Candidates who are employed are often a major asset for recruiters and companies, since their skills are continuously up to date. However, finding a job while working can be difficult on the logistics side.

So where do you start when you are looking for a new job but are already employed? Here are a few tips.

1. Make sure to update your LinkedIn profile

A recruiter or potential employer will certainly look at your LinkedIn profile when your resume appears. Don't wait until the last minute - do it now!

Here are some things to consider before you start editing your profile. First, turn off your notifications, so that your changes don't appear in your news feed. Also, don't activate the "Listening for New Opportunities" section - maybe your employer is watching you. Lately, keep your list of skills up to date and consistent with the duties you currently hold. A radical change in your profile, particularly if it does not reflect your current job, could raise suspicion.

2. Do not post your CV on job sites

There is nothing worse for killing a discreet job search than receiving 15 messages from recruiters, including three voicemails on your work phone. Do not post your resume on job sites. The best new opportunities come from networking, and the risk of missing an opportunity is more than offset by the assurance that your boss won't fall on your online resume.

3. Don't give clues

It can be frustrating and unsatisfying to be silent about your research. You'll want to gossip with your colleagues if an interview didn't go well or let your boss understand that you don't care about being reprimanded because, in your head, you're already somewhere else. Fight this temptation and stay silent. Saying it to a single colleague is often the same as saying it to everyone at the same time!

4. Schedule your interviews outside of office hours, if possible

Abuse of a doctor's appointment at 9:00 a.m. could create doubts. Consider the option of scheduling dinner time appointments or scheduling maintenance after your work day. Most companies will accommodate you, knowing that you need to be discreet.

5. Use discretion

If you arrive at the office in a jacket and tie, when you usually wear jeans and a blazer on Friday, people will ask questions and you will either have to speak before you are ready or lie. If your work style is more casual, have a change of clothes for your change after your interview, or make a quick stop at home on the way home.

6. Don't sabotage your chances

A secret job search is often exposed by ... yourself. Do not be the person who no longer gives 100% in his work or who adopts an attitude of "I could not care less." Stay focused on your job and keep conflicts as far as you can.

In the same vein, do not use the Internet or the company's phones to do your research. Consider that you are being watched at all times. Being fired for improper use of company resources will not help you in your search.

7. Do not include your colleagues and superiors in your references

It may sound obvious, but if you've been hiring the same company for several years, it might seem natural to put your boss's name down for reference. If your employer makes a call before you have made an offer, you run the risk of surprising your employer before everything is finalized.

Keep in mind that taking referrals is the last step and not a filter tool for recruiters and hiring employers. Protect your personal and professional networks and do not give references until you reach this stage.

8. Ask your potential employer to remain discreet

Clients and recruiters know that your present employer is not aware that you are looking for a new job. Be clear and specific about your need for discretion. If the recruiter does not agree with your request, it means that he is not the right person to help you and that you should probably find someone else!

9. Be efficient

One of the most difficult aspects of your situation is that you have a full time job at the same time as your research. How do you find the time to put energy into the new opportunities presented to you, while staying focused and productive at work?

The trick to finding a job while working is to plan and be organized. Update your LinkedIn profile and resume, and write a cover letter so you don't have to be on the last minute. Remember that an agenda and calendar can be a good tool in this kind of situation.

10. Don't act too quickly

Hope is not a strategy! Take deep breaths and avoid saying or doing anything reckless because you had a promising interview. You do not have a new job until you accept an offer and sign a contract. Pay attention to what you say and do by then!

In other words, looking for a job while working requires moving slowly, being patient and remaining discreet.

That being said, perhaps you will realize that you are happy with what you have. After all, no job is perfect - and if the process helps you rediscover your passion for the things you love about it, so be it.

Source of the article: https://www.topresume.com/career-advice/10-tips-on-effectively-looking-for-a-job-while-employed