It’s not easy to think about switching jobs when you have a whole family relying on you. Of course, not only are you trying to manage your current job while also caring for your loved ones (that’s two full-time responsibilities right there), but searching for a job discreetly, planning the time to attend interviews (you may need to tell your workplace you have a dental appointment), and also trying to limit the downtime between positions is all essential.
After all, you can’t have long periods where no money is coming in, as the mortgage still needs to be paid and people still need to be fed. No one loves the process of job hunting, but it’s important to remember that this process is absolutely possible, and you can certainly do a good job of it.
In this job, we’ll take the “survival guide” approach and discuss some priorities and tips you can use to make this process just a little less tiresome:
Schedule Interviews Outside Work Hours
Your current employer doesn’t need to know you’re looking around, but you may need to get creative with your interview scheduling. Early morning slots will usually work well if you can arrive at your current job a bit later than usual, and lunch breaks can work too, though you’ll need to factor in travel time and maybe a quick outfit change if you’re interviewing somewhere with a different kind of dress code to yours.
Evening interviews are becoming more common too, because some companies recognize that good candidates often have existing jobs. If you absolutely have to take time off during work hours, stick to vague excuses like doctor appointments or personal errands, or even just good old plain sickness. Don’t get too elaborate with your stories because that’s when you start tripping over details and it may cause a little suspicion.
Have A Clear Explanation For Leaving
You’ll get asked why you want to leave your current role, and “my boss is terrible” isn’t going to cut it, however true it might be. Frame your departure in terms of career growth, new challenges, or industry changes, with an eye to properly focus on what you’re moving toward, not what you’re running from.
That also means you should practice your explanation until it sounds natural, because you’ll be repeating it multiple times throughout the interview process. If you keep it brief and positive, then pivot the conversation back to what you can offer the new company, that will be best. Despite how justified you may be in it, complaining about your current situation makes you look like someone who might complain about them later too.
Keep Job Applications Off Company Devices
Using your work computer or phone to job hunt is asking for trouble, as most companies monitor internet usage and email, so your search history and LinkedIn activity could easily be discovered. Use your personal devices and do your searching from home or during your commute. Remember IT can see everything you do. They might not be looking all the time but they can at any time.
It follows that you should be careful about updating your LinkedIn profile too obviously while you’re still employed. Sudden changes to your headline or summary can easily suggest to your network that you’re looking for something new, and someone will notice sooner or later.
Line Up Savings
It’s easy to say and harder to do, but having a financial cushion makes the process much less stressful and gives you more negotiating power, especially if you know you can wait for a job to open up the role. Aim for at least three months of expenses saved up before you start seriously job hunting. That’s not usual, but you have a family to think about, and this safety net means you can be pickier about offers and won’t feel pressured to take the first thing that comes along.
That of course means calculating exactly what you need each month for mortgage payments, groceries, utilities, and other goods you usually buy in the house. If you know what you’re looking for exactly that also makes it easier to balance offers or try and negotiate a better deal. Let’s talk more about that:
Negotiate Benefits Like A Company Car Early
We’d suggest you never wait until the final offer stage to bring up benefits that matter to your family’s budget. A company car, for example, could save you hundreds each month on car payments, insurance, and fuel costs, and these benefits often have more negotiating room than base salary, especially at larger companies who have more robust programs like that.
Salary sacrifice cars can be a good alternative too, because they reduce your taxable income but give you pretty reliable transportation. If the company doesn’t currently offer vehicle benefits, you can still propose the arrangement as part of your compensation package, it doesn’t hurt to ask either. You could frame it as a cost-effective way for them to increase your total compensation without impacting their salary budget – just make sure you have the job before you start talking like this.
Research Employers Before Accepting Anything
A company’s website and job posting only tell part of the story, and you’ll find that employers always try and make their place sound rosy if they think they’re the best candidate. Before you even apply, check sites like Glassdoor for employee reviews, but take everything with a grain of salt because disgruntled workers are more likely to leave reviews than satisfied ones. It’s smart to look for patterns in complaints though, because those usually have more ground.
Plan How To Resign Without Burning Bridges
It’s fine to resign, you’re not obligated to work for anyone, but there may be some stipulations in place and it’s best to do it right. The conversation you have will help define the period that follows, including references for future opportunities. It’s important to give notice, which is two weeks for most positions but can even be months if you were higher up or had a salary, and you may need to to train your replacement or document your responsibilities before you do leave. You’re still being paid for that of course, so it’s okay.
We’d recommend you put a resignation letter that focuses on gratitude and transition planning; just leave the grievances out of it if you have any, because industries can be surprisingly small, and the manager you’re leaving today might be someone you encounter again in a few years. Of course, just make sure the new job is solidified before you go.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily search for a new job, even with a salary to think through.
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