You may be happily employed and on the career track of your dreams, so why would you look for a new job? A survey by CareerBuilder reveals that 29 percent of employees search for jobs while employed and 78 percent would be open to a new opportunity, even if they are not actively looking.
Those individuals are open to a job search for reasons that may have nothing to do with their happiness in their current job:
- They know that they can be fired or downsized at any time, and they want to be ready to react quickly.
- They want to keep abreast of the changes in their industry or geographic area: who is hunting for new employees and what types of employees are they looking for?
- They want to know what their competition is doing: would a new certification, a class in new technology, or membership in a new organization keep them competitive?
- They know today’s recruiter may be gone tomorrow; who has proved themselves trustworthy and who has a strong record of finding jobs for candidates?
- The process of looking for a new job keeps them alert to information that is valuable in a refreshed resume, such as their own and their company’s significant achievements.
- They are eager to know if they are missing an opportunity, being paid what they are worth, or have increased their value in the job market.
If you are looking for a new job while still employed, make sure that your LinkedIn profile does not give you away and do not post your resume on job boards. In your cover email or letter, you can certainly ask prospective employers for discretion. Do not share contact information for your supervisor in your current job or use current coworkers as references. Searching for a new job while you are still employed has many advantages, but the wrong words on your LinkedIn profile, resume, or cover letter/email can undermine you at your current job. Robin’s Resumes® will help you conduct a discreet and successful search.