How Can I Look for a Job without Burning Bridges with My Current Employer?

Answer: It is very difficult to look for a new position while you are employed. However, the vast majority of job seekers are currently employed and they navigate this tricky path successfully.

The first concept you must accept when you find yourself in this position is that there will be a certain amount of subterfuge. You cannot announce that you are considering other options without the risk of being fired, and so you must behave discreetly and perhaps even deceptively during your search.


It is critical that you continue to do your work at your current position and behave in a manner that is professional. Once you decide to leave an employer, it is tempting to begin to slack off because you are no longer "invested" in your future with such employer. However, if your goal is to maintain an amicable relationship with your current employer in the future, then you must continue to meet your obligations. Your current employer may not acknowledge your efforts immediately, but in the long run, they will appreciate the fact that you behaved honorably.
 

• See Top Ten Interview Questions for more information

Scheduling interviews raises a host of issues, and here is where you may have to be deceptive. If your prospective employer can only meet in the morning, then you are faced with either taking a personal day or lying to your current employer. It is very hard to justify an entire personal day if you only have a half hour screening interview in the morning. Here again, it is important that you focus on your current obligations. If you tell your employer that you have a doctor's appointment at 10:00 a.m. (when you really have a screening interview), then you may have to stay late to complete your work. It is far better to try to schedule your screening interviews for lunch time (between 12:00 and 2:00 p.m.), or even after work at 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. I recognize that the foregoing is not always possible, but I would reserve my personal days for second round interviews because second round interviews generally take several hours. The less you have to create excuses with your current employer, the more you increase your chances of having a good relationship with them in the future.

Often when an employee leaves a position, the current employer is upset, disappointed, and possibly even angry. In order to soften the blow of leaving, it is very important that you do not insult your current employer. For example, if you are leaving a firm to go in-house, it is much easier to tell your employer because the opportunities are so different. If, on the other hand, you are leaving your current firm for a comparable firm, then it is much harder. You need to create reasons why this particular move is much better for you without criticizing your current employer. In fact, you should make every effort to tell your employer how much you appreciate them, and how much you have learned while in their employ. You should try to distinguish the new opportunity in a way that is palatable. You might indicate that the new firm is going to allow you to focus on a particular area that is not available at your current firm.

It is important to know that even if you continue to meet your obligations; schedule your interviews at lunchtime or after work; and provide a solid professional reason for leaving, you may not be able to salvage your relationship. The good news is that if you do all of the above, you will know that you have done everything you could do to try and maintain the relationship.

Learn why attorneys usually fail law firm phone-screening interviews in this article:
 

• Why Most Attorneys Fail Telephone-Screening Interviews

 


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No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

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Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm's unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

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With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

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If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison's expertise will help you take control of your future.

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Harrison's reach, experience, and proven results make him the best legal recruiter in the industry. Don't settle for an average recruiter-work with the one who has changed the careers of thousands of attorneys and can do the same for you.

About BCG Attorney Search

BCG Attorney Search matches attorneys and law firms with unparalleled expertise and drive, while achieving results. Known globally for its success in locating and placing attorneys in law firms of all sizes, BCG Attorney Search has placed thousands of attorneys in law firms in thousands of different law firms around the country. Unlike other legal placement firms, BCG Attorney Search brings massive resources of over 150 employees to its placement efforts locating positions and opportunities its competitors simply cannot. Every legal recruiter at BCG Attorney Search is a former successful attorney who attended a top law school, worked in top law firms and brought massive drive and commitment to their work. BCG Attorney Search legal recruiters take your legal career seriously and understand attorneys. For more information, please visit www.BCGSearch.com.