If you’re burnt out and betting on a job change for a breather, you’re not alone. But job hunting when you have a job isn’t for the faint of heart.

Burnout—as well as curiosity, passion and other driving forces—leave many professionals itching to change jobs. And executives are burning out in droves.

According to decades-old Harvard research, that’s nothing new, but job hopping sort of is. Millennials and Gen Zers, for example, are job hunting on the job more than previous generations. 

But if burnout in your current position is pushing you to look elsewhere, finding the time and energy to do just that can be complicated. So we rounded up some tips to make the search simpler when you’re already overwhelmed. 

5 Tips for Job Hunting When You Have a Job

Here’s how to look for work when you are bogged down, well, working…

1. Identify your needs for newness.

Knowing what kind of job change you’re seeking will help you be successful in manifesting that change. So, before you jump ship, ask yourself why it is that you’re jumping. 

Perhaps the newness you’re seeking can be made without a job change. It could be as simple as proposing a project about which you’re passionate and taking the lead on something different.  

Maybe what you want isn’t in the wheelhouse of your current role, but making a jumxp or even lateral move within your company is in the cards. Internal job changes are often easier to land—especially when you don’t have experience in the new space—since you’ve already established credibility and rapport with your organization.  

If you’re looking for a job with a new company or a total career change, however, it’s particularly important to get specific. Making a wishlist of your wants (like unlimited PTO), a checklist of any requirements (such as a certain salary), and a list of “hard passes” (like no remote-work flexibility) can help you narrow down the search so it feels less daunting. 

2. Revamp your resume and cover letter.

You absolutely need to make sure that your resume is up to date when you’re gearing up to apply for new jobs. Taking some time to polish your resume is critical, and you only need to do it once. When you’re ready to start sending it out to companies, all you’ll need to do is tweak it to better reflect each job for which you apply. Mirroring language and sharing the same skills on job postings can make or break your chances. And it doesn’t take long when you have a foundation at the ready.

You should also be sure to refresh your cover letter template. A template should be generic, giving you some structure with which to work. Like your resume, you’ll have to color in your cover letter, tailoring it to the company you’re contacting. With a strong introduction and solid outline, that part won’t take so long.

From there, creating a list of all the job openings that interest you can help you tackle applications in simpler steps. Try giving youe, prioritized rself deadlines to apply for each onby factors like your interest and posting dates. Group similar jobs together so you don’t have to redo your resume revisions as often. 

3. Update your professional networks.

One surefire way to make the job hunt easier is by updating your professional networks, like LinkedIn. When your LinkedIn looks sharp, you up the potential of attracting new work without ever having applied for it. After all, the bulk of recruiters look to LinkedIn for potential candidates. 

If you’re active on other networks, including professional social media channels, you should also keep those up to par. When you present yourself as a professional and leader in your space, opportunities present themselves to you.

4. Network while working.

It’s no secret that networking is key to every job change. And you don’t necessarily have to spend extra time outside of work to do it. 

Reach out to connect with colleagues in your job now. Some ways to network with current colleagues is by paying attention to office invites or hosting happy hours or get-togethers, yourself. Don’t skip company lunches, and make a concerted effort to get to know the professionals who are not just on your team or in your department, but also those in other areas of the business.

If you work remotely, you can still network virtually and build authentic relationships. You may need to go the extra mile to connect and collaborate, but scheduling coffee catch-ups over Google Meet or Zoom, or engaging in HR’s online team-bonding events are worth it. 

5. Work with a recruiter.

If you’re seriously strapped for time—and even if you’re not—working with a recruiter can offer you major assistance in the job hunt. After all, a recruiter’s job is to help you land a job. 

Recruiters might offer you honest feedback on your resume and portfolio, share advice on how to highlight your skills and experiences, and help you tailor your applications to specific jobs. They’re there to be your partner throughout the job hunt, identify openings for which you’re a fit, and get your resume in the hands of the right people. 

Working with a recruiter means sharing the job change load with another person. And even a little help is a huge help for someone who has neither time nor energy to do it all themselves.

Job hunting when you have a job can consume time you don’t have. And, with more than 11 million job openings across the U.S., decision fatigue doesn’t help burnout. Following these simple steps can help make the process of moving from one job to the next a lot more seamless.

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Have you ever gotten a piece of job-hunting advice that just seemed, well…outdated?

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