Some Practical 
Examples of Seeking Employment
Example: You are contacted by an official of a State Environmental Department. He asks if you are interested in leaving EPA because they have a position for you. You state that you are not interested in leaving EPA, but you will remember his interest should you ever leave. Since you declined the offer, you have rejected the unsolicited employment overture and have not begun seeking employment
Example: Using the previous example, you respond that you can't discuss future employment while you are working on a project that affects that State's funding. But, you'll be glad to discuss employment when the project is completed. Since you only deferred employment discussions to a future date, you are seeking employment and can no longer work on the project that affects the State.
Example: You go to lunch discussion with a manager of "Environment-R-Us" to learn more about how she found her job and the work that she does. In of of itself, this kind of "informational interviewing" is not seeking employment.
Example: Using the previous example, during the course of the lunch the manager says that you'd be great for a job with them and asks for your resume. You can provide your resume and continue having lunch, but realize that you are now "seeking employment." When you get back to work, you are going to have to recuse yourself from participation in ANY matter that would have a financial effect on "Environment-R-Us."
