Dear Lifehacker,
I'm looking for a new job, but my company regularly scans job sites and LinkedIn to see when employees update their resumes or profiles. Then they report them to their managers. How can I conduct my job search privately without anyone finding out?
Sincerely,
Treading Cautiously
Dear Treading Cautiously,
It may surprise some people to learn this, but what your company is doing is actually common. That doesn't make it okay, but from the company's perspective, they're trying to make sure they identify any employee who's a "flight risk" before they bail and leave their current manager or coworkers in a lurch. They may also want to give the manager an opportunity to find out what's going on with the employee, why they're thinking about leaving, and see if they can convince them to stay.
Whatever the reason, it's still a bit unsettling to know that you can't do something like look over job opportunities in your own time at home, or update your resume so it's complete and current without potentially getting crap for it when you walk into work the next day. It's even worse when you remember the best time to look for a better job is when you already have one. Looking for work when you're employed already means you can take your time and search for something really great, as opposed to take what you can get to make ends meet. So how do you conduct your job search in private when Big HR is looking over your virtual shoulder? Here's what you need to know.
Make Your Updates Private on LinkedIn and Other Social Networks
If you know your employer is digging around, your first step is to make all of your details are as private as possible. We've talked about making sure LinkedIn doesn't notify the world every time you update your title or status, but taking some time to make your activity stream private and turn off broadcasts is another good step. This way, when you update your LinkedIn profile with details about your current job, or the type of job you're looking for, someone will have to actually come to your profile to see those things—they won't get broadcast to everyone connected with you, and HR's red flag won't go up.
The same rules apply if you're connected with your company or any coworkers on other social networks like Facebook or Twitter. Ideally you can trust coworkers not to rat you out to HR or your boss, but you never know. It's better to make those updates and details as private as possible anyway, and disconnect from anyone or any group you think may rat you out.
Make Your Resume Anonymous
The next big step you should take if you want to update your resume in peace is to make it anonymous. Big job boards like Careerbuilder and Monster all allow you to make your contact information private while the rest of your resume is public. This way potential employers who are searching for your skills can still find you. Plus, you can still apply to jobs freely when you find one you're interested in. The downside though is that employers that find your resume have to reach out to see if you're in their area, interested in work, or even to get your contact information—something many companies may not do when there are other candidates with their details public. Also, many companies sort by resumes most recently updated, and yours may not appear in that list.
Making your resume anonymous will definitely protect your privacy, though. Your boss may be able to find resumes for people who work at your company, but they won't get notified when they're updated, and they won't be able to see who you are (unless your job title or description gives it away).
Use Social Media On Your Own Terms
Making yourself private on social media and on job boards is a good way to go, but like we said, it also means that potential employers may have difficulty finding your profile and skills; information you want them to see. Instead, spruce up your profiles, then update your resume in private. Then connect directly with companies you want to work for on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. That way you can start to make contacts at those companies, and hear first about new job openings. This way you can choose what that company sees, and you can reach out to express your interest in a job. Sometimes you can send your resume to the person behind the social account, or ask them how to get in touch with the right manager for the job you want. Just make sure you connect the right way—following a company on Twitter and immediately asking "how do I get a job with you?" probably isn't a good idea. Make a connection with the community, or build a rapport with the staff behind the scenes. That's a better approach, and when on-topic moment to bring up your interest in the company comes up, it'll have a bigger impact. It's a long game, but it's much more effective.
Get Personal and Apply Directly to the Jobs You Really Want
Whichever approach you take, you should at least reach out and apply directly to the openings you're interested in. Don't just submit a resume through a job board or an applicant tracking site (unless you're asked to specifically.) Everyone else is already doing that, and while it doesn't hurt, it's not a great use of your limited time. Go to the company's website and find the email address for HR (or better yet, the hiring manager) and send in your resume directly. Sometimes a personal touch makes all the difference, especially if you're applying for an unadvertised opening, or applying for a job that don't exist at a company you really want to work for.
In every case, the direct approach is the best way to go. As we've mentioned before chasing job listings is a bad idea. You're much better off making contacts, either through those social networks you've locked down, reaching out to the company directly, or through your professional network (which, by the way, you should beef up before you start your job search.)
Keep Your Job Search Out of the Office
If you're worried your company is snooping around looking for people who may be thinking about leaving, you're probably not at the kind of company where you can be open with your boss about wanting to leave. However, if your relationship with your boss is good, talk to them. They may try to address the issue that's making you leave, or lend their support in the form of a reference. If you both know the only way for you to get a raise or get onto the career path you want is for you to leave, they may have no problem with you looking for something better, as long as it's on your own time and they have a chance to prepare for your departure.
Admittedly, most people don't have that kind of relationship with their boss, and even if you do, other people may not be so kind when they find out. In those cases, keeping tight-lipped about your plans is important. The usual rules apply here: Go on interviews during vacation or off days—don't try to squeeze one in on your lunch hour. Don't tell your coworkers all about how you're fed up and getting ready to leave. Don't take job related calls at your desk, or use your work email for your job search. Instead, use your cell phone and excuse yourself to a private place if you need to talk to a potential employer (in your car, an empty conference room, outside the building, whatever,) and use your personal email. You don't want your own slip-ups to be the thing that exposes your job search to everyone around you.
Even after all of this, it's important to remember that you do have to make some tradeoffs if you want to keep your job search private. It's easier now than ever to look for a new job without tipping your hand to a boss or company that may fire you just for looking, but if you really want to go all-out, you may have to run the risk of exposing your desire for a new job to the people you currently work with. Pick the tradeoffs that work best for you, and do your best to land a new gig. Good luck!
Sincerely,
Lifehacker
Have a question or suggestion for Ask Lifehacker? Send it to tips+asklh@lifehacker.com.
Title photo made using James Francis (Shutterstock). Photos by Mykl Roventine, Dani Lurie, and Michael Saechang.
0 comments:
Post a Comment