How to job hunt without your boss finding out

How to job hunt without your boss finding outThe job search can be a bit weird if you already have ajobeveryone does it, or no one would ever have a new job. But it has to be done in a top secret way, because you cant let your boss know whats going on. Even if he or she knows youre unhappy, you dont want this person knowing that you tried to leaveespecially if you dont get a new job right away. And even if you have a great, open relationship with your boss and she wants you to do whats best for yourself, its still awkward. You dont want to be marked as a flight riskso how do you manage the process without tipping off the boss? googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Dont check out from your day-to-day work.If youre clearly not putting time and effort into your daily work, itll be a first sign that something is off. Its not only bad practice in general to let your performance suffer, but its also a clear sign to your boss that youre trying to get out the door, one way or another.Dont use your boss as a reference.This one probably seems obvious, but youd be amazed at how many people think they have to use their current boss as a reference. I once had a friend who listed her current bosss contact information on a (stealth) job application, then freaked out when the new company actually called the current boss. If you need a reference but dont want to tip your pfote with your current boss, use a trusted colleague who is familiar with your work and can vouch for you.Dont use your work computer.At this point, its tresor to assume that Big Brother is always watchingand in this case that could include your boss. Dont use your work computer to search for new jobs, work on your resume, or reach out to potential employers. Theres a good chance this runs afoul of your companys computer usage rules, for one, and if youre applying to competitor companies, it could be a legal issue as well. So make sure youre doing your job hunt stuff on your own time, on your own devices.Dont shout about your plans on social media.If youre not Facebook friends with your boss or connected on LinkedIn, you might think its safe to talk about your job search or send out a hire me blast. Dont count on that friends only post to stay private. Theres nothing stopping one of your other contacts from letting it slip that youre hunting, or from sending your boss a screenshot of your I hate this place, get me out of here rant. If you really dont want your boss to know youre looking elsewhere, dont post anything on social media that you wouldnt want him or her to read.Ideally, your boss wont know about your job search until you have an offer in hand and a lovely resignation letter ready to go. But if you practice some basic discretion, it doesnt have to feel like a Cold War spy mission, either.