5 Ways to Improve Any Job Search
Why it’s Better to Have a Job When Looking for a New One
Even though looking for a new position can be time consuming, it's better to still be employed when looking for a new opportunity.
Deciding it’s time to look for a new job is not nearly as difficult as deciding how to go about the process. Unfortunately, too often the decision to leave is made in haste and it then becomes a race to see how quickly a new job can be found without giving much thought to the best way to go about the search.
Truth is looking for a new job can be a lot of work so many job seekers think it wiser to quit their current employment before setting out to find something new. And there is logic in this argument. Obviously it gives the candidate the luxury of interviewing whenever it is convenient and it relieves the stress and strain of hiding the job search from their current employer.
Still others believe it shows a certain level of respect to the current employer by not conducting job searches on company time. Again this may be a valid argument. However, looking for a new employment opportunity does not have to be done on company time. Job seekers are best advised to send resumes by email from home during non-work hours and to conduct interviews on days off or after work.
So while looking for a new employment opportunity can be a lot of work, it is generally better to be currently employed when seeking a new position. Here are the five main reasons why.
Employability
Job seekers who are already working are much more appealing to another employer because it communicates they’re employable. It’s that old feeling that if someone else wants them, maybe they should want them, too.
Better Resume
There seems to be a current belief among the youngest working generation – the millennials – that having several jobs within a short period of time – job hopping – is not quite as taboo as it once was. And perhaps this is true. However, employers still want to know the person they hire is going to remain with them for a least a reasonable length of time, otherwise, it doesn’t make sense to spend the time and money to hire and train them. That’s why having a job while looking for a new one may create a seamless transition on the job seeker’s resume as well as minimize the negative effect of holding several short-term jobs.
Job Security
By looking for a new position while still employed, the job seeker has a better chance of taking their time and looking for the right opportunity. That sense of security from still having a regular income can diminish the need to jump at just any old thing.
Well-Honed Skills
Being employed while looking for a new opportunity means staying current on a variety of skills from technical -- computer software -- to soft skills -- relationship building, making the job seeker much more attractive to other employers.
Positive Attitude
Looking for a new position isn’t necessarily something that happens overnight. Staying employed while conducting a search means the job seeker always has a fall-back position. Many times those that have been unemployed for a while panic, lose their enthusiasm, and start to sour on the whole job search process which then comes through in negative interview behavior. Keeping a job while looking for something new helps keep a positive attitude.
So for anyone contemplating a job change, think twice before quitting a current position in order to look for a new opportunity. It's better for financial and emotional security and helps to improve any job search.
