Job seekers need to be extremely careful looking for a new job, particularly if they have a current job to protect. Employers are not usually happy to see employees looking for another job. Firing that employee is a fairly common employer reaction, unfortunately. The thinking seems to be that the employee is being disloyal to the employer, and, since the employee is leaving anyway, why give that disloyal employee an opportunity to cost the organization more money in salary while they job search and - worse - existing or potential customers as well as company secrets.
Don'ts:
* Don't plaster the Internet with your resume.
You have no idea who will see it - maybe your current supervisor will find it, maybe someone from HR. If you feel you must post your resume on Monster (et al), post a "cyber-safe" version of it with your name and contact information removed. See Job-Hunt.org's article http://www.job-hunt.org/resumecybersafe.... for more details
* Don't job hunt from work.
Because you are using "company assets" at work, employers have the right to monitor your Internet use, including your e-mail and Web surfing. They MAY even monitor your voicemail and phone use at work, even if you are job hunting ONLY on "personal time." Leave the office to do your hunting.
DO's:
* Network, NETWORK, N*E*T*W*O*R*K!!
- Go to industry/professional/business organization meetings that are relevant to your work. You'll learn more about the industry or profession, and you'll meet other people in similar jobs working for similar - or related - employers.
- The BEST way to meet people quickly in organizations is to volunteer to help out with something at the meeting - handing out badges at the event registration desk is my favorite. You'll see all the people and company names and, hopefully, get to meet those people.
- Contact former employers, co-workers, colleagues, roommates and classmates, school and college career centers, etc. Tell them about your pending job search. Offer to help them with anything they need professionally.
- "Networking" is a 2-way street. If you are only a "taker," your network will be pretty small. Be a "giver" too, and you'll have a great network.
- Don't drop your network when you get a new job! Stay active. Keep that network alive so that it's there for your NEXT job search.
* Use the "confidential" resume posting option where ever you post your resume.
Most job sites offer you the option of either supressing your contact information or keeping your resume out of the database searched by employers and recruiters.
See Job-Hunt's article on Protecting Your Privacy (http://www.job-hunt.org/privacy.shtml... ) and Using Web Job Sites (http://www.job-hunt.org/jobsearchusing.s... ) for more details.
* Make personal business cards to hand out at networking events or to potential employers.
Be careful, but know that millions of people have been in the same position and done fine.
Hi Susan:
Tag! You're IT!
Dr. Jackie
Posted by: Dr. Jackie Black | February 15, 2007 at 02:08 PM