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Would anyone please give me some tips on how I can apply for other jobs without informing my current employer? I have been working in my current position as an academic librarian for the past one and half years. Until now, I have already learned everything that I can in my present job. I would like to move on to better opportunities. In the first place, I took the job because I wanted to get some professional experience as I was fresh out of grad school. At times, I feel very frustrated with my current job because I also have to deal with favouritism issues in my department. Overall, it is not a bad environment for a workplace, but I don't get that many professional development opportunities because those generally go to the "favoured person" liked by the boss. I am concerned that I won't be able to develop my skills and eventually things would be come stagnant for me.
There is a small problem - I would like to search for jobs without informing my current employer. My workplace has always had a high turnover rate and if I tell my boss about my intention, chances are that my boss would be highly displeased. Given the current economic situation, I also would like to hold on to my job until I get a confirmed offer somewhere else. Is it possible to do this secretly without listing my immediate boss as one of my references? Would it create problems when it comes reference checks? How should I navigate this issue? Thanks a lot!
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It is always best to be honest and open with your current employer. You will never be able to guarantee an anonymous search. If your current boss finds out you have not be open about your situation, will it created even a worse environment for you? You can always just apply for positions and let the potential employers know that you would not like your current employer contacted unless an offer is made. The down side is some people get suspicious when you take these actions. You also do not know who will see your application materials and not know about your desire to stay anonymous. The profession is small enough that the word gets out who is looking, why they are looking, who is hiring, etc.
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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I was about to post this on the "when to ask your references" thread, but it actually fits better here. I completely agree with everything everyone has said over there about telling your references before you list them. But, I have been in situations where I wasn't prepared to tell my current employer and knew I would need references from my place of work. One way to handle that is to ask for discretion in your cover letter. The library world is small (especially if you are interviewing locally or in a narrow area of expertise), but it is not unreasonable to ask for discretion. Be honest in your application. Don't make the search committee wonder why you have not listed your current place of work, just tell them out-right that you have not yet told your employer. I listed non-current-work references (though still people with current relationships) and said in my application that I had not listed current-work references because I had not yet told my employer. And I said that I appreciated their understanding. I stated that if/when discussions become serious, I would be happy to give them current work references at that time. Everywhere I have worked, references are called before interviews. So, this enabled them to call some references before and then, after I interviewed and they thought they might want me, I could tell my employer and give those references. It bought me time. You definitely need to be prepared in case word does get out, but I decided than an organization who leaked my interest in them was not an organization I would want to work for. It worked fine for me and the organization I was applying to was very gracious and honored my request.
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Erin Stalberg
Head of Metadata & Cataloging
North Carolina State University Libraries
Erin Stalberg
Head of Metadata & Cataloging
North Carolina State University Libraries
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erin wrote:You definitely need to be prepared in case word does get out, but I decided than an organization who leaked my interest in them was not an organization I would want to work for. Be aware though that it is often not the HR person or the search committee that accidentally leaks the information. It is often someone else in the organization that has heard the name of candidate(s) and contacts a colleague at another organization for an informal conversation about a candidate. They may have never have seen your request for caution.
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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The questions and responses made me think of a question. I currently work in a non-library setting, but am looking for work in the library field. I've never really considered using anyone at my current place of work as a reference because it's not allowed. An employee with the company cannot, in any circumstances, be a work reference for another employee (it's even taking a chance to provide a reference for a former employee). The management will not give out more than a confirmation that someone worked there, and the dates they worked.
So how would someone like me handle a request for a reference from the current workplace? Certainly my situation can't be all that unique.
Going back to the question at hand, I know that (at least with a public library setting), information pertaining to resumes, applications, hiring and employee files are public record. Anyone can request information on who applied for the position, if they so desired. Do let your references know that they may be contacted (as stated earlier) and brace yourself for the fact that word will probably get out, sooner rather than later.
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Brian, I disagree that you should always tell your current employer you are looking for a job--especially if you are concerned about their integrity and especially if you are in an entry level position. To the new poster: it's totally reasonable that you might be looking for new opportunities a few years post-graduation.
You are not required to give them any more than a few weeks' notice, and in many places, announcing you are looking for jobs means you'll get fewer good projects, poorer reviews, etc. I think in many academic libraries, professional librarians are often looking at other opportunities. Someone might apply for a job, and not get it, and then stay in their current job for a while, perfectly happy.
I know people who, out of loyalty, gave more notice than necessary, and then were stripped of projects and were miserable in their last months at work.
Do you *need* your current boss as a reference? Could a discreet colleague do instead? I would encourage you to be very discreet with your job search. Don't even tell your friends at work, especially if they are work-only friends. It's hard to keep this kind of stuff to yourself, but it can be better professionally.
You might run into trouble if you're applying for other jobs at the library next door, where everyone there knows everyone at your library. But I think you can be both discreet and professional about this. Good luck.
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joan wrote:Brian, I disagree that you should always tell your current employer you are looking for a job--especially if you are concerned about their integrity and especially if you are in an entry level position. I do not think I said "always". I said you cannot guarantee an anonymous search and do not be shocked if your employer finds out. You need to judge what will cause more backlash for you: telling them up front or having them discover on their own. Only an individual can make that choice.
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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