It requires careful time management, strategic planning, and, most importantly, tactful communication. Combining all these elements will support your ability to maintain your professionalism and reputation to avoid burning bridges with your current employer and teammates.
As a soft skills coach and The Elegance Advisor, I am a proponent of what I call ‘staying elegant,’ which is a phrase I use not only for one’s outward appearance but also our thoughts and behavior, as these support our development efforts not only personally but professionally as well.
Here are my key considerations for ‘Staying Elegant’, which is currently employed, and keeping your options open.
Manage your time wisely and stay present in your current role.
It is important to remember that although you are looking for new opportunities, maintaining a strong work ethic will not only preserve your professional reputation but also provide you with stronger references for future job applications.
While you may be eager to move on to a new opportunity, remaining committed to your current role is crucial. Continue to perform your duties to the best of your ability, meeting deadlines and delivering quality work. Maintaining a strong work ethic will preserve your professional reputation and provide you with stronger references for future job applications.
In order to manage your time effectively so you can both perform well professionally and find a new opportunity, you will need to improve your time management skills.
The best way to improve your time management is through being prepared and methodical in understanding what needs to be done for the day and overall. This means you will need to schedule time to prepare and update your resume and LinkedIn profile, research potential employers, attend networking events, and reach out to old contacts. You will also need to be tactful and careful when scheduling and attending interviews.
Tactfully streamline your efforts.
By tactfully, I mean maintaining a level of discreetness and choosing your opportunities wisely.
If you haven’t informed your current employer about your intentions to leave, you will have to focus on being discreet. The best way to go about this is by refraining from emotional office gossip and discussing your job search with colleagues or posting about it on social media platforms.
Given the limited time available and your desire to be discreet, it’s essential to be selective in the job applications you submit and the interviews you choose to attend.
Tailor your applications to positions that genuinely interest you and align with your career goals. Equally, after an initial phone interview, it would be helpful to prioritize interview opportunities that genuinely interest you. Not only is it appropriate to communicate this to potential employers, it also establishes a first impression of trustworthiness and speaks to your level of professionalism.
Additionally, when scheduling interviews, be mindful of your current work commitments. Try to arrange interviews during non-working hours or lunch breaks whenever possible. If that’s not feasible, consider sparingly using vacation or personal days.
Leverage your network
Although this may seem counterintuitive to being discreet, there is work that can be done tactfully within your network to get an idea of opportunities in your professional circle.
Conversations within your network will look and feel more like connecting and catching up on what is happening professionally for them and their company, giving you the opportunity to highlight your professional success and offer the opportunity to offer yourselves as a resource they can depend on. This type of conversation maintains autonomy from looking for job opportunities and keeps you on the forefront of the people in your network mind for opportunities that arise.
Another powerful networking tool is through attending industry events, training, and engaging in conversations with individuals who can provide insights into potential opportunities. This way, you will not only be keeping your eye open to opportunities in the marketplace, but you will also be working towards your professional development overall.
In the delicate balancing act of navigating a job search while maintaining your current role, the concept of ‘staying elegant’ takes center stage. As a soft skills coach, I emphasize the importance of outward appearances and behavior that upholds your personal and professional integrity.
As you embark on the journey of job searching while maintaining your current role, being prepared and ready for your job interview is paramount.
In my online Interview Etiquette Class, we’ll delve into the nuances of effective interview etiquette, equipping you with the skills and insights necessary to present your best self in any professional interview scenario. Just as ‘staying elegant’ encapsulates the essence of maintaining professionalism and integrity in your current role, mastering interview etiquette is about ensuring success in the opportunities.
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