Managing the Double Life: How to Shine in Your Current Role While Secretly Exploring New Jobs

Let’s be real - job hunting while you’re still employed feels a little like having an affair.

By day, you’re fully committed to your current role, attending meetings, hitting KPIs, and keeping your team in line.

But by night (or maybe lunch break in this case), you’re sneaking around on job boards, updating your LinkedIn, and prepping for interviews.

You’re trying to balance two lives, and honestly, it’s exhausting.

Living this “double life” comes with its own set of challenges - how do you stay motivated and keep performing at a high level when you know you’re planning to leave?

How do you balance the stress of job searching with the pressure to excel in your current role?

The truth is, it’s tough.

You’ve got to juggle priorities, keep things discreet, and make sure you don’t burn out in the process.

The Frustrations and Challenges...

...And the Super Hacks to Manage Them ??

-> Motivation Decline in the Current Role <-

It’s tough to stay passionate about your job when you’re thinking about your next one.

You feel like you’re just going through the motions, but remember, the way you perform now could impact your next role.

Super Hack:

Treat your current projects as practice for the future.

Think, “How would I approach this if it was my new job?”

Not only will this keep you sharp, but it also shifts your mindset to seeing your daily work as part of your future success.

And here’s another trick: break your tasks into smaller wins so each completed item gives you a little dopamine hit and keeps you engaged.

-> Balancing Priorities <-

Managing a full-time job and searching for a new one is like having two full-time relationships.

Your calendar’s packed with work deadlines, but you also need to sneak in some time to apply for jobs, network, and interview without falling behind at work.

Super Hack:

Block off “job hunt time” that’s non-negotiable. Set early mornings or late nights for applications, and stick to it.

Here’s the kicker - schedule your interviews during lunch breaks or “doctor’s appointments” so you’re not raising eyebrows.

Tools like Motion or Reclaim.ai can protect time in your calendar by automatically scheduling your tasks in the most efficient way around your work commitments.

-> The Stress of a Secret Search <-

Job hunting while keeping it quiet can be stressful.

You’re afraid your boss or colleagues will find out before you’re ready to leave.

Just a heads-up:

If you're planning to update your LinkedIn profile, double-check that you've turned off update notifications. If they're on, your network might see the changes, and your secret could get out.

Super Hack:

First, go into LinkedIn’s settings and make sure your profile updates (like adding new skills or work experience) are not shared with your network .

That way, you can quietly optimise your profile without triggering any notifications.

Also, use private browsing when researching jobs or visiting recruiters' websites so there’s no trace of your activity.

-> Delegate Where Possible <-

You’ve got enough on your plate, so offload some tasks to free up time for your job search without letting your current responsibilities slip.

Super Hack:

Use AskBrian , an AI assistant for business professionals, to summarise documents, generate reports, or find key insights for you. Let it handle the research while you focus on higher-priority tasks.

Also, leverage Motion to automate your meeting schedules and task management, ensuring you’re spending time on what matters most without missing anything.

-> Have an Accountability Buddy <-

Having someone in your corner to help you stay on track and offer guidance can make a huge difference.

Super Hack:

Try out Otter.ai to record chats with your coach or mentor, and let the AI pull out key points, action steps, and insights for easy reference later.

You can then organise these notes in Notion or Evernote to track your weekly progress, ensuring you’re staying aligned with your goals and making continuous improvements.

-> The Pressure to Excel at Both <-

You're managing a hectic, high-achieving work life while also prepping for job interviews on the side, trying to give 100% to both roles, which can easily lead to burnout.

Super Hack:

Be strategic when prioritising.

Identify the 2–3 high-impact tasks that make the biggest difference in your current job and focus on nailing those.

Everything else? Delegate or automate wherever possible.

Use tools like Zapier to automate repetitive tasks - things like sending reports or setting follow-up reminders so you can focus on what truly matters.

Thinking About Your 'Next'?

If you're juggling your current role while secretly planning your next move - be it a career change, stepping into leadership, or shaking off that "I'm not good enough" mindset - now might just be the perfect time to take action.

I'm opening up spots in my Pivot with Purpose coaching program. After a year of refining this transformative coaching experience, it's no longer just for my inner circle and select clients. It's going public at the end of September!

Curious how this program can help you make a powerful career pivot? Drop me a DM or email [email protected] with "Pivot with Purpose" in the subject line.

If you’re new to coaching, don’t worry! We’ll start with a discovery meeting - whether in-person (if you're in London) or virtually. It’s a confidential and casual chat to help you understand if coaching is the right fit for you.

P.S. If you’re currently in a job, everything in our coaching stays private. Your secret is safe with me.