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Features Column 18 Is there a multi-tasker in the house? Working and interviewing at the same time

Dear Cathy,
I've heard that it's easier to find a job while you're still working and I wanted to know how true that is. I'm currently working full-time, but am still looking for that "perfect" job. How do I balance work, looking for new work, and going on interviews? What can I tell my current employer without having him know that I'm looking? Should I keep making up excuses every time I have an interview to go to? Any advice you can give is greatly appreciated.
Take care,
Janet from Los Angeles

In response to your first query about whether it's easier to find a job while you're still working, it depends upon what you mean by easier. It's definitely easier economically: continuing to work while you're looking for another job eliminates a good deal of financial risk and instability. Additionally, it can also lessen the stress you might feel if you aren't working and you're spending all of your waking hours trying to land your dream job. That kind of mono-focus usually results in job search burn-out faster than you can say burn-out! Plus, not working while you're searching can make you feel a bit desperate for a job, which can be problematic on two counts. First, your interviewer is sure to sense your desperation and may end up thinking that all you're interested in is a JOB, not specifically a job with their wonderful organization—that can feel almost as bad as being asked to a party by someone who has no real interest in you, but just doesn't want to go by himself! Secondly, you may end up taking a job that's actually not the best fit because you're so in need of income, which can set in motion a whole series of complications.

At the same time, as you know, looking for a job ain't easy—it requires lots of energy, focus, and time, and sometimes feels like a job in and of itself! Often, the best solution is working part-time. That way, you maintain some income, while also freeing up a few hours to focus on finding a great job, without risking catching a bad case of JSOFS (job search over-focus syndrome)! Frequently, this approach also speeds up the entire process, which is a can't-be-beat benefit for most job seekers. If you're working part-time at a "B" job (a job that pays the bills, but probably isn't your calling), all the better—you can save some of your creative energy to craft and sustain a dynamic search.

Of course, many people don't have the option of working part-time and there's no need to worry if that's the case for you—with some fancy foot work it's still very possible to get another job. The key is using your time and energy strategically. It's a good idea to carve out a few—or even several—hours on the weekend or weekday evenings to devote to your search. I suspect that may be the last thing you want to do, especially if your current job is stressful, but it's still what you need to do in order to make sure you land a great new job in the relatively near future. Bear in mind that the more focused you are from the beginning, the more likely it is that your double duty as worker and job searcher will be over sooner.

You also might want to regularly utilize your lunch hour to go on informational interviews. Or perhaps it would help you to change your hours. If your employer tends to be pretty flexible, working 11:00 to 7:00 or even 10:00 to 6:00 might allow you to attend networking events and make outreach calls before you head into work. But be forewarned, it can be quite tricky to negotiate such a schedule change even in a relatively accommodating organization because you never want to lie about what you're doing, and at the same time, you don't want to go into the details. However, if you think it would significantly assist you in your search, you may want to consider the option. So then, how can you ask for a shift in hours without sticking your foot in your mouth? Well, I advise very delicately speaking the truth and keeping things simple: state your need as well as a general reason for it, and then see whether it's possible. For example, you might say:

I'd really like to shift my hours from x to y as I have some personal responsibilities in the earlier morning. Would that be possible?

If you say much more, you're opening the door to discussion of what you'll be doing and you don't want to go there! But if you don't give any explanation, you're giving your supervisor's imagination free rein and that's risky too.

Now, while it's very appropriate to creatively use your time in the ways that I've described, as tempting as it might be, it's definitely not a good idea to really job search on the job by surfing the web for positions, working on your cover letters and resume, or making inquiry calls. In fact, you want to do whatever you can to end your time in your current position on a high note, whether you're at a "B" job or not (more on this point at the end of the column).

While it takes finesse just to network when you have a job, it takes a lot of finesse to regularly interview while working, and a whole heck-of-a lot of finesse to interview when you have certain kinds of jobs. For example, it can be particularly difficult for office managers, clerical, and customer service staff because they often cover the phones and everyone in the office feels the effects when someone isn't "phone-side." Whatever your position, I generally advise being as tactful as possible and not divulging that you're looking for work, except in rare circumstances that I'll describe later. Spilling the job search beans can create a lot of indigestion for both you and your employer. So, as I advised when asking for an adjustment in hours, try to be simple and frame your request as more of a need than a question, especially since it's very possible you'll already have scheduled the interview. For example, you might say something like:

I have to attend to some personal responsibilities and need to be out of the office for x amount of time on y day and will make up the hours at z time. Is that possible?

or

I have to go to an appointment and need to be out of the office for x amount of time on y day and will make up the hours at z time. Is that possible?

It's important to consider whether it would be best to communicate via email, the phone, or in person. Some supervisory relationships run primarily on the fuel of face-to-face contact, others hum along based mostly on email, and still others take the phone route. Whichever method you use, be sure that it makes sense given the context and history of your relationship and that you carefully assess what is most likely to result in your wish being their command.

