically, don’t mix business with pleasure.
3. Don’t: Think your boss’s help is guaranteed
Do: Consider sharing your search with your boss
There’s a fine line between over-sharing and not even mentioning to your boss that you’re looking for a new position. While some believe you should keep your plans a secret, Dezell says it really depends on your relationship with your supervisor. “If you have a trusting relationship and know your boss supports your career goals above and beyond your role with the company, then you can share information,” he advises. “Many supervisors realize that a company has limited growth opportunities. The boss may also have networking leads you can utilize.”
Though that sounds like the best case scenario, it’s actually not entirely rare. In fact, former HC campus correspondent, Ashley Offenback, had her boss’s support when she shared her news: “I have a great relationship with my boss, so I felt that I should give him advance notice that I may be leaving soon. I did this as a courtesy so he would have ample time to find a replacement. I was pleasantly surprised to find he was extremely understanding and even helpful in my current job search. He gave me advice and offered to serve as a reference.” It can happen, but it’s up to you to decide if you think it will.
4. Don’t: Tell EVERYONE you’re on the job hunt
Do: Be mindful of who you trust with this information
This isn’t exactly something you should broadcast, especially when you’re looking for personal recommendations. Former HC campus correspondent, Colie Lumbreras, suggests choosing people you trust if you’re trying to keep your search on the down low: “Make sure the person you ask isn’t… someone who will let it slip that you’re job hunting while at happy hour,” she says. Can you say awkward?
Pretty much the worst offense you can commit in this instance is to discuss such a major career decision on social media. Even if your accounts are private, the risk is senseless, so don’t make Facebook or Twitter your outlet to vent. Period.
Looking for a new job while you’re still employed can be grueling, but with these dos and don’ts, you’ll be prepared to conquer this search head on!