How To Search For a Job Confidentially

You’ve outgrown your role and/or patience with your situation or supervisor. That fulfilling sensation you were left with every Friday has been replaced by a sense of dread on Sunday nights. Whatever the reason, the result is the same; you’re looking for your way out. Time to dust off the resume, rekindle those connections and hit the job boards. It’s time.

But what if your company has strict job search policies? Policies that discontinue your employment if it’s confirmed you’re searching. Or you may have a meddlesome boss or zero privacy in your current environment where you’re asked about every long break or even social media post. On the flip side, you may have a boss who is well connected within the region. It would be reasonable to have a fear that your supervisor could (or would) catch wind of your recent job hunting activity.

This leaves you with a tough choice. Do you quit your job so you can have the flexibility to job hunt or do you attempt to covertly search, concealing your tracks as you go?

Let’s assume you’re like most people and can’t afford to quit or be fired without having employment aligned. So how do you go about searching confidentially?

The most logical place to start is to reach out to your trusted network and communicate your desired transition. Referrals are the number one source to find job opportunities. It makes sense for this reason and many others that you should always be maintaining and expanding your network, whether you’re searching or not.

After starting with your network, is it safe to post your resume on Indeed, apply for positions directly with other companies or try a staffing agency? LinkedIn’s Open Signal is an option that allows basic account holders to select an option that confidentially alerts LinkedIn Recruiter account holders of a person’s desire to find a new position. It’s confidential to a point; anyone who works at your current employer will not have access to this status, but all other LinkedIn Recruiter accounts can see this update. Posting to Indeed or applying directly to the company’s openings hold the same risk. It’s not likely your boss will see it, but this could be a concern for the well-connected supervisor.

Going through a staffing agency is usually the safest route. Caution should still be used unless you know the recruiter you’re working with or until you’ve had time to do your research on the quality and reputation of the agency. Not all agencies are created and run equally. Those with higher turnover or a poor reputation may not be where you want to share your trust. Do your research and/or ask your network for referrals before working with an agency.

As a staffing (and consulting) firm focused on HR and payroll, we understand and protect our candidate’s privacy. We work to understand where you are in your job search and what level of anonymity is important to you. We ensure to only connect candidates with our clients once we have your approval. If you’re interested in working with Willory check out our open jobs or send us your resume.

Thank you for reading this blog. I wanted to share that I am currently on maternity leave. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jamie (Rugh) Myers in my absence.