Juggling Current Work and Job Searching

The Challenges of Job Searching in an Active Career

When you’re actively employed, job searching can be a daunting prospect. Trying to juggle current work duties and job applications can be a challenge, and you need to consider every step carefully. Not only is there the need to manage existing responsibilities, but there’s also the potential for suspicions to arise if your job search activities are discovered by an employer who may object to your actions.

Balancing your job search with existing commitments presents a unique set of challenges. So if you’re actively employed and looking for a job, here are some tips for managing both responsibilities.

Wait Until You’re Ready

Unless your current job truly isn’t worth salvaging, it’s best that you make sure you’re ready to leave current employment before you start job searching. That includes educating yourself on your available options, establishing the necessary resources, and developing a job search strategy.

It’s also important that you give due time and consideration to your job search activities. That means making time in your personal and professional lives for networking, job applications, and other job search initiatives.

Think About Timing

As a general rule, it’s best to wait until the end of the workday to conduct job-seeking activities. This means after business hours and outside of regular working hours, such using your down-time in the mornings or evenings. Whenever possible, use your paid vacation and other employee benefits to leave out for interviews or other activities.

Networking activities should also be conducted outside of work hours. You can also make use of your lunch breaks and maybe even your commutes to read up on industry news or get in contact with potential employers.

Manage Your Activity

Make sure to limit the time you dedicate to job search activities each day. Besides the obvious risks of being caught job searching, it’s important to ensure that you’re fully present at your current job in the course of your search. Dedicate a reasonable amount of time each day to research, applications, and interviews, making sure not to skimp on any of your current work duties.

Also, make sure to familiarize yourself with policies about the use of company resources during the job search. Most companies prohibit the use of such resources on the job hunt, so keep such activities off of company time, computers, and devices.

Be Professional and Discreet

It’s equally important to maintain a professional attitude at work while job searching. That means completing every task to the best of your abilities, managing daily tasks with enthusiasm, and upholding the same standards at work as you would if you didn’t have one foot out the door. This means no cutting corners, and not leaving a mess for your employer to deal with when you eventually leave the position.

Also, be sure to maintain a discreet attitude regarding your job search. Though it’s right for a job seeker to share the news of their search, it’s important to do it wisely. Don’t advertise job searches within the company, and pay attention to what you say and who you tell.

Leave on Good Terms

Once you’ve secured a new position, approach the process of leaving your current job carefully. Make sure to leave with plenty of notice, and try to do so on mutually-agreeable terms. This means making sure to put together a plan for your departure in a timely fashion, tying up most of the remaining tasks in the process. You’ll also want to be open and straightforward with colleagues and employer to ensure a positive conclusion for all parties.

Take Advantage of Resources

Job searches don’t have to be conducted in isolation. Professional and self-help resources exist to assist job seekers in managing the transition between employment. They can range from career counseling and job strategy assistance, resume and application assistance, and much more. Such services can help you do everything from fine-tuning your job search strategy to making sure that all job applications have been correctly filled.

Making the most of your job search amidst current employment is possible, as long as you’re strategic about it. All that’s required is a careful application of the right tools and resources to get the job search done.