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Keeping A Job Search Private

Keeping Your Job Search Private

In the age of the Internet, keeping your job search private is a huge challenge. How can you search for a job without letting your current employer know that you are ready for a change?

Thats not an easy question to answer, especially when somewhere around 25% of employers admit to reading and/or monitoring employee email messages. You cannot assume that your boss isnt one of those 25%. Also, some companies even have a "snitch" policy whereby a co-worker can turn you in if they catch wind of your job search.

Lesson number one: Do not use your company email account to send personal email messages. To take that a step further, absolutely do not send any email to a prospective employer from your current employers email account. Not only could you be found out, but the prospective employer will find it in bad taste, too.

Lesson number two: The same really holds true for personal phone calls. Eliminate or at least minimize personal phone calls when you are working. Do not make phone calls to prospective employers if you are at work. If you need to make a call, tell whomever you need to (co-worker or supervisor) that you are taking a quick break (or make the phone call on your lunch break) and make the call on your cell phone-outside of the building.

Even if you take these precautions, you still have to deal with the whole resume issue. Is your resume safe on-line? While most resume databases have some checks and balances in place, there are some that are "open" and anyone can access the information you post. Yes, that means your current employer can search for you, by name, and see if you are in any given database searching for a new job.

Have you posted your resume on MySpace or any other social web sites? You can forget about keeping your job search private if you use a web site like that to show off your job qualifications.

If you want to be serious about a job search, you have to take serious measures to ensure the right people have access to your personal information. It is enough of a challenge to keep some employers out of your personal life without postings on social web sites working against you.

Your Privacy is Important

Your privacy is important, especially when you are trying to find a new job. Be careful about what you do and what you say. Anyone who watches, listens or reads your words can rat you out. It doesnt matter WHY people do such things. It just happens. You have to guard against it by making sure you are cautious and diligent in your efforts to contact prospective employers.
Keeping your job search private is not an easy task, but consider what you have read here and strive to maintain a confidential demeanor.


Ways To Keep Your Job Search Private:

Here are some ways through which you can conduct a job search privately:

A- Online Cloaking:
  1. You can now submit your resume online with one click.
  2. By doing so, your resume will be sent to all the bosses around the world including your own boss. So you need to be careful while doing that.
  3. To avoid sending resume to your current company, try to find out the internet career service your HR department uses.
  4. You should always doubt the websites that ask for details. This is because these sites forward your resume to many companies without your permission.
  5. Do not forget to read the Internet Site Users Policy.

B- Basic Common Sense:
  1. You need to be really clever while conducting a job search.
  2. Make sure you do not submit your resume in your office, since there are chances of being caught.
  3. Choose a place that is safe.
  4. Do not give your office number in the resume.
  5. Keep a mobile phone so that if you receive any cal from the recruiters, you can go out of the office and talk.
  6. Make a professional looking email address since your colleagues may be checking your emails for security purposes.
  7. Do not keep interview calls during office hours. The best time to go for an interview is during a holiday. In this way no one would suspect you.
  8. If you use a reference from your current job, make sure the person can be trusted. This is because recruiters may call them and the person might spread the stuff about you.


C- Networking Hazards:
  1. Word of mouth plays an important role in job search.
  2. Make sure that you are careful while networking with people.
  3. Your main focus should be on getting your name in the market without your company knowing about it.
  4. For a private job search, make personal cards. Do not give people your current jobs card.
  5. When you are talking to person, make sure you know where he works since he might be a client, friend or a business partner of your boss.
  6. Make sure the person you are contacting does not backstab you. Judge his personality.


D- Honesty Works:
  1. Tell the recruitment people, that your job search is private and confidential.
  2. By doing so, they will keep it as a secret. Though most of them assume that the job search is private.
  3. You should always ask for a written job offer. By doing so you make sure that your current job is not at stake.