Dear G.R.
Job-hunting, next to public speaking is considered to be one
of the most nerve wracking tasks we undertake as professional
beings. Add to the already high stress of job-hunting; the need
to undertake James Bond like subterfuge when scheduling job interviews
and you understand why some people spend years in positions they
hate. It's simply too difficult to find another position.
So here's my short course on :
The Covert Career Hunt
Once you've made the decision, however painful, to look for
a new job, it's often the case that you don't want the existing
employer to know it. That's an acceptable stance to take when
you're dealing with your career. You have as much right to protect
and progress your own career as anyone else does and making the
decision to do so does not mean you're disloyal as long as you
meet certain guidelines when embarking on your career path change.
Work time is still work time
Never abuse your existing position to garner a new one. Extend
your concepts of abuse to your current employer's time, supplies,
equipment and contacts.
If job search calls must be made during business hours, (and
let's face it, they do) then make them during lunch breaks, coffee
breaks and from a phone that doesn't belong to your employer.
Further, don't use company time to write your resume, compile
your references, or use online job search tools. Not even a paper
clip from your existing employer should be used in your job search.
Networking Versus Poaching
Never ever use existing clients as potential job contacts from
within your current position.
If it's a current client you're dying to go to work for your
first contact can and should be the HR department of your chosen
company. Later on, you can mention that you've had interaction
with Mr. Smith from marketing to help them get some idea of your
skills, but don't use Mr. Smith as the way in if the way you
have come to know him is due to the fact that you do business
with him in your current role.
It's networking if you mention Mr. Smith as someone whom you've
had contact with during the course of your interview with the
other company.
It's poaching if you ask Mr. Smith directly to help you find
a position with his company during working hours, while you work
for another company.
Really good net workers write books and find terrific jobs;
poachers, in most companies are viewed one rung below dumping
toxic waste. Poaching will have a similar impact on your career
eventually.
In short, make sure you're working during work. It helps with
the guilt too, to know that you're only doing job search related
tasks on your own time and with your own resources.
Creative Interviews
Schedule interviews creatively. Many employers are receptive
to either early morning interviews, slightly after hour interviews
and in some cases the initial interview can be a phone interview.
You won't know if you don't ask, and making the statement that
you don't want to see your current employer suffer from a lack
of your attention implies that you are both ethical and conscientious.
If the prospective employer can't schedule an early or late interview,
then try to arrange one during a time when your absence will
have the least possible impact on your current employer. If,
arriving late to work one morning, will have little impact on
your company, arrange the interview then.
Better still if you have vacation or holiday time available,
schedule your interviews then and do a group of them.
What reasons do you give?
In any job search there will doubtless come a time when you
have to be out of the office during working times to pursue a
good possible new position. When that happens, make sure you've
given as much notice to your employer of your absence as possible.
Calling in sick because it's the easiest way out, is not good
either for your sense of what is ethical, or for your employer,
since if you do land a new position it's going to become glaringly
apparent that your frequent bouts with that pesky head cold were
really about your needing to be downtown for an interview. This
has the potential to leave both sides embarrassed and carries
the potential of having a negative impact on your references
from the company you've lied to.
When you must schedule an interview during work time, then take
a personal day. Explaining that you have some personal errands
to run, is ethically far more palatable than a blatant lie. If
you're pushed for more description about why you'll be out a
simple statement such as "It's really a personal errand, thanks
for understanding" will circumvent any too close questioning.
When the time comes to leave.
Give as much notice as possible. If you have an employment contract
review it for your termination notice period. If you don't have
a contract find out what company policy is and adhere to it.
If there is no policy, it's a safe rule of thumb to allow two
weeks to one month.
If your new employer doesn't understand that you have obligations
and can't work with you to make sure that you can avoid leaving
your original employer stuck, then pass on the job, unless you
really think burning the bridge with your current employer is
in order.
It's not just about how this employer views your departure,
remember he's potentially going to be giving you a reference
for several years to come. Do you really want to be the person
he refers to as "that person who only gave three days notice?"
The Exit Interview
If you work for a larger company, you'll most often be asked
to participate in an "Exit Interview". The original purpose of
the Exit Interview was to make sure that you had turned in all
your keys, that you were aware what insurance and company share
option programs needed action by you and to determine what might
happen with profit sharing, unused holiday allocations, etc.
No where was the exit interview ever meant to be your time to
unload about Mr. Thompson's lack of management skills. Or Mrs.
Jamison getting promoted before you did, even though you're smarter
and work harder. Keep your exit interview professional. If you're
asked, and only if you're asked, give a clear professionally
based reason for wanting to move to your new job. "Explore new
challenges", "create a different set of priorities" "gain new
skills" and even " increased financial incentives" may sound
trite, but they're exactly the right reasons to leave a job that's
going to give you a good reference and think kindly about your
soon to be empty cubicle.
No matter your reason for leaving, remember the reference lives
on long after you depart. Professional decorum on job exit will
ensure professional references based on your skills and how you
did your job, not the bad taste you left in your wake.
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