Are your moral concerns that he may be wasting the time of other employers or are you concerned that he would look for a new job while employed elsewhere? If it's the first part, I would hardly call wasting someone's time a moral issue. It's maybe a bad thing to do but certainly not immoral. On the second issue... you have to look around you, at other employers, other jobs, otherwise you will fall behind. That's it.

Interviewing is a skill, and negotiation doesn't come naturally to most of us.

I believe the most ideal time to interview is while you're fully employed:

• there's 0 pressure to get the job
• they can't take advantage of you (being desperate for a job)
• you can practice your negotiation skills
• you can learn how valuable you are to others
• you may gain insight on how to improve yourself

Eventually it may be the case that you find yourself interviewing while unemployed, desperate, hungry, and if that's the time you go out to do some practice interviews you won't be in such a good position to negotiate with them.

Interviewing is tough tough work, and it's draining and expensive (in time, and even sometimes money) for you and the company, but over time it can help you present yourself well and make better deals.

If you have the opportunity to interview, I think it's probably worth the exercise!

There is no moral thingy because in a job you are getting compensated for what you do (sometime it is less or more than what you deserve). Assume a case where a long term employee gets ill and cannot work - the company will just let them go. So there is just a contract between employee and the company. So it is not wrong to look out.

Consider the case where a manager and team helped you handle some personal issue (may be while undergoing some treatment) by sharing your work load. In that case the employee has moral obligation to the team (not to the company). And should make sure the team's help is reciprocated in some way. So looking out for other job at this point may not be the right thing to do.

NO! You should definitely shop around. Even if you're happily employed, you shouldn't deny yourself potential new opportunities!

It's a fact that only training improves your skills. So, applying for a new job is only one of many skills you can train. While doing so you can learn many interesting things, just as you stated.

While applying for a new job might feel like cheating your old job, don't missunderstand: It's your life and your company does usually not depend on you at all; they will just find a replacement, so you should not have any sentiment, either. It's the same for the position you apply for: Don't think that you are an evil guy, because they gave you the green light and you didn't agree in the end even though you were the one applying. Those people are searching for people. If they don't get you, they will just take someone else and they know fully well that just because someone applies, that person does not need to be the right fit, even after signing the contract. Just a few weeks ago, my company kicked someone out after three months, because they just did not fit in. Life is harsh...

On the other hand, you should think of it in a more positive way: Maybe, because you constantly look for vacancies, you will find a poosition which sounds awesome to you. Something you always dreamed to do but could not because of certain factors. Then you will also have the skill to negotiate, get the position and optimal wages! Isn't that awesome?

As a side-note: Never tell your boss about you searching for another job. It will destroy your relationship and possible ways to get interesting projects or bonuses.

Well, job is just a job. You are not in marriage, and you are not cheating your partner, you are going to a simple interview. It is a manager problem to always have in mind that their employees are maybe looking for better job than current, not yours (except in cases when you are the manager, then you're screwed). Just kidding! :)