Feeling like you have ‘hit a ceiling’ in your current role is something most of us have experienced. While it can often cause you to search for opportunities outside your organisation, it’s often a good idea to firstly try and reconcile this with your current employer. There can often be stretch assignments or alternative opportunities that will enable you to develop new skills and experiences without going through the disruption of changing employers.

However, if you have had these conversations and there is an agreement that you have reached a point of progressing your career outside of your current employer, it’s a process that can be tricky and (let’s face it) can have its own ethical dilemmas (how productive are you really being if you are applying for jobs and attending interviews?). However, there is good news. Sources say that employing someone who is currently employed gives them greater peace of mind than employing someone who is not. Why? Someone who isn’t employed has a greater sense of urgency of pinning down a job and are generally less choosy than someone currently employed. Andy Teach, author of the book: From Graduation to Corporation: The Practical Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder One Rung at a Time, says “If you don’t currently have a job, it raises a lot of questions and puts you in a defensive position, and you won’t be coming at them from a position of strength.”

There are a few fundamental guidelines for preparing for your next job:

Be Discreet 

While it might help by sharing your job search with colleagues and work friends, there is a danger that they might inform your Manager or other senior staff members. This could impact their perception of you and question your commitment to the role and the company. It could also potentially damage your reputation. The key in this instance is to be discreet about your search and maintain your commitment to your role during the time you are employed. Andy Teach concurs with this statement: “They will assume that you’re unhappy and worst case scenario, may start taking steps to terminate you. Supervisors want employees who are committed to the job, not to a job search.”

Update your LinkedIn profile and complete your Seek profile 

While it probably goes without saying that enhancing your LinkedIn profile will improve your job search, did you know that updating your Seek profile can bring employers to you? Seek Premium Talent Search is an online tool that recruiters use to determine who might be a best fit for a role they have available. By keeping your Seek profile up-to-date, you will be classified as open to receiving offers from recruiters or employers. Having an up-to-date LinkedIn profile reflects positively on your professionalism. For more information on how to do this, check your rating and recommendations at LinkedIn.

Be committed to your work, not your next role 

If you would like advice on the best way to prepare for your next job while still in your current one, speak to the Recruitment team at Flexi Personnel.

It’s important to minimise disruptions to your current job as you search for your next one. Why? Your professional credibility is at risk if you spend your work-time speaking with recruiters and attending interviews. It important when you do leave a company that you leave on the best possible terms. To do this, keep your job search activities to outside of your work hours.