If you have a relatively good relationship with your supervisor and there are no current staffing or other office emergencies brewing, it's unlikely that your appeal will be denied, especially if you build in how you will make up the hours. It's also unlikely that your supervisor will inquire further about why you need to be out of the office, and even those who might be so inclined will probably hold fire if you present your request in a matter-of-fact tone of voice or even email. We human beings pick up our cues from each other, so the more low-key yet respectful you are about your need, the more likely your supervisor is to be low-key and respectful. And don't forget, there's no need to feel like you're doing anything wrong: we all have times when we need to be out of the office (and even interviewing)—indeed, your supervisor undoubtedly has had these times as well! As long as you make up your hours, give your supervisor (optimally) two week's notice when you need the time off, and continue to do your best work, you're likely in good shape.

Of course, things do get trickier when you repeatedly need to request time away for unspecified reasons, so before scheduling more than a couple of interviews over the course of a month, be sure to check if there's a possibility of interviewing before or after work or during your lunch hour. While you never want to be pushy, many recruiters are sensitive to the challenge working candidates face in getting time away and it's totally appropriate to very politely ask if it would be at all possible to schedule something outside of your work hours. If they can't do this, then try to be intentional about the times that you schedule: Fridays often tend to be slightly less hectic in the nonprofit world and closer to the end of the day tends to make less of a ripple.

A final note on when it is appropriate to tell your supervisor about your job search. If you began your job with the mutual understanding that it was temporary and you would be continuing to look for a different kind of position, or if, throughout the course of supervision, it has become clear to both of you that you're better suited for different work or a different kind of organization, your job search is already part of the lexicon of your supervisory relationship and it's fine to be open about your hunt. However, there is still no need to go into too much detail—it's usually smart to be relatively conservative in sharing information about your next professional steps and to keep your focus on the job you're already doing while you're doing it.

Your letter doesn't indicate whether you're looking for a job in a related part of the sector, but if you are, you should be particularly discrete in your search—you don't want your current employer to find out through a third party! If for some reason you know that your boss knows your potential employer, it's a good idea to very politely state in your cover letter that you haven't informed your employer of your job search and you'd very much appreciate their keeping it confidential: be sure not to say too much as you don't want to draw attention away from your application and on to your sticky situation. While there is no doubt that this places your potential employer in a slightly uncomfortable position, it is still appropriate to do. Most potential employers understand this challenge of job searching—especially given the highly connected nature of the nonprofit world—and they won't have a problem with your raising the issue. I've been in this situation as a recruiter myself and appreciated the applicant's candor. Moreover, most current employers are quite aware that staff, ultimately, will leave their positions and may wind up at a partner organization so while they might not be thrilled to hear you're looking, they won't use it as grounds for firing you.

More often than not, however, you won't know whether your boss knows your interviewer or whether they know someone who is connected to your interviewer. So although I generally wouldn't address the issue because you don't want it to distract from your application, if you're looking for a job in an especially close-knit or small sub-sector, you still may want to add a quick line in your cover letter requesting confidentiality about your search. And, if you're called in for an interview and it becomes obvious that there is some connection between your interviewer and your current employer, it's very likely that in the course of the conversation you'll have the opportunity to briefly let them know that your current employer is not yet aware of your search.

Needless to say, no matter what you do, your boss may still find out about your search, so it's a good idea to have a response prepared in case this scenario emerges. Whether they go ballistic or get a bit misty, it's important to let them know that you're committed to doing a great job while you're in your current position. Although you definitely don't want to be untruthful, if at all possible, it's good form to add a few nice words about your overall experience or about working with them. And, it's better to emphasize that you're looking because you want to take your professional development in new directions rather than because you don't like your job.

Lastly, if feasible, it's also polite to give a time range for your departure, depending on how sure you are that you want to leave. It's difficult to predict what reaction you might get, but, if you're gracious and cool-headed, and you acknowledge—but don't react to—whatever feelings your boss might have, it's quite likely that they will calm down relatively quickly. Of course, there's always the chance that they'll remain peeved, but remember that it's not easy for most organizations to fire staff—it shakes up other employees, leaves work unfinished, and can end up costing a pretty penny down the line.

No matter what tensions you may or may not experience in communicating with your employer while looking for another position, you're likely to encounter the usual stress that comes with any job search, so it's important to take a pre-emptive bite out of this possible stress sandwich before you even begin to look. I went into mucho detail about many elements of this kind of approach in a previous column, but I'd like to highlight a few points:

Develop and continually revise a strategic search plan and be sure you have a clear idea of what kinds of jobs and organizational cultures are a good fit with your talents, interests, experience, and working style.
Be open to continually revising your plan.
Keep networking, no matter what!
Make sure you have a good support system in place.

The same guidelines that apply to communicating around your job search apply to how and when you communicate that you've gotten a new job. You always want to be polite and respectful of the organization's needs and concerns while also keeping your eye on your own prize. In the nonprofit world, it's considered requisite to give at least two weeks notice and it's preferable to give four or even more weeks, if at all possible. Giving more time is simply more considerate and will also likely help to ensure that you receive a good reference and end with positive feelings all around, not to mention sending a good message to your future employer who will undoubtedly get a sense of how you're handling the transition when you negotiate your starting date. It's also nice to leave your physical space in good order: make sure your desk and files are organized and you've said a formal goodbye to your colleagues as well as to any folks from outside the organization with whom you've spent a lot of time working.

And don't forget that even your most challenging professional experiences likely taught you a lot and, at the very least, motivated you to move to another, more satisfying job. Both you and your previous employer will feel better in the long-run if you leave with your head held high, albeit pointed in a new and exciting direction!