Using LinkedIn To Look For Work Without Letting Your Current Employer Know

It is widely known that the best time to look for work is while you are employed.  But how can you leverage the power of tools like LinkedIn to find a new opportunity without tipping your current employer off? The good news is that you should be able to make good use of LI without raising any red flags.  There are a handful of common sense things to keep in mind.

• Don’t post public messages in job related groups.
• Be careful that you select the "Reply Privately" option when responding to job postings.
• Don’t post public status updates that announce your job search.

I know, I know – these steps seem simple, but – like providing the wrong LinkedIn URL – I see people mess up all the time.

One concern I hear frequently is that simply by being active on LinkedIn, you send the message that you are looking to make a career change.  Since LinkedIn is a commonly used career management tool, it is almost expected that all professionals maintain an up-to-date profile – and for good reason.  When you are ready to step into something new, you have an active, engaged network to leverage and you won’t need to worry about setting off any “alarms.”