Most professionals feel confident testing the employment waters, even from their current office, research suggests. In a survey from global staffing firm Accountemps, 78 percent of workers said they would feel at least somewhat comfortable looking for a new job while with their present company. More than six in 10 respondents (64 percent) indicated they’d likely conduct search activities from work.
Workers were asked, “While still employed, how comfortable would you feel looking for a new job?” Their responses:
Very comfortable | 44% |
Somewhat comfortable | 34% |
Somewhat uncomfortable | 17% |
Very uncomfortable | 6% |
101%* |
Respondents were also asked about the likelihood that they would conduct job search activities from their current workplace. Their responses:
Very likely | 34% |
Somewhat likely | 30% |
Not very likely | 20% |
Not likely at all | 15% |
99%* |
*Responses do not total 100 percent due to rounding. |
View the Job Searching on the Job infographic at roberthalf.com/blog/job-market/job-searching-on-the-job.
The survey revealed that professionals ages 18 to 34 are the most open to conducting job search activities at work (72 percent), compared to those ages 35 to 54 (63 percent) and 55 and older (46 percent).
In addition, the research showed men are more likely to conduct job search activities from the workplace (72 percent) than women (55 percent).
“Looking for a new opportunity during business hours can be risky and potentially threaten current job security,” cautions Michael Steinitz, executive director of Accountemps. “While it’s OK to pursue new opportunities while employed, a search should never interfere with your current job. Schedule interviews during lunch breaks or outside of business hours, and avoid posting anything on social media that indicates you’re on the market.
“Respect your current employer during the process. Using office equipment and resources for your job hunt isn’t professional or ethical,” Steinitz added. “Consider working with a staffing firm to explore new opportunities without the potential distractions that could impact your job performance.”
See Robert Half’s blog post for more job search tips for the currently employed.
About the Research
The online survey was developed by Accountemps and conducted by an independent research firm. It includes responses from more than 1,000 U.S. workers 18 years of age or older and employed in office environments.
