Whenever Julia searches for a new job, she always seems to get caught by her boss.
The 30-year-old Hell’s Kitchen-based paralegal — who asked to withhold her last name for professional reasons — recalls getting snagged by her boss two years ago, when she worked in Chelsea.
“She wanted to talk to me in her office — never a good sign — [then] shut the door and asked, ‘What can I do to make you stay?’ ”
Julia played dumb and responded, “What do you mean?” Her boss had sensed her desire to depart as Julia had seemed disengaged, and blew off meetings for which she was previously prompt. Julia denied it, referring to several distractions in her personal life, but resigned one month later after landing her current job. She’s now on the job hunt again.
“I’m always paranoid when I interview; two weeks ago I sent my boss a quick e-mail [saying I] had to work from home because the cable guy was coming. I really had an interview downtown!” says Julia.
Many workers think concocting fictitious tales for absences and wearing a suit on casual Fridays are the biggest giveaways that you’re about to quit your job. But a recent study from the Harvard Business Review found that among the 13 biggest red flags are acting less like a team player, a decrease in productivity and an unwillingness to commit to long-term projects.
That means that if you want to keep your job search hidden from your colleagues, crank up your energy and enthusiasm. “Employees who work harder tend to generate a more positive reaction from their bosses,” says career coach Roy Cohen. “But if your turnaround is a stretch too dramatic, then everyone will wonder what you’re hiding.”
If you start avoiding interaction with management, that’s an indicator, too. Christy Hopkins, a human-resources consultant and writer at Fit Small Business, based in Midtown East, says, “People who used to be the first one in or last one out [who] start to work the normal 9-to-5, or less . . . and people [who] start to avoid the HR person! That was always a sure sign.”
So, what happens if your cover is blown? Cohen indicates Julia was spot on with her reaction — don’t admit you’re on the prowl for a better offer. “If you do, you risk finding your neck on the chopping block should the next downsizing occur.” No matter how valuable you are, Cohen notes, bosses tend to save only loyal employees. “If confronted, deny [it]. ‘I don’t know who would have said that or why. I love working here and for you.’ ”
However, there are benefits to having your cover blown, says Hopkins. She recently negotiated with a client to implement an eight-week exit plan once it was clear an employee was exploring external options. The company is providing him with eight weeks of compensation, even if he finds a new job before then — plus five hours with a career-coach service. “It’s a win all around,” she says. “Even in a tough situation, it allows us to recruit for his replacement.”
Lior Rachmany, CEO and founder of Brooklyn-based Dumbo Moving and Storage, recalls that a manager in his accounting department started giving off signs she was headed for the exit. When he approached her about it, she was honest, and expressed her views about management and the company’s politics, both of which she disagreed with.
“She also explained overall she was never a big fan of the corporate world and its rules,” he says. The employee’s honesty allowed her to leave from the company on the best of terms; she’s now earning her master’s degree in fine arts while working as a freelance journalist and bartender.
“She is still in contact with many people at the office, which is what I hope for anyone who leaves,” says Rachmany.
Essentially, that’s the ideal situation if you’re showing signs you’re about to ditch the job — Cohen says that simply exuding a positive attitude isn’t just beneficial for the company, but it’s in employees’ best interests, too.
“Think about the paycheck you are receiving and the knowledge that it is far easier to find a job when you have one — no matter how miserable you may be.”