In my home, the concept of tiptoeing brings me back – to a time where a bad dream would have my daughter begging to crawl into our cozy bed during the middle of the night.
Thankfully, that tiptoeing has stopped. The only tiptoeing I hear anymore comes from skittish, mildly unhappy craftsmen that are considering a job search after years of steady work – caught between wanting to make a change and enjoying their current stability.

Much has been made about the lack of qualified candidates in the job market. The best workers are, in fact, currently working. The construction industry is growing in virtually every category. Workers are faced with increased workloads and pent-up demand that has been unrelenting. Yes, the work is steady, and workers can count on a bi-weekly paycheck that is reliable and is not going away anytime soon.

But, while consistency of work is gratifying; it may lead to complacency, reduced productivity and downright boredom amongst workers.

The truth is, being busy is great but being really fulfilled, respected and valued is far better. If you’re feeling not-so important, like less of a key player in your crew and undervalued, it may be time to tiptoe – the chance to take a look at how receptive the job market could be to your unique skills.

Tiptoeing into the job market can be done very easily – without burning any bridges, without being dishonest and devoid of any expectation of a sudden commitment from you if you find a job posting that sounds interesting.

Successful, stress-free tiptoeing involves three, easy steps:

First things first, don’t feel badly about starting to look. As Monster adequately (and unemotionally) points out, loyalty is often a one-way street. The reality is, the company you may leave would be as callus in letting you go if the market suddenly took a drastic dive downward. We’ve found that exploring the job market can help re-engage job seekers in their current trade as they realize their market value and relative level of expertise.

Secondly, all potential job seekers should arm themselves with a few market-based facts BEFORE looking at any currently open job posting. When you’re thinking of beginning a job search, you must:

• Define your next position – what title? what hours? Do you want to manage people?
• Are you willing to relocate?
• Do you understand your market value? Is that value enough to jump to the right opportunity now?
• How sharp are your interviewing skills? (Do you have a suit that fits?)
• Other pre-search questions and resources are found here .

Next, having clarified your goals and your value in the marketplace, the job search should slowly begin. Filtering through job postings can be overwhelming. You’ll quickly notice that hiring managers are desperate for new resumes of qualified candidates. In that reality, even if you’re focused on a methodical search, those looking to interview you may not be. In this crazy market, resist the urge to feel hurried. Instead, take pride in your position of relative advantage. Engaging with a recruiter may be another route to garner more control of the job search process.

The success (or failure) of tiptoeing into the tight job market while having a job, centers around taking control of the process – don’t forget that. Always be honest with the recruiter or hiring manager about what you’re looking for and the pace you’re operating under. If the position and location would take a very strong offer to consider, tell them as you progress through the interview process. If the pace of an interview feels too quick for comfort, respectively bow out and thank the hiring manager for their consideration.

The hiring managers have dealt with tiptoeing candidates before. In fact, The Ladder, mentions that hiring managers would rather deal with someone on the fence versus an applicant “needing a job NOW!”.  A slower process built on honesty can relieve the initial pressure for both the tiptoeing candidate and the hiring manager.
There is nothing mischievous or underhanded about tiptoeing into the job market while you currently are working. The market can change, your own situation can suddenly change and getting updated information about jobs available, about your market value and if there are ways to garner more fulfillment out of your life’s work is never a bad idea.

No, tiptoeing is justified – even if, like my daughter in the middle of the night years ago, you end up in the same place you started.

Considering a job change?  Want to understand your market value?  Contact Goliath today!