Looking for a Job While Employed

I am a Human Resource Manager for an electronics communications company that is at risk of declaring bankruptcy. I want to help the company stay solvent by doing as good a job as possible. I like my work very much but my spouse thinks I should be looking for another job. How can I do that while working full time?

This is a concern often expressed by my clients. The one thing I know is that in today’s work environment, managing one's own career is not an option, it’s a requirement. That means that you can't depend on lifetime employment with one employer, so you need to be aware of the current labor market, expand your work experiences, continually update your skills, and have a resume ready. All of this, while performing well in your current employment. Sounds like a tall order and yet, every day it’s being done.

CAUTION! There are important guidelines to consider when searching while employed:

1.      Use your personal email address for all job search communications

2.      Limit your workday phone activities to your lunch hour or other free time.

3.      Set aside time during the weekend for online research.

4.      Use only your personal phone number on your resume; not your employer’s.

5.      Work out a schedule of half-days or late starts in order to keep appointments for information interviews or other activities

6.      Keep a tracking sheet of all contacts. It’s especially important to keep well organized records when juggling a job and a job search.

7.      Create an efficient job search plan.  Think of it as a business plan; assess what activities have the greatest return on investment.

8.      Research the best resources for making a job change. Check out the resources page at www.rcmassociates.com

Is it easy to manage a successful career transition while working? No. Is it possible? Yes and thousands of people nationwide are doing it every day.