Is your boss taking you for granted? Is business slowing around the office? You may not be ready to jump ship just yet, but you should start to explore other professional options. You need not engage in an all-out active job search. Rather, you can put out feelers in another way.


Follow these five steps to start your passive job search:
Post Your Resume Online
The easiest way to begin exploring your professional possibilities is to post your resume. By doing so, you're letting thousands of recruiters, human resources professionals and employment experts know what your unique qualifications are and that you're interested in new opportunities.
Remember that your current employer might see your resume online, which may prompt your boss to give you a raise or a promotion if she's worried you're going to jump ship. But you can also post your resume confidentially.
Create an Employer Wish List
Even if you're not ready to leave your current job yet, there are probably other employers in which you're interested. Create a comprehensive list of these target employers. Research them and see if they show up on Fortune magazine's popular "Best Companies to Work For" list. Then, find out if these companies employ people with your skill set.
Enlist Your Network
Now that you have a list of dream employers, make inquiries to people in your network. Lauren Milligan, owner of ResuMAYDAY, a career-management services firm, warns against being too casual when reaching out for assistance. "If you're too casual, your network may not take your requests seriously," she says.
Ask if they've ever worked for any of the companies, or if they know anyone who does. Request contacts (at any level) for each organization.
Harness the Power of Informational Interviews
Informational interviews are a powerful tool for the passive job seeker. Because you're not formally in the market for a new job, employers may welcome the opportunity...