13 Tips for How To Find a New Job While Employed

1. Keep your work and job search separate

Your employer's time and equipment belong to them, making this boundary essential for a discreet search. Use personal devices, email, and dedicated time blocks for all job search activities.

Never use:

• Company time
• Company laptops
• Phones
• Email addresses
• Meeting tools or tech

Even if you think you're being careful, this separation between your full-time job and job search protects both your privacy and professional integrity while preventing accidental breaches through company networks.

Beyond company resources? Create clear mental boundaries between your current job and future plans. Set aside specific times outside work hours for your search activities. Whether you're updating your resume, researching companies, or responding to recruiters, keep these activities strictly separate from your workday and current employer.

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2. Protect your performance

It might seem straightforward, but it’s easy to get lost when you’re ready to move on. When you’re applying for jobs while employed, maintaining excellence in your current role becomes more critical than ever—even if you feel checked out. Strong performance not only preserves future references but also protects you from unwanted attention during your search.

Focus on:

• Meeting or exceeding key metrics
• Maintaining positive relationships with colleagues
• Documenting your achievements (which helps with applications too)
• Staying engaged in team projects and initiatives

This commitment to quality work also provides security—both in terms of continued income during your search and in case your ideal opportunity takes longer to find than expected.

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3. Get (and stay) organized

Applying for jobs while employed means juggling multiple opportunities without dropping any balls. Save every promising job description immediately - they often disappear just when you need to reference them. Keep track of which version of your resume you submitted to each role, and maintain a clear record of every interaction.

Your organization system should capture:

• Complete job descriptions
• Application dates and methods
• Resume versions submitted
• Company research notes
• Contact information
• Interview feedback
• Follow-up timelines

Think of this as building your search command center. When hiring managers ask about a detail from the job posting, or you need to reference your previous conversation with a recruiter, everything's right where you need it. This level of organization lets you focus on presenting your best self rather than scrambling for basic information.

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4. Schedule smart

Finding time to update your assets, search for a new job, apply, and interview while maintaining your current role requires strategic planning and careful calendar management.

Book time for these activities and conversations outside work hours whenever possible. Think early mornings, lunch breaks, or after your workday. If you need time off, space it strategically throughout weeks or months to avoid suspicious patterns.

And while remote job interviews have made this easier, they still require equal discretion. Find private spaces away from your workplace for these conversations, even if you work from home. Never use meeting rooms at your current office or take calls where colleagues might overhear. Remember, one overheard conversation can compromise your entire search and, subsequently, the potential of a job offer.

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5. Build your career record

Rather than scrambling to remember projects or update achievements when you find a job you want to apply for, start (and maintain) one master resume that captures your entire career journey. Include every achievement, project, skill, and metric—even those that might not seem significant now.

This foundation makes customization quick and strategic. When you spot an interesting role, you can easily pull the most relevant experiences to create a targeted application. Building this master document upfront saves valuable time during your active search—converting tedious resume updating from a time-consuming task into an efficient selection process.

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6. Make strategic social updates

Sudden LinkedIn profile changes can raise immediate red flags to your employer and colleagues. Instead, even the most tech-savvy job seekers should approach professional presence with a strategy: Update your profile gradually, focusing on one section at a time over several weeks.

This natural evolution looks like normal profile maintenance rather than a job search plan.

Take advantage of privacy features, especially LinkedIn's "Job Seeking Preferences." This allows you to signal openness to opportunities while maintaining discretion. Consider updating your skills, adding recent achievements, and refreshing your professional summary, but space these changes out naturally as not to alert anyone to your job search status.

Pro Tip: Turn off activity notifications before making any profile changes. This prevents your network from seeing each update in their feed.

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7. Monitor your digital footprint

Your online presence requires careful curation during a discreet job search. Beyond LinkedIn, review and adjust privacy settings across all professional networks and job boards. Consider every platform where your professional identity appears:

• Job board profiles and resumes
• Portfolio websites
• Professional social media accounts
• Industry forum participation
• Company directories or team pages

Remember, your digital footprint extends beyond what you actively post. Check your visibility in company announcements, team photos, or project highlights. While you can't control all of these, awareness helps you manage your overall online narrative.

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8. Network with purpose

Building professional relationships remains crucial, even during a discreet search. But your approach needs careful calibration.

A more nontraditional job search approach, engage thoughtfully with industry content, participate in relevant discussions, and maintain relationships without broadcasting your intentions. Even trusted colleagues shouldn't know about your search. Office relationships can complicate job hunting when casual conversations turn into workplace speculation.

Focus networking efforts on:

• Industry events outside work hours
• Professional groups unconnected to your current company
• Thoughtful online engagement with industry content
• Building relationships before you need them

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9. Navigate job boards strategically

Scattered job postings across multiple platforms can quickly overwhelm your limited search time. Focus your energy by choosing the right platforms for your industry and level. While LinkedIn, Indeed, and specialized boards like Built In or Wellfound serve different audiences, the key is efficient filtering.

Think strategically about your search:

1. Start with role-specific criteria like title, salary, and location
2. Layer in company details - size, industry, growth stage
3. Consider workplace factors like remote options or culture

Advanced filtering (like in Teal’s Job Board) helps you spot relevant opportunities faster, letting you focus energy on roles that truly match your next career step. This targeted approach means less time scanning listings and more time crafting strong applications for positions that matter.

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10. Automate your search

Job searching alongside full-time work requires efficiency. Set up automated alerts across job boards to get relevant job opportunities in real time. This proactive approach ensures you don't miss promising roles while managing your current responsibilities.

Beyond job alerts, leverage job search management tools that streamline repetitive tasks. From email templates for follow-ups to calendar scheduling for interviews with prospective employers, automation helps you maintain momentum without sacrificing discretion or work quality.

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Pro Tip: Save job openings from 40+ job boards in one click using Teal's Chrome Extension. This automation saves valuable time you'd otherwise spend manually tracking, copying, and opportunities.

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11. Set clear goals

What gets measured gets managed. And a successful job search is no different. It needs measurable progress.

While your ultimate goal is finding the right role, set concrete weekly targets to maintain momentum. In addition, steady progress in your search shouldn't come at the cost of current performance. Include your regular work deliverables in your weekly goals to maintain balance and professional reputation.

• Number of quality applications submitted
• Promising opportunities saved and researched
• Follow-ups completed
• Network connections engaged
• Current work projects and deliverables advanced

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12. Build a support system

While discretion at work is crucial, navigating a job search completely alone isn't necessary—or wise. Identify trusted advisors outside your company who can provide valuable perspective and support. Former colleagues, mentors, or industry connections often offer crucial insights about opportunities and help you maintain confidence during your search.

These supporters become your sounding board for evaluating opportunities, practicing interview responses, and managing the emotional ups and downs of navigating how to job search while employed. They help you stay grounded and focused while maintaining the discretion your search requires. Just ensure you choose confidants who understand the need for privacy and can offer relevant industry perspectives.

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13. Maintain perspective

A successful career move is about finding the right opportunity, not just finding a job fast. While balancing your current role with a job search feels intense, resist the urge to rush unless it’s absolutely essential. Stay focused on your career goals rather than escape plans, and keep delivering strong results in your current position.

Consider each application and conversation as part of your broader career journey. Even opportunities that don't pan out provide valuable insights about your market value and what you truly want next.