Don't Just Settle For Liking Your Job: What Are Your Next Step In Your Career Path?

The need to find new, challenging or rewarding job opportunities isn’t solely a compulsion for those who are just beginning their careers. 

It’s also a common goal for established professionals during any phase of their career path. 

To achieve your career goals, it’s essential to remain open to actively seeking new opportunities - even if you’re currently employed. 

However, there are right ways and wrong ways to search for new opportunities without interfering with your current professional commitments. 

Below, we’ll discuss the ideal times to search for new positions, how to conduct yourself during your job seeking efforts, and how to maintain a stellar reputation even after you resign from a current position. 

Search and Interview During Your Free Time 

You’ve made the decision to begin looking for a more rewarding job opportunity while you’re still currently employed.  Got it.

But do conduct your job search on your own time - use your vacation days, scheduled time off or even your lunch hour.  Conducting extensive personal business like a job search during your work hours isn’t really fair to your current employer. 

To avert any conflicts with your current employer, it’s best to limit your job hunting efforts to your personal time. 

Not only is this practice more professional, it also allows you to dedicate more time to thoroughly reading job descriptions, bookmarking the most appropriate available positions, and crafting cover letters and resumes that reflect your qualifications for the specific position. 

In addition to searching for new jobs, you should also schedule any phone, virtual or in-person interviews before or after your normal workday schedule or during your lunch hour.

To take the professional route, inform your prospective employer of your current professional commitments.  During the introductory paragraph of your cover letter, explain that you’re currently employed yet you’re eager for new opportunities.  Let them know that although you’re available to interview, as a courtesy to your current employer, you would prefer to schedule any and all interviews outside your normal working hours or during your lunch hour if possible. 

Providing this level of transparency to prospective employers goes a long way toward conveying your professionalism.  And limiting your efforts to your free time, underscores your commitment to your current employer. 

Keep Your Intentions To Yourself 

Being eager for new job opportunities is terrific! 

That excitement you’re feeling is an effective driving force for a successful job search. 

Still, that excitement you’re experiencing is not meant for all to see -  especially your current employer and co-workers. 

From subtle hints to outright proclamations, telling your colleagues and current company that you’re actively seeking new job opportunities is not a good idea. 

First and foremost, these types of admissions could lead to immediate dismissal.  If that occurs, you no longer have the job search safety net that a full-time position offers. 

Secondly, it’s improper workplace behavior.  Even if your current company is notorious for its high turnover and/or employee burnout rates, informing them of your job seeking plans is not helpful to anyone.  In fact, this information will most likely contribute to declining morale, motivation and productivity. 

Finally, if you enjoy a wonderful professional relationship with your current employer, this information could be perceived as a betrayal.  From that moment forward, your managers may have second thoughts about letting you participate in special projects or perform certain tasks. 

Remember: your job search efforts are your personal business and they should remain as such. 

It’s ok to inform your current employer of your activities after you’ve accepted an offer for a new position at another company and you are giving proper notice to your current employer.  

Continue To Produce Quality Work At Your Current Position 

Whether you’re starting your career or taking another step in your career path, you want to maintain a solid reputation as a dependable, qualified and honest professional.  Never burn your bridges (yes, we are sure your mother told you this and she was right!)

A sure-fire way to blemish your reputation is to shirk your duties during the remainder of your current employment. 

Although you have submitted your resignation letter and offered the courtesy of at least a two-week notice, those facts do not permit you to perform below your professional standards.  If you spend your last weeks shirking your responsibilities instead of laying the foundation for continued reliable results, your professional reputation will suffer.  You want to be sure you will always get a good employment reference.

A lack of professionalism during the period when you are a “short termer” may damage long-standing relationships with coworkers.  This can leave a last impression and affect your professional network, which in turn, can negatively impact your future job seeking efforts.  

Avoid these problems by always leaving on good terms with your former employers and coworkers. 

Find New Job Opportunities With Elite Personnel 

Wanting to expand and diversify your career path is not only understandable, it’s admirable! 

While it’s quite common to pursue new job opportunities while you’re currently employed, it’s best to conduct those activities on your own time.  It may be best not to tell your co-workers about your job search until after you’ve accepted a new offer.   Do your best work right up to the day you leave.

Always take the high road, and you’ll enjoy a rich and rewarding career path! 

If you’re interested in applying for new employment opportunities in the D.C. Metro area, be sure to view our current job listings!