Job Hunting in a Small Town

Okay, so, here’s the deal:

I live and work in a small town. You know, the kind where you almost never leave the house and NOT run into someone that you know.

I work for a consulting firm, and I work closely with various local, state and federal agencies on my projects.

As most businesses are, in small and large cities, most professional circles get smaller and smaller by the day. Here, our professional circle is so small that, for instance, one of our staff is married to a guy that works for my biggest client. One of our biologists is married to a biologist at the local office of a federal agency. Everyone here is either friends with or…get this…roommates with, or has a roommate who is dating someone who works at one of our client agencies.

Not sure if that made a lot of sense but I think it’s enough for you to get the picture. The idea is that everyone knows everyone here. Six degrees of Kevin Bacon? It’s more like two, here (if I’m Kevin).

So, I am occasionally fed up with being overworked, day in and day out. (The other PMs here will attest to the fact that our workload is ridiculous.

I want to apply for a job with one of my client agencies.

The problem being that the higher-ups at all of the local offices of these agencies are pretty tight with my two direct managers.

Do I have to carefully word my cover letter to request some sort of ‘sensitivity to confidentiality’?

Any suggestions?

Okay, so, here’s the deal:

I live and work in a small town. You know, the kind where you almost never leave the house and NOT run into someone that you know.

I work for a consulting firm, and I work closely with various local, state and federal agencies on my projects.

As most businesses are, in small and large cities, most professional circles get smaller and smaller by the day. Here, our professional circle is so small that, for instance, one of our staff is married to a guy that works for my biggest client. One of our biologists is married to a biologist at the local office of a federal agency. Everyone here is either friends with or…get this…roommates with, or has a roommate who is dating someone who works at one of our client agencies.

Not sure if that made a lot of sense but I think it’s enough for you to get the picture. The idea is that everyone knows everyone here. Six degrees of Kevin Bacon? It’s more like two, here (if I’m Kevin).

So, I am occasionally fed up with being overworked, day in and day out. (The other PMs here will attest to the fact that our workload is ridiculous.

I want to apply for a job with one of my client agencies.

The problem being that the higher-ups at all of the local offices of these agencies are pretty tight with my two direct managers.

Do I have to carefully word my cover letter to request some sort of ‘sensitivity to confidentiality’?

Any suggestions?

Just one...

Come work in San Diego.:D

Just one...

Come work in San Diego.:D

*giggle* Thanks, Mano...I needed that today.

I don't think my boyfriend would appreciate me moving that far away but I'm so swamped, if I were single...I probably would move for the right job!

Ugh... Tahoe in all its splendor!!! I've run into that issue there before and found that a word or two reminding of discretion has always been heeded. After all, they know that they might be in the same position sometime in the not too distant future!

Ugh... Tahoe in all its splendor!!! I've run into that issue there before and found that a word or two reminding of discretion has always been heeded. After all, they know that they might be in the same position sometime in the not too distant future!


Yep, girl, you KNOW what I'm talking about.

I think in the past I've used a line on my cover letters to the effect of

Your confidentiality in regard to this matter is greatly appreciated.


Good point, about the fact that some of them might be (or have been) in the same position. I know several people who have gone from one agency to another (to another...).

Can you go through a placement agency, where you are anonymous until you interview?