Well it’s official. You have finally achieved one of the crests of adulthood – you have a job. Or what we Indians colloquially jest around job lag gayi, which in literal translation turns out to be “job’s attached”. Probably a subtle hint at its parasite like nature, sucking away at your life juice. Oh, but let’s not digress. Let us assume that you have indeed found a way to a job that you love, or at least like. An anomaly, but still believable.
But should you put your job seeking to rest, now that you have a desirable office badge? What if your circumstances change, or your buddy boss is transferred out leaving you to deal with Hulk in a suit! What if anything should you do to keep your Plan B alive? Plan B being the actions to be taken in the event you have to willingly, or unwillingly, part with the said loveable job.
It is widely understood that job searches feel worse than a slow waxing experience. It is time consuming, tedious, filled with extensive research and often a whole lot of humiliation. Ergo, with a secure employment, it would be natural to ignore the troubles of such an endeavour. Why bother? You may ask.
But circumstances, with employment, are usually fleeting. There is a possibility that you may get tired of your current role and seek greener pastures. There is also the possibility that your company may make sudden business decisions impacting its personnel. You may be required to migrate to other locations disrupting your personal convenience, or worse, asked to leave as is a usual practice in company lay-offs.
That is where the concept of passive job seeking comes in to rescue. Passive job seekers are ones who are not actively seeking out interviews, but at the same time they are still aware of the evolution of requirements in their jobosphere.
Let us find out how you can be a passive job seeker without jeopardizing your current career.
How to manage your passive job seeking profile?
This is a bit tricky. You probably realize the dangers of an unplanned, and uncalculated, measure. Most employers don’t take their employees seeking out other jobs, in good spirit. Why would they? But you can keep updated without actually cheating on your current job. All you have to do is know what is happening in the industry, and then prepare yourself to be simply admissible when the situation arises.
The idea is to be discreet and not actually be looking for a job but at the same time follow some measures to stay relevant and open for opportunities if a recruiter happens to reach out. Having a ready-to-spring-out job-search-profile can save a lot of valuable time and emotional grief associated with starting afresh. But what comprises a passive job seeking status? What are the ways one can practice it without getting into trouble with their current employer?
Read When your boss catches you job hunting!
Here are some benign ways to practice that.
How to manage a Job Search Profile when you are already employed?
An active Social Profile
Not all social profiles have to be picture portfolios, feeding the world with your latest fancy breakfast, or your selfie in the bathroom. Social networks are a great place to connect, share, and exhibit your wisdom, with your professional world. The connections, you make, and maintain over time, can come in handy when you feel the need to reach out.
Being active, on social media, makes a difference in not only staying relevant to your connections but also in making an impression. Write often, share updates often, and maintain a presence in groups that share your professional interest.
Quite clearly, LinkedIn almost always champions its way among professional network seekers. LinkedIn is also filled with recruiters who can view your updated resume, and accomplishments. While connecting with them, directly, may attract unwanted attention from your current employers, given that most of what you do on LinkedIn is public, it is good to know that your valuable profile is ready for taking when you feel the tug.
Of course, having a social media presence certainly begs discretion when it comes to what kind of content you will be sharing. Uncalled for polarizing opinions, inappropriate material, and an online video of you trying to recapture the cinematic moments of Jackass 4, will leave a very embarrassing record forever.
Read
- Where, how and whom to network with – Professional Networking Skills
- How to use LinkedIn InMails to contact recruiters
- Referral recruitment programs vs other hiring strategies
Resume care and share
It may seem inconsequential, but keeping tabs on your own progress can become a tad bit hard to follow if you procrastinate on it. It is certainly a good idea to keep your resume updated with your latest brag-sheet. You should also keep your LinkedIn profile apprised. You can try updating your resume on other job searching websites, but keep in mind that those that are exclusively for job postings, and hunting, can bring about undue suspicion from your boss, if he happens to be cruising in the same territory. Mute those job hunting sites until you are absolutely sure that you want to switch from a passive profile to an actively looking for a position one.
So, the next time you see your new boss turning green and leaping off buildings, hit print and send over that resume you modified the weekend before. Chances are, you will not lose out on a low hanging opportunity on account of lack of preparation. While you are at it, might as well keep track of all the latest interview trends.
Read
- Resume writing skills
- Why the best resume tips aren’t helping your career
- Effective job interview skills
Share your knowledge
You know what is a great way of letting people, including future recruiters, know that you know the stuff you claim to know, in your resume? Blogging. Or writing posts pertaining to your area of expertise. This is the new age way of beating your own drum. If you can create enough substantive content, online, it will surely add to your credibility. ‘Coz you can be sure of one thing, as a job seeker, thou shall get googled.
Check out our article on Blogging with us to improve your career. Flaunting your skills will certainly get you noticed.
The world this week
It is easy to fall into a caveman routine when you keep doing the same job for an extended period of time. You stick to details pertaining to your office and call it a day when the clock strikes it’s time to shut your eyes ‘O Clock. Keeping track of the industry, its latest trends, conquests, and job requirements, then become an other worldly chore you can live without.
To keep your eyes, and pretty much all your senses, open to future possibilities, you need to know what’s cooking in the latest job pot. Who knows, you may realize that there are some particularly wanted skills that every recruiter is eyeing for. And if you can spare some time, maybe you can elevate your resume to include those too.
Follow up with our article on list of industries in India.
Besides all of the above, it doesn’t need pointing out that keeping a healthy, active, and growing network of professional people really helps to cover all the bases. ‘Coz if your network, your online and offline presence, your skills, and your professional awareness are all updated and polished well, you will get the right people seeking out your matching profile, when the desired position opens up.
Or, in the least, your passive preparation will help you shift gears fast. Certainly faster than someone who never saw it coming.
Moral of the article, a search in time saves nine!
