# How do you keep a job search secret from your boss?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-job-search-secret-from-your-boss/96490>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 2, 2001, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-job-search-secret-from-your-boss/96490 "2001-12-02T20:25:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![leroy\_the\_mule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6a8cbe/32.png) [@leroy\_the\_mule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leroy_the_mule)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2001, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-job-search-secret-from-your-boss/96490/1 "2001-12-02T20:25:36Z")

</div>

I am applying for a job in the same industry as my current job, i.e…I want to work for the competition!

How can I let my prospective employer know not to contact my current boss or colleagues, without looking like I have something to hide?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DPWhite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DPWhite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPWhite)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2001, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-job-search-secret-from-your-boss/96490/2 "2001-12-02T20:49:58Z")

</div>

You need to say it out loud and be clear. They should already know that your current boss does not know you are looking. You do have something to hide, the fact that you are looking.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-job-search-secret-from-your-boss/96490/3 "2001-12-03T13:33:33Z")

</div>

Well, here’s what not to do (true story):

- don’t surf the job sites at work.
- don’t cold call prospective employers at work.
- don’t do phone interviews at work.
- don’t brag openly to co-workers about your job search.

and the big one:

- don’t send an e-mail to your boss’ boss (cc: your boss, who has a reputation as a heartless back-stabber) saying that you don’t feel that you have enough challenging work, so your are starting to look for a new job.

Needless to say, the guy who pulled all of the above now has more total crap work piled on his desk then he can ever hope to do.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-job-search-secret-from-your-boss/96490/4 "2001-12-03T14:40:54Z")

</div>

Don’t search on your work’s internet connection–it’s probably monitored.

Though I suppose you knew that already. Oh well.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-job-search-secret-from-your-boss/96490/5 "2001-12-03T16:00:59Z")

</div>

Use your cell phone for all correspondence, and do it on your lunch break.