TT&S Weekly (7/9/12)
Topic of the Week Low Key Job Search
Low Key Job Search, Executive Summary:
- Linkedin & resume.
- Trade boss, not company.
- No competitors.
- Don't respond to blind ads.
Low Key Job Search: Getting a Job While You Still Have a Job
Everyone has heard that it's easier to get a job when you have a job. But how exactly do you juggle doing your job with resumes, interviews, etc.? Before I get to the Do's of trying to upgrade your gig, let's look at some of the Don'ts. One guy emailed his resume to a company and he got back a response before the end of the day. That's the good news. The bad news, the email was telling him that his email contained a virus and that it had to be quarantined. Or the woman who took a cell phone call during her interview. Or the guy who forgot his socks so he colored his ankles with a Sharpie. But my favorite is the guy who dashed off his resume to a company with a CEO who had the same first name as his boss. Yep, auto fill in sent it to the wrong boss, who wasn't amused.
Despite those horror stories, you can successfully keep your job while looking for a new one. Here are four strategies.
Linkedin & resume. One HR director told me about a time he contacted an applicant that he was interested in hiring. He asked the guy to send his resume. It took the guy over three weeks. Needless to say he wasn't hired. Your resume must always be up to date and ready to go. Ditto with your Linkedin profile. Not on Linkedin? Then sign up, this is a requirement in today's workplace for getting ahead.
Trade boss, not company. Most people who want a change of scenery look past an important option, staying within their current company and just swapping bosses. Let's face it, moving within your company gives you all the benefits of changing jobs with a lot less hassle. Look outside, just don't forget to look inside too.
No competitors. Sure, your company has competitors. But you don't. Think about it, who is most likely to be interested in hiring you? A competitor to your company. That's why it's always a good idea to get to know the competition at trade shows and other industry gatherings.
Don't respond to blind ads. Remember, it could be your company running the ad. One way to check it out, put key words from the ad into Google. Often it will send you right to the website of the company running the ad. Think of the pain that you'll save if you are redirected to your own company web site. Anything to avoid having your boss second-guess your loyalty.
Speaking of bosses, in a perfect world you'd talk to your boss about your thoughts about moving on. Unfortunately most of us live in the real world, not a perfect one. And most of us would rather take a Sharpie to our ankles then tell the boss that we're ready to move on. But remember, looking for work always runs the risk of upsetting your company if they figure it out. So tread carefully.
Bob Rosner is a best-selling author and award-winning journalist. For free job and work advice, check out the award-winning workplace911.com. Check the revised edition of his Wall Street Journal best seller, "The Boss's Survival Guide." If you have a question for Bob, contact him via bob@workplace911.com.
Thought of the Week
"We are all in the gutter, just some of us are looking at the stars."
–Oscar Wilde
Weekly Comic by Jerry King
Blog of the Week
Top Five News Headlines
List of the Week
from FPC
Revolving Door: Lot's of people are ready to move on
- 79% plan on looking for a new job when the economy improves
- 50% say they'll look because of a lack of advancement opportunity
- 28% say they'll look because they were treated poorly
- only 8% are happy and want to stay working at their current job