Don't get caught job hunting: 5 ways to search in secret

February 20, 2024 1:58 PM

A man rubs his face with his glasses in the other hand in front of his laptop; it's nighttime, and there's a soft glow from the laptop.

Looking for a new job is rarely easy. Even if you're lucky enough to be employed while on the job hunt, there are still a host of challenges you have to worry about — namely, not getting caught by your present employer.

According to ZipJob, out of those who quit their jobs in 2023, 68% admitted they secretly searched for a new job, interviewed and accepted an offer before putting in their two weeks with their current employer.

"It would be great if we could have an open and honest conversation with our managers," says Amanda Augustine, career expert at ZipJob. "But the reality is employees are afraid that their boss may retaliate by either letting them go right away or just making things really rough on them on the way out."

While most professionals wouldn't reveal to their managers that they are looking for a new job, that doesn't mean they know how to keep a secret. From how job seekers use their communication devices to networking, applying in secret takes effort and thoughtful strategy, underlines Augustine.

Here are five tips for workers who don't want to get caught "cheating" on their current employer.

Keep it personal

Augustine recommends that job seekers use their personal emails and devices for their search. Whether they work from home or in the office, their job alerts, correspondence with other companies and LinkedIn messaging should not be happening on employer-provided communication devices, which employers tend to have a degree of access to. Job seekers should also avoid getting online alerts while they are in the office, where their screens are likely visible to others.

Read more:

Workers are terrified of layoffs, AI and a recession in 2024

"Keep your work and personal life as separate as possible — you have no idea what's installed on work devices and what [employers] can see," says Augustine. "It also just makes it easier to search on the fly and stay organized."

If the job seeker does not have their own personal computer, Augustine suggests using a private browsing feature like incognito mode on Google to do their research.

Use LinkedIn wisely

While LinkedIn can be a great tool for networking, it's typically the same social media account that co-workers and managers have access to. If job seekers forget to adjust their settings to ensure their network doesn't get updates when they make changes to their profile (like adding a new skill or accomplishment), then they may accidentally alert their employer that they're making a career move. If a job seeker goes to their visibility settings in LinkedIn, they can scroll down to where it says, "Share profile updates with your network" and switch it off.

Read more:

10 highest-paying jobs for talent with associate degrees

"Once when I was just creating a more robust LinkedIn profile, I had HR ask me if I was searching for new work," says Augustine. "The reality is if you're making a lot of updates, your employer might notice."

Create business cards

Business cards aren't a thing of the past, says Augustine. She advises job seekers to create a digital business card with their name, personal contact details, a professional tagline and a QR code that connects to their LinkedIn, website or portfolio. Job seekers shouldn't include their current role on the card, but instead emphasize themselves as recruitable and professional.

"Platforms such as Blinq and Wave offer digital alternatives to the traditional business card so you can discreetly share your information with valuable contacts while on the go," says Augustine. "If you're networking, if you're at events, even if it's for a work purpose, and you meet someone really interesting, you might want to provide them with a card without your work information on it."

Share your resume with care

Whether job seekers are sharing their resumes on job boards or with other professionals in their network, Augustine cautions them to be mindful. Recruiters from their companies may be on the same boards or the same circles their resume ends up in.

Read more:

As baby boomers retire, don't let their knowledge leave the workforce, too

"Be aware of whether your company is searching for new employees at the time and what job boards they're using," she says. "You may want to hold onto your resume and only directly apply to jobs as opposed to publicizing your resume."

Fake it

Secretly applying for jobs may mean some lying and acting will be necessary. For example, if a job seeker has to use PTO to make an interview, they have to consider what excuse will seem the most reasonable and stick to their story.

"If you are going to use the excuse that you're ill, keep in mind how you present yourself at work the next day," says Augustine. "You don't want to seem bright and healthy and refreshed as though you were not sick enough the day before that you couldn't come into the office."

Ultimately, Augustine asks that job seekers be thoughtful, not only in how they look for their next job but why. They should know what they need from their next role and network and apply accordingly. The wider the net, the higher the chances of getting caught and wasting time on irrelevant opportunities.

Read more:

5 ways AI will help you land your dream job in 2024

"Give yourself some concrete guidelines as to what you're targeting next," says Augustine. "Because you really want to be running toward an ideal job, something that's a better fit for you, not running away from a job that you hate."