I work for one of the big consultancies (not big 4 though). Will it flag up somehwere if i am applying for jobs on it and looking at employer websites?

assume that everything you do is tracked.

I wouldn't be too paranoid. They will mainly monitor for adult sites, gambling sites and music downloads. The larger the company the less time they have to be monitoring access to career or competitor sites. If you are looking (>looking to leave!) then why care too much anyway...

In case I can't leave! (golden hello's etc.)I'm on a grad scheme and think I made the wrong choice of career but worried that looking around using the work laptop will get me in trouble/hinder career if i stay. Don't have my own comp.

Here are a couple of tricks if you are worried about the internet connection being monitored:1) scan for un-protected wi-fi signals and conduct your business over these internet connections. Use your company VPN so you can still check email.2) if on expenses/in the field, plug your (company) mobile into your laptop and use the GPRS connection. All they see on the bill is a charge for the data transfered.3) get into work early - not only can you secure the desk by the window/back to the wall, but you seem keen, allaying any suspicion.4) if you take the laptop home to use it, clear your history and internet cookies. But companies probably just monitor current connections, not sites you visited when not on their network.Happy hunting.ASal

So would i be right in thinking they can't trace what sites i'm on at the client site using their connection?

Using unsecured wifi signals is all well and good, but the second you connect to your company's network via VPN, you'll probably find that your browsing is going via their proxy (and therefore can be monitored). If you're using your laptop on a non-company web connection (and not logged into their VPN), and take the trouble to delete the cookies, it's highly unlikely they'll know you've been looking.

It can but monitored, but the question really is will they monitor it? Do companies pullpeople up for applying to other jobs or looking at these kind of websites?

a) IT usually block sites completely or reroute you to a warning page if there is a policy against visiting themb) IT don't like being police so will only usually act if you are visiting porn sites. They like doing HR's job for them even less so don't tend to proactively pass on information.c) People visit thousands of sites a day - identifying surfing for job vs. other surfing is not that easy. For example, if you visit timeonline.co.uk, is your primary purpose to look for a job or read the news? Who has time to do that level of analysis on internet usage.d) The only time internet usage gets probed in any depth is after-the-event, e.g. if you are being warned or investigated. Even then, monitoring is primarily on a "live" basis. Due to being a pain in the ar*e to do, internet usage history only gets pulled out for fraud investigations.e) Most importantly, nobody cares if you jobhunt on the internet, especially if you do your work and surf on your own time