Interesting opinion on how to sneak in job hunting while you're working. The key though, I think, is that if you really are focused on growing your career, then you can't just "hunt" for a job. It can be time consuming and incredibly difficult when you're trying to do your real job. Most importantly - it's all about timing - what you want may not necessarily be what the job market has in the timeframe you're looking. So here's what I suggest: Keep an open mind and really position yourself for opportunities. . . continuously. Not just when you get that sinking feeling that you don't want to be at your current job or company anymore.
This isn't traditional active job hunting, but it'll bring you to what's really important - and that's being exposed to opportunities that may or may not be the right ones for you. It's best to have that option to decide and accept or decline, right? So what can you do?
- Be aware and open minded. Listen to what colleagues or business contacts are talking about and who or what they may know.
- Be accessible. Make yourself easy to be found by people who have opportunities. Be accessible online in some social media or community groups or professional associations
- Let people know that you're open minded to opportunities perhaps not in your company, but outside of your professional circle - in your community, sports clubs, children's school, etc. Contacts are everywhere.
- Help others. If you hear of opportunities that could be useful to someone you know, get them connected. You never know when the favor is returned.
- Keep your CV current... just in case something comes up quickly. It's also a good way to track your achievements and newly developed skills with good detail - often something that's hard to do if you've been somewhere for several years and haven't reflected on what you've accomplished.
