Job Searching in the Future

Searching Confidentially

Job seekers, recruiters and employers hate unqualified responses that waste time and energy. They also despise having their plans unexpectedly discovered by the one person from whom they were supposed to be kept secret! When you are looking for another job, you probably do not want your boss to find out. When you would like to replace an employee, you most likely do not want her to know until you have found a suitable replacement.

As privacy becomes more of an issue for both sides of the hiring equation, I expect more programs like QuietAgent.com (2006) to be developed. I am in no way affiliated with or compensated by this organization, but I am mentioning it because I think it provides a glimpse into the future.

Even happily employed people are always looking for a better opportunity. Recruiters frequently discuss gaining the interest of passive candidates. These are people who are not actively seeking another position but could be receptive to a better offer if one came along. Aggressive recruiters often prefer to target these people because people who are not actively looking are much more attractive than desperate people whose resumes have been “blasted” all over the Internet.

So what is a professional to do if she does not want certain people to know she is looking for another job? Quiet Agent is an interesting concept. In addition to describing yourself in your own words, you can explain your experience using a standard set of skills and experience developed by the US Department of Labor. This encourages objectivity instead of subjectivity, which occurs when individual employers determine job requirements.

Employers can then sort through a ranked list of matches and decide which candidates they wish to invite. When a job seeker receives an invitation, she can decline the invitation and remain anonymous or accept the invitation and reveal private information to specific employers.

Quiet Agent seems to eliminate the “job search” as we know it. There is no job searching. Of course, everyone must still be reasonable and honest. If your expectations are too high, you may never receive an invitation from an employer. Conversely, some job seekers do not care about privacy. In fact, some may want their superiors to know they are looking elsewhere, and that is fine, too. I am certain that there is a recruiter out there who would love to present you to a prospective employer.

Published with permission. From “The Recruiter is Your Friend” – Kristen Hallows, 2006.