Five Ways to Keep Your Job Search at Work on the DL

　　It’s hard enough to keep up with a demanding boss and your never-ending to-do list, but finding a new job on top of everything else is enough to make even the most organized and on-top-of-it gal feel a little crazed. If you’re as guilt prone as I am, then you may feel a little like you’re cheating on your company by sneaking around behind your co-workers’ backs. The long lunches, the extra lipstick stashed in your purse, the secret phone calls behind closed doors … you get the idea. Here are a few tips to keeping your search on the DL.
　　Nix the guilt.
　　Gone are the days when people would work for the same company for thirty years and get a gold watch at their retirement dinner. Job hunting is a fact of life. Your boss or co-workers may be doing the same thing, so don’t feel like you’re being disloyal. Remind yourself that a new job will give you a better quality of life and help advance your career.
　　Schedule accordingly.
　　Many interviewers understand that you’re currently employed and are willing to accommodate a request for an early-morning or late-afternoon interview to minimize interference with your current job responsibilities. If someone insists that you must meet with them from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on a Monday afternoon and that is wildly inconvenient for you, consider whether you really want to work for someone who is so inflexible!
　　Give yourself time to breathe.
　　In an ideal world, you’d take the day off to go to several interviews scheduled a few hours apart and allow yourself plenty of time to prepare mentally and physically (plus, you’d avoid giving lame excuses to your co-workers). In reality, you’re probably sneaking out during lunch and praying your boss doesn’t notice that you’ve already had two “dentist appointments” in the past month. I normally take the subway to work, but if I’m unsure of where an interview is or I’m concerned I might be late, I’ll splurge on a cab so I can arrive unruffled and on time. Time permitting, you could scope out the address a few days in advance so you’ll know where you’re going.
　　Get personal business cards printed.
　　Some companies are totally chill about you fielding calls from recruiters, but my past employers were not. I used VistaPrint to order custom business cards with my cell phone and gmail address printed on them. That way, I could give potential contacts my digits without scrawling them on a napkin. Personally, I think my cards are a lot better looking and better reflect my professional brand than my company’s logo.
　　Excel at your current job.
　　If you’re kicking butt at the office, who can fault you for taking an hour off here and there? Delegate when you need to, but keep plugging along so you’ll earn a solid reference from your boss. Though she’ll be sad to see you go, she’ll be happy that you’re off to bigger and better things.