5 Tips for Looking for Work on the QT
Posted January 2nd, 2013
Are you looking for another job while still employed? You may think your search will be difficult because you have to do so without your current boss knowing. But looking for work while still employed is the smartest thing to do: Employers tend to look at employed job seekers more highly than they do the unemployed.
Still, it won’t be easy. Read below for tips on how to look for work on the sly.
- You’ll need to dress well for the interview. If your workplace dresses very casually, showing up for one day out of the blue could tip you off. You’ll need to bring a change of clothes with you and change on the way, so give yourself extra time to get to your interview appointment. (Of course, you could dress professionally every day of the week whether or not everyone else is in jeans and a t-shirt. No one will be the wiser when you come in your interview outfit!)
- If you feel you can’t get away from work without sounding the alarm, ask the hiring manager at the new company if you could interview after hours. Many managers understand well your need for discretion and are happy to accommodate you. (Note: If a hiring manager has called you in for an interview, he or she obviously is quite interested in you. If the hiring manager has no flexibility when it comes to interview times, keep that information in the back of your mind: Does it mean your potential future supervisor is inflexible?)
- Many hiring managers now like to hold preliminary interviews on the phone. Never place your work number on your resume – this will prevent a potential employer calling you at work to see if you’re available for an interview. Use your cell number of home phone. When the hiring manager calls, it’s perfectly OK to say that now isn’t a good time to chat and set up a different time for the phone interview. You need to be in a quiet place where you know you won’t be interrupted.
- See if you can schedule the interview at least a week in advance. This will allow you to let your boss know that you have an appointment you need to make. (This is why it’s best to rarely say you have a doctor’s or dentist’s appointment at those times you really do. Just say you have an “appointment.” You truly don’t have to give more information than that. Ever. This can come in very handy when you have a job interview because your interview truly is an “appointment,” so you needn’t worry that you’re lying to your supervisor.)
- If your supervisor asks about the type of appointment, it’s wisest to fudge and say it’s a doctor’s or dentist’s appointment. Don’t go into any further detail. If the boss or co-worker keeps pushing, simply say you prefer to be private about health issues.
Have you ever had to lie to a current employer to go to a job interview? How did you manage it?
Speaking of interviews, we’re always looking to speak with talented and reliable IT and other professionals here at Bayside Solutions . Contact us today to learn about our many temporary and direct-hire opportunities with some of San Francisco’s top companies.
