Question

I am a fairly new grad completely miserable in my current job (I'll spare you the details as to why, but I am to the point of extreme depression,anxiety, not eating, not getting out of bed, having a counselor recommend I find another job, family/friends telling me I'm acting like a totally different person), and have found some other nursing jobs that interest me and excite me. How do I go about applying for other jobs while I still have a job now? I don't exactly want to announce I'm looking for a new job, but I'm nervous about applying and having a prospective employer possibly call my work before I'm ready to give fair notice. I really don't want to be a "quitter" or a bad employee, I just really cannot take it anymore. If a prospective employer sees that you are currently employed by someone else, do they usually at least wait to call them until after they interview you or at least speak with you? I just don't want to be surprised one day if management comes up to me and is ticked off because I'm looking for other options. Any ideas/advice are greatly appreciated, I really didn't think I would be in a situation like this:uhoh21:

Secure another job first then tell that new job that you will be able to start after such and such date. Put a written letter of resignation to the proper place at your job. They can't do anything to you if you resign in a respectful and correct manner. Tell no one that you're planning on quitting until you actually can afford to. I think at most places its anywhere from 2 weeks to a month in advance that you should let them know that you will no longer be working there.

Most places will ask if they can contact your current employer. If you say no, they won't. If they don't ask, just tell them that you're not ready to let your current employer know you are looking.

I never let an employer know when I'm looking until I'm ready to go, then I give proper notice.

I did, once, have someone at a prospective employer let the current employer know I was looking. This was done behind the scenes, probably thinking I'd never know, and was highly unethical. That's only once in 20-plus years and pretty unlikely to happen to most people.

Good luck in finding something that works better for you!