Remaining Anonymous During an Online Job Search

Most typical jobs are considered to be at-will positions. This means either the employer or the employee can end the working relationship at any time and for any reason. There may be requirements for how the working relationship can be ended depending on the employment agreement but very few employers specifically prohibit their employees from seeking out new employers. However, despite this fact it is also considered to be common knowledge that it is not a good idea to let your current employer know you are actively seeking a new position. This is because it may negatively impact the way you are treated by the employer. For example the employer may be apprehensive about giving you new projects because they are unsure of how much longer you will be around. Also, if the need for layoffs arises you may find yourself on the list of those to be laid off because the employer knows you are looking for another job anyway. For these reasons it is a good idea to remain anonymous during the process of an online job search.

Finding jobs openings online is very easy. Most employers turn to the Internet when they have a position to fill. Your current employer also likely turns to the Internet when there are job openings that need to be filled. For this reason you will want to take steps to keep yourself relatively anonymous during your online job search. Obviously keeping your name off of your online job resumes is the first step to take. This is important because hiring managers will easily recognize the names of their own employees. You can release your name to potential employers once you verify the name of the company and ensure they are not from your own company.

Keeping the name of your current employer off of your resume is also important if you want to remain anonymous during your online job search. This is because even without your name with the name of your current employer on your resume it is likely that the hiring manager will be able to recognize you from the other information on your resume. This might include the experience at your current job as well as your previous work experience. Your employer most likely has a copy of your resume on file and they can use this determine your identity by matching the previous work history of employees with the work history posted online.

If you work in a very specialized industry and have worked on projects which are very innovated and original you may have to take additional steps to remain anonymous. This is because it may be possible for your employer to recognize you even if your name and current employer are not included on the resume. In this case you will want to be very careful in how you describe your current work responsibilities. Avoid using terms which will identify you as a member of a specific company. If the projects you worked on were particularly innovative you will have to stick to more generic terms to describe your work experience and specify you worked on a number of proprietary projects.

Many job search websites have databases where users can store their resume. Many of these websites offer the option to make a resume confidential. In this case the name, contact information and current employer will be kept hidden from employers who search the database. If you are currently employed you should take advantage of this option if it is offered. If this option is not available you should consider not posting your resume in this database to avoid being detected by your current employer.