Between the ages of 18 and 32, most people switch jobs every two years. These switches tend to be seamless with little to no downtime between companies. A large reason for this is that a lot of employees are sending out résumés, networking, and interviewing for new positions while they’re still in their old one.
Shocking as it may sound, this is a fairly regular occurrence among people in this age range and can have substantial career benefits. As with everything, though, there’s a right way and a wrong way to surf the Internet for a new job while you’re working at your old one. Here are some ways, courtesy of Penelope Trunk, to make sure this practice doesn’t end up costing you:
- Get your work done first. It is perfectly acceptable to hunt for a new job from your desk as long as the work in your current job is getting done. It is acceptable because searching for a job is time-consuming and best done during business hours. It becomes unacceptable when your current position suffers as a result of it and could even get you fired. Make good use of your time and get your current work done first before digging into those job listings.
- Be careful with your scheduling. Penelope advises job hunters to aim for scheduling interviews during the beginning or the end of the day. This will help you to prevent disrupting your current job and is likely to help you avoid too many questions.
- Try not to dress up. If you come to work in attire that is drastically different from what you wear on a daily basis you will arouse suspicion and possibly limit your possibilities with your current job. If your manager suspects that you’re looking for a new job he or she may be less inclined to assign projects to you. This may wind up being a negative and stressful situation for both parties.
- Claim the home field advantage. If a prospective employer calls you and would like to conduct a phone interview, don’t do this from your cubicle. If you try to talk quietly from your cube your voice will sound hushed and un-natural and you won’t come across as assertive and confident. Ask the interviewer if the phone interview can be scheduled during a time when you know you’ll be able to speak comfortably. Claim a time for your interview when you know you can put your best foot forward and you will feel much better about your performance.
Have you ever searched for a new job from your current one? Did this end successfully for you or did you get burned? Do you have any tips that I may not have thought of?
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