How to Keep your job search secret

How to Keep your job search secret by Michael Cheary Sometimes, the secret to success in your job search relies on… secrecyIf you’re stuck in the wrong job, wishing you were somewhere else instead, it can be tempting to spend much of your time searching for something new.Combine access to the internet with an uninspiring job, and many of us start our search for work exactly when we shouldn’t â€" when we’re actually at work.However, maintaining a sense of confidentiality is of paramount importance. And, if underestimated, could not only lose you the respect of your employer, but also potentially compromise your position.To help keep your aspirations under-the-radar, here are some dos and don’ts on how to keep your job search a secret:DoKeep it to yourself    Firstly, no-matter how much you trust your co-workers, always try and keep your plans as confidential as possible. Venting your frustrations to your best friend in a different department may seem like a good idea at the time, but all it takes is a few loose words to the wrong person and your future plans may not be as private as you thought.Use your cover letter to indicate discretion    Employers can be quite understanding, especially if they feel they’ve found the right candidate. Use your cover letter to mention your current employer, and mention your notice period. You could also go a step further by asking if the reader could resist contacting your current place of work for a reference until after you have given notice.  That way you should avoid any potentially awkward conversations with your HR department.Pay attention to your contact preferences  Many jobseekers have come unstuck by forgetting their job alerts are being sent to an email address they access every day or, even worse, using their work email address to search for jobs. Create a personal email account specifically for your job search. That way you’ll know exactly where to go when you have a few minutes away from prying eyes.Step away from the desk  -Looking for work at lunchtime? Don’t do it at your desk. Although their own office space is the number one destination for many jobseekers to search during the day, for obvious reasons (see: convenience, laziness etc), it comes with a number of risks. Let’s face it, it’s pretty much the equivalent of cheating on your employer, right under their nose. And that can only end badly.With free Wi-Fi readily available, and practically everyone owning a smartphone, it doesn’t take much to relocate for your eating/application needs.Use a different device    If you really can’t resist the temptation to start searching, try and make sure you do it on a different device. Not only will this overcome the potential problem of opening the wrong tab in front of the wrong person, it will also be much easier to keep confidential in the long run (see: smaller screen).What’s more, with many online job boards allowing you to set up job alerts to send the best-matching vacancies directly to your inbox, you can start your applications off before you even get into the office.Other secret jobseeking dos: Be honest at interviews, go outside to take phone calls, remember to lock your computer, you know… just do it at home.DontBe tempted to ‘pull a sickie’  If you’re offered an interview, try and fit it around your schedule. Take an afternoon off or a day’s holiday, and do your best to plan multiple interviews during your time off. The second you start to rely on sick days, coming in late and leaving early, you’re setting yourself up for a big fall.After all, how many people wear their best suit for the dentist?Overshare on your CV    If you work for a reasonably sized company, there’s a chance they may use job sites to carry out their recruitment. If that’s the case, a few simple tweaks to your CV could help keep you out of their search results.For example, changing your current employer’s name to something more generic, such as ‘Large Mulitnational Acco untancy Company’, could make all the difference.Leave your applications lying around  OK, so this one may sound obvious. But you’d be surprised how many people treat the office printer as their own personal resource. Do you know how many people jeopardised their job in the last year by leaving their CV unattended in the office?We don’t either, but we’re sure it would make a pretty nice stat…Tweet about it    When it comes to jobseeking, leave social media well alone. Even if you’re pretty confident your profile has been set to private, and you’re not friends with your boss (add other excuses here), your social profile may not be as impenetrable as you think.So next time you’re tempted to hit the send button after posting ‘Can’t wait to hand my notice in #hate #job #hashtag’, think before you tweet.Burn your bridges  Finally, never underestimate the importance of actually keeping your job search under wraps if you are currently in employment. No matter how wel l you think your application or interview went, taking a job offer for granted and letting your employer know what you really think of them is never recommended. Especially if your ‘sure thing’ falls through, leaving you with a rather embarrassing and expensive apology to deliver.Other secret jobseeking don’ts: Stop giving 100%, use your current boss as a reference, answer private phone calls at your desk, conduct a Skype interview in the office.Have any secrets of your own? Let us know now in the comments below…