Job hunting on the DL
April 15, 2013 6:36 PM Subscribe
Is it possible to apply for a new job in the nonprofit world without my current job finding out? There must be some kind of protocol or professional courtesy about this kind of thing, right?
I work at a small, but prominent, nonprofit arts organization in a large city. I'm ready for a new challenge and would like to respond to some interesting job openings, but my boss (the ED) is very well-connected and it would not be unusual for someone at another organization to mention to her that one of her staff has applied elsewhere. Is there something I can say in my cover letter to make it clear that I would like my application to be kept confidential? How do I respond to an application that requests references when I do not want to list my current employer as a reference?
I have done great work at my current position and I know that my current boss would give me a good recommendation when it comes down to it. In the past, I would have just told my boss outright that I was considering other positions to advance my career, but considering the job market, there's no guarantee that I will find something better and I don't want my current boss to hold this against me - or worse - start looking to replace me.
Any advice for successfully navigating this situation?
I work at a small, but prominent, nonprofit arts organization in a large city. I'm ready for a new challenge and would like to respond to some interesting job openings, but my boss (the ED) is very well-connected and it would not be unusual for someone at another organization to mention to her that one of her staff has applied elsewhere. Is there something I can say in my cover letter to make it clear that I would like my application to be kept confidential? How do I respond to an application that requests references when I do not want to list my current employer as a reference?
I have done great work at my current position and I know that my current boss would give me a good recommendation when it comes down to it. In the past, I would have just told my boss outright that I was considering other positions to advance my career, but considering the job market, there's no guarantee that I will find something better and I don't want my current boss to hold this against me - or worse - start looking to replace me.
Any advice for successfully navigating this situation?
I think it's possible to apply without anyone finding out. However, I would never actually HIRE someone without a reference call to their current manager-might be just me, but someone who won't let me talk to their current boss makes me very nervous.
posted by purenitrous at 7:45 PM on April 15, 2013
posted by purenitrous at 7:45 PM on April 15, 2013
the hiring manager and HR dept should be professional and keep everything confidential without you having to ask. But of course, theres no guarantees. I don't think there's any harm if you specially ask for things to be kept confidential.
However, I would never actually HIRE someone without a reference call to their current manager-might be just me, but someone who won't let me talk to their current boss makes me very nervous.
And I would very much disagree with this statement. I have never allowed a potential hiring manager to contact my current manager, while i'm still employed there, and this has never been an issue. People look for jobs all the time while they are employed and it's completely understandable (and smart) that you don't want your boss to find out.
posted by cm1088 at 9:22 PM on April 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
However, I would never actually HIRE someone without a reference call to their current manager-might be just me, but someone who won't let me talk to their current boss makes me very nervous.
And I would very much disagree with this statement. I have never allowed a potential hiring manager to contact my current manager, while i'm still employed there, and this has never been an issue. People look for jobs all the time while they are employed and it's completely understandable (and smart) that you don't want your boss to find out.
posted by cm1088 at 9:22 PM on April 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
I don't think the current employer is typically expected to be a reference, and any job application is expected to be confidential.
I think job searches are expected to be discrete, rather than utterly deep dark secrets. As an employer, I know all my people may be looking at one time or another, and I don't expect them to tell me their plans. I don't WANT them to tell me their plans. And I really don't want them to gossip with each other about their plans. But is it morally objectionable if one of them goes on a job interview? No.
I'm not a huge fan of recruiters but this is one thing they're good at - getting you through the first cut with a degree of anonymity/deniability that limits your exposure.
posted by randomkeystrike at 5:15 AM on April 16, 2013
I think job searches are expected to be discrete, rather than utterly deep dark secrets. As an employer, I know all my people may be looking at one time or another, and I don't expect them to tell me their plans. I don't WANT them to tell me their plans. And I really don't want them to gossip with each other about their plans. But is it morally objectionable if one of them goes on a job interview? No.
I'm not a huge fan of recruiters but this is one thing they're good at - getting you through the first cut with a degree of anonymity/deniability that limits your exposure.
posted by randomkeystrike at 5:15 AM on April 16, 2013
I'm not a huge fan of recruiters but this is one thing they're good at
True. Although non-profits usually have barely enough budget to pay decent salaries, never mind pay the fees of recruiters to help them hire.
Insert your own version of the following statement early in your cover letter:
"Please hold my inquiry in STRICT CONFIDENCE. (yes, use bold) Thank you."
posted by John Borrowman at 7:11 AM on April 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
True. Although non-profits usually have barely enough budget to pay decent salaries, never mind pay the fees of recruiters to help them hire.
Insert your own version of the following statement early in your cover letter:
"Please hold my inquiry in STRICT CONFIDENCE. (yes, use bold) Thank you."
posted by John Borrowman at 7:11 AM on April 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks, that's exactly the kind of language I was looking for.
posted by jrichards at 7:42 AM on April 16, 2013
posted by jrichards at 7:42 AM on April 16, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
Example: My boyfriend is a Software Dev Manager, I was the HR Manager for a software company in a reasonably large city. One of my employees applied for one of his jobs. Yeah, he told me and if the reverse had happened I'm positive I would have told him. You can't plan for that sort of thing happening.
posted by magnetsphere at 7:11 PM on April 15, 2013