Teach suggests that you tell them that you don't want to. Inform your prospective employer that your job search should be kept confidential. Teach suggests that you tell them that you don't want your current employer to know that you're looking for a new job and that they would appreciate it if they told as few people as possible that you're interviewing. When you're looking for work, you might not want to explain why you want to leave your current company, but they'll probably ask you.
It's common practice for employers to ask candidates: “Why are you leaving your current position? No matter how unhappy you are with the job you leave behind, never look down on your company, boss, colleagues, or current clients, recommends executive search firm Robert Half. Coming across as bitter or mean is a warning sign to potential employers that you might be difficult to deal with. In addition, they will ask themselves: What will you tell the public about us when you leave here? Be selective in what you reveal. Don't talk about anything that could compromise the confidentiality or confidential information of your current employer or that could damage your reputation.
For example, don't say that your boss is a bully or that he behaves unethically. Instead, say that you're looking for an employer with values that are more similar to yours. Instead of explaining why you're unhappy with your current job, steer the discussion toward your long-term career plans. For example, instead of saying that you're stuck in a dead-end job, say that your time at the company has prepared you for greater responsibility.
Mention that when you saw the advertisement for the job you are applying for, you knew it was just the type of opportunity you were looking for. Or, tell the interviewer that, after several years focusing on one aspect of the industry, you're looking for a position where you can diversify and explore other challenges and interests. While you may be serious about leaving, don't rule out the possibility that your employer will take seriously the idea of staying with you. Some of the best employers in my career have routinely allowed current employees this degree of freedom.
You should never stop looking for employment opportunities completely, but if during your job search you realize that you're in a big company, that you have a great job and that you're really lucky to be where you are, it's okay to be less aggressive and put the search on the back burner, Menke says. Some employers will respond negatively, which may affect your future at the company (whether you've found a new job or not). You don't want to jeopardize your current position before you get a new one, and you certainly don't have to tell your manager that you're looking for a job or that you have job interviews scheduled. No matter how unhappy you are with the job you leave behind, never look down on your company, boss, colleagues, or current clients, recommends executive search firm Robert Half.
The last thing you want to do is get caught in a lie and jeopardize your current job before you get a new one. Another danger is that if you start focusing too much on getting a new job, you might not pay full attention to your current employer, says Teri Hockett, executive director of What's For Work? , an employment site for women. Sara Menke, founder and CEO of Premier, a boutique staffing firm in San Francisco, says that having a job while looking for work makes one much more attractive to a potential employer. While experts strongly recommend not quitting smoking or waiting for you to be fired to start your job search, there are risks associated with searching for a job while you are still employed.
But what's the alternative? Did you quit your job before finding another one? Do you insist on interviewing outside your working hours? What if I told you that there's a better alternative that could benefit both you and your employer?. Like an abandoned lover, an employer can become angry to discover that other employers have courted you (and these feelings can intensify if you move on to work for a competitor). In exchange, your employer may allow you more flexibility to go to job interviews or take time off to prepare. .
