Keeping A Job Search Confidential

4 TIPS TO HELP KEEP YOUR JOB SEARCH CONFIDENTIAL

1. ONLINE CLOAKING
Online job banks and resume sending services have made it incredibly easy to deliver your resume out to hundreds of companies with just the click of a button. That click could potentially send your resume to your own boss. A poorly run internet job search can have severe repercussions in your current job. When using these types of services, extra precautions must be used.

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For your own benefit, consider these especially important safeguards:

• •   If possible, find out which internet career services your current employer's human
      resources department uses. You can keep your search a secret by avoiding
      the chance of having your resume end up on your boss's desk.
• •   Be skeptical of internet services that ask for too much information. In reality, they need
      little more than a name, an email address and a user name. If an internet
      job search site demands you reveal more information, there is a good chance that site
      will automatically send your information to other parties without your permission.
• •   Always Read An Internet Site's User Policy.

2. BASIC COMMON SENSE
Choosing to conduct your job search at work is a very dangerous game. Not only do you run the risk of being caught, you are also neglecting your actual work. An employer does not want to pay you to slack off. To keep your job search a secret and to keep your current job, you must keep the job search out of the office.

It is especially important to take the following precautions:

• •   Do not give out any work contact information. If you must be in contact with recruiters or
      possible employers at any time of day, use a cellular phone. That way you
      can step out of the office to take the call.
• •   This also includes email addresses. Employers could be monitoring your emails for
      security purposes. Set up a professional looking email address specifically
      for use in your job search. This will also keep you organized.
• •   Do not schedule interviews during office hours. Coming in late to work can cause
      suspicion. If necessary, use vacation time for interviews.
• •   Avoid using a reference from your current job. Unless you can absolutely trust this
      person, you run the risk of being exposed. Moreover, if they are
      contacted during work hours, news of your job search can spread around your office
      unintentionally.

3. NETWORKING HAZARDS
One of the most powerful tools in a job search is word of mouth. Knowing the right people is an invaluable resource, and networking is the only way to meet the right people. Whether you network at a job fair, convention, or happy hour, getting your name out on the market is important. At the same time, it is very hard to broadcast your information while trying to keep your job search a secret, especially when interacting with people in the same industry.

Consider these tips when networking for a job:

• •   Don't use business cards that have your current company's logo and information.
      Consider printing personal business cards for use in your confidential job search.
• •   Find out where your contacts work before talking about your job search. It's a small
      world, especially when looking for work in a particular field. You
      never know when someone could be a partner or client of your current boss.
• •   Also find out if your contacts are looking for work. Your cover could be blown if your
      contact ends up becoming your boss or coworker.
• •   Closely analyze a contact's personality. When the job market is tight, people become a
      little more willing to backstab their way into new positions. A person
      who knows your secret may expose you in an attempt to steal your job. BE CAREFUL.

4. HONESTY WORKS
Recruiters and interviewers have been in the game for a while, and they have seen their fair share of confidential job searches. Telling a recruiter or interviewer that you are trying to keep your search a secret is not the end of the world; in fact, it is far from it. Not only will they understand, recruiters often assume that searches are confidential. So do not be afraid to tell the truth.

It is very important that you take these particular steps:

• •   Stress that your search is a confidential. Do not just hope that a recruiter assumes so.
      There is no need to be shy or worry about being overbearing when it
      comes to this subject.
• •   Demand a written job offer before giving a recruiter permission to contact your current
•     employer. It is completely reasonable to want to protect your own
•     security. You should question any employer that refuses to give you an offer before
•     talking to your current employer, because they are knowingly putting your career at
•     stake.