In many cubicle-style settings, your desk will be set up in a fixed position. At the very least, turn your screen away from the entrance and angle your chair toward the entrance.
Don’t bring things from home that don’t look like work. Use old projects or make some decoy documents that look like what you’d be working on. There may be a fine line between a messy, work in progress desk and a desk that is just a mess. Keep things in check so it doesn’t get too out of hand.
Use Alt+Tab on PCs to switch from one window to another window. On Macs, use command+tab to switch between open applications. Use Ctrl+Tab on PCs to switch between tabs within the same window. On Macs, use control+tab to switch between tabs in the same window. For example, if you have a Mac laptop, open iTunes, two different tabs on Safari, and Garageband. Hold command and press tab to switch from iTunes to Safari. Then hold control and press tab to switch from one Safari tab to the other Safari tab.
Never close all of your tabs so just your desktop is showing. An essentially blank screen will be a dead giveaway that you are not doing anything. Email, Word, Google docs, business websites, news sites, are all good to keep open, depending on what type of work you do.
It doesn’t matter what you are typing or writing, if you seem to be paying close attention to it, you’ll look busy. This works better if you have a document on hand that is work-related. If you are asked, show the decoy document as proof of what you’re doing.
If you stand while you work, don’t be caught sitting down or leaning up against something. If you’re going to zone out, make sure you have some work out in front of you and keep your head pointed toward the work stuff.
You’ll probably want to have a plan for what the fake phone call is supposed to be about. If you seem to be rambling or not making sense, it will be obvious you are faking it. If you want to really put some effort into it, write up a script for a standard conversation you’d have at work. Write dialogue for two people, but make sure you only read the part that makes sense for you to say.
Make sure to leave a few windows open so it appears that you were working on something right before you left your desk. Never leave anything like a shopping site or a game open on your computer when you leave. Another option if you work on the computer is to leave something open that says “Loading” or “Installing,” because this gives you a good reason to leave your desk.
Don’t leave the same fake setup every day or people will start to notice. If you sort through a box of items, leave piles halfway sorted.
The best thing to carry will be determined by what your job is. Don’t carry the same prop every day or it will begin to be obvious that it’s a prop. Choose something that is easy to carry and can be set down and picked up without too much effort. A small item will make you look busy while not drawing too much attention.
Mention what you are doing to someone who works next to you to establish the alibi. Say, “I wanted to double check and make sure both of our departments were on the same page about the new ad campaign. I know it’s an important issue and I’d hate to have any mix-ups. "
Be careful what questions you ask because you don’t want to sound incompetent at the job you’re required to do. For example, ask a boss if they have copies of designs that your current client has previously requested. When she shows them to you, find things about them to discuss further.
