How to search for a new job without your boss finding out 

Searching for your next role needs to be a covert operation if you want to keep your manager from growing suspicious. 

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash 

Right. You want to leave your current job and find something much more exciting, fulfilling and rewarding.  We’ve already addressed how to write a stand-out CV, job search tips and interview advice, which means you’ve got most of your bases covered, but there’s someone else you might need to factor into – or rather, out of – the equation: your line manager. It is possible and achievable to find a new job without your boss finding out.  

Looking for a new job can be hard enough without having to worry about work discovering your plans. How might your boss react? Will they be angry? Would they write you a poor reference? In truth, this is unlikely. A good manager knows people will move on; that’s just how it goes. Still, it’s a good idea to be discreet about your job search until you’ve got something concrete to share, i.e. you’ve accepted a new job.   

It can be tempting to confide in colleagues about your search, but as the saying goes: loose lips sink ships. With that in mind, here’s how to steer your job search in the right direction and prevent your manager from finding out. 

1. Search in your own time 

It might sound obvious, but you’d be amazed how many people use the work PC to look for jobs – and are often overseen. Even browsing through listings on your phone in the staff canteen can be risky. It’s best to search and apply when you’re at home, safely away from prying eyes. That way, you can take more time and care over your applications, rather than rush something through because you thought you spied Joy from Payroll lurking about. Searching in your own time will make like much easier finding a new job without your boss finding out that you are looking.

2. Be clear about your communication preferences 

One of the best strategies for covert job seeking is not to be seen taking secret phone calls during the work day – and the way to achieve that is to tell your recruitment consultant or the hiring manager when and how you like to be contacted. You can’t respond during working hours? That’s fine, just state when you’ll be contactable, so we know you haven’t missed a message. You’d prefer us not to ring you? No problem. Long gone are the days of the phone call; many recruiters happily use instant messaging apps, if it’s more convenient and means no one in the workplace hears you. Make your preferences clear right from the start. 

3. Set up job alerts – so vacancies come to you 

This is a great option for those who don’t have much spare time to search for roles after hours. Many job boards and some companies enable you to sign up for job alerts, in which emails are automatically sent when a role comes up which matches your preferences. Just sit back and wait. Alternatively, submit your CV to a reputable recruitment consultancy and the team will similarly contact you with any interesting roles. 

4. Don’t update your social status 

For those who like to share the minutiae of your day with your followers, be extra careful. Broadcasting what we had for breakfast is one thing, but posting that CVs are a pain to update or taking selfies in that recently bought interview suit will eventually get back to your manager, even if you’re not connected with them online. Of course, you’ll want to vent your frustrations or celebrate your wins, but remember this is an extremely public way of doing so and it could backfire, so don’t mention it just yet.  

Photo by Sora Shimazaki  

5. Plan interviews for ‘non-obvious’ times

We’ve probably all witnessed it: when so-and-so took that Wednesday afternoon off ‘for a dentist appointment’ and the whole team speculated that it was really a job interview. People are always curious when a colleague books an odd day’s holiday, so if you don’t want to rouse suspicion, be savvy with your interviews. Most interviewers understand that you work and will be open to fitting the interview around you. Some may even offer slots which are outside work hours, so take advantage. If you’re able to line up a few interviews within a close time period, taking a couple of days off looks much less like an interview and more like a long weekend.  

6. Ask that your boss isn’t asked for a reference – yet 

A big worry, when completing an application form or submitting a CV, is that the current place of employment will be contacted and your job search cover blown. However, it’s perfectly reasonable to check that your manager won’t be asked for a reference at this early stage. Most recruitment professionals know better than to do so and references are usually only sought when you’ve accepted a job offer and officially resigned, hence this shouldn’t be a concern. It’s still a good idea to reiterate that you’d like them to wait, though. 

Being discreet is a given, but the steps above should help you keep those wagging tongues at bay. You want to be the one to break the news to your manager, not the other way around.  

It’s worth bearing in mind that a good manager would be understanding about your wish to progress your career and should support, not discourage you. If you truly believe that yours would undermine your chances, then you are certainly making the right decision by leaving them behind. We wish you the best of luck finding a new job without your boss finding out.

If you’re worried about anything, give us a call. By using a recruitment consultancy, you can be confident that all initial contact is made or communicated by us, so your current boss won’t hear a word until you are in a position to tell them that you’ve got a fabulous new job.