A reader was deeply troubled by the fact that he had to keep secrets while secretly attending interviews: "I have to lie to my boss, saying that I have a doctor's appointment or claiming that I have other arrangements, but in fact, I'm going to an interview, which makes me feel very hypocritical. On the other hand, these vague lies make my absences sound very suspicious."
Another reader said: "It's not easy to find time to job hunt in a tightly packed work schedule, and both the time and mental pressure are significant."
If you want to switch jobs, then stress and tension are unavoidable. When explaining the reasons for your absence to your boss, how specific you need to be is up to you to decide. A simple way to avoid lying is to confidently and pragmatically tell your boss that you have personal matters to attend to. I've seen many employees use this excuse to cover a variety of real situations: some go for infertility treatments, others do estate planning. Kate Wendleton, President of the Five O’Clock Club, suggests that for some employees, a viable option might be to tell your boss that you need to expand your network within your professional field. Ms. Wendleton is also an experienced career consultant.
No matter what excuse you give for your absence, remember to be confident and clear when speaking because you have the right to privacy. You can alleviate your boss's doubts by working harder in the office; showing great interest in long-term projects; and actively taking on various tasks.
Additionally, take the initiative to manage your time better and arrange your leave or personal days in advance. Try to schedule interviews and networking activities during holidays. One job seeker took every other Friday off during her job search, meeting at least four people each time. Wendleton also suggests making time in the evenings and weekends to research potential employers, contacting them via regular mail or email, introducing yourself in letters, and expressing interest in future work.
Moreover, try to push meetings with potential employers either earlier or later, so as not to sacrifice too much work time. Wendleton says that many employers will understand why you need to meet them in the early morning or evening because you still have your full-time job to attend to.
No matter how cleverly you arrange your job-hunting time, you will definitely need to invest some effort. Wendleton says that full-time workers need to spend at least 15 hours a week on job hunting to see some progress, usually scheduled in the evenings and weekends; otherwise, it’s likely to be ineffective. If you work 70 hours a week and can't find time to job hunt, you might just have to stay in your current position. The Five O’Clock Club website also offers mini-courses specifically designed to introduce techniques for planning and scheduling the job-hunting process.
Regarding workplace ethics, here are a few more points: keeping secrets while looking for a new job is neither immoral nor unprofessional—it's necessary. Wendleton says that your boss won’t inform you when they're finding someone to replace you, so don't think that job hunting while employed is unethical. Once it's discovered that you want to switch jobs, your credibility in the workplace will drop significantly, and it will be difficult for you to continue working effectively. Wendleton adds that most bosses would expect you to leave immediately.
If you want to separate work from personal matters, then don't use your current boss's resources to look for a job. Whether you're making appointments or preparing resumes and cover letters, never use the company's phone, email, office supplies, copier, or other equipment.
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