Dear Matt: I'm in serious job search mode, but I want to keep it confidential. Privacy is a big concern to me. What steps can I take?
Matt says: It's always best to keep your job search private, says Joe Benz, a Twin Cities-based recruiter with 15 years of experience in corporate/agency recruiting roles in the financial services, medical device and cyber security industries. If you tell your employer that you are considering leaving but don't get another job and end up staying, it "could affect your reputation with your employer," says Benz. You may be viewed as someone who is not loyal to the company, and that could affect your future chance for promotion or working relationship with your team or boss.
By following these four simple steps, you can avoid the mistake of making your job search public when you want it to be private:
1. Don't use a company computer, e-mail, fax or phone in the job search. This seems like a no-brainer, but some people don't have access to all of these resources outside the job, or their home computer/office setup may be really dated and not as efficient, so using work technology is just the convenient way to do things. Remember, your IT department can access every e-mail you send and all of your files. And what if you're in the middle of a Live Meeting with your team or boss or a major client, and an e-mail from a recruiter pops up on screen during your presentation? Oops! Busted.
2. Don't discuss your search with co-workers. It's OK to vent about your job — everyone does that from time to time. But don't tell them you are looking, interviewing or ready to move on. You never know who may overhear conversations you think are personal, or who may start the office gossip that you are on the way out.
3. Change your social media settings. Use the privacy controls function on LinkedIn to adjust your settings so that not every update can be seen by the general public. If you are connected with co-workers on Facebook, the best option is to not mention your job search plans. On Twitter, follow employers you want to work for — but use that info to connect with them directly, since most employers use Twitter to route people back to their company career page and follow their instructions to apply for jobs.
4. Find a recruiter. Recruiters can connect you to the hidden job market, and they know who is hiring. Why is there a hidden job market? Because employers want privacy too — just like you.
Following these simple steps before starting your job search will give you the privacy you desire — and keep it private until you land that new job.
"Only inform your employer you are leaving once you have accepted a formal job offer," says Benz.
Contact Matt at jobslink@startribune.com.
