Finding a job while I already have one?

You are about to make a serious mistake if you fool yourself into thinking that you can find a better job and to quit the job you have now. There are probably 1000 people reading your question that would like to have your current job and be in your current employment situation. Moving to another company where you could be first to be laid off (no seniority) does not make sense unless you are willing to take a lot of risk. It is too bad you hate your job. In this economy "liking your job" is optional unless you are independently wealthy and don't need to work.

The economy may come back in 1 year or it may be 3 years. Unless you have the resources to be unemployed for the next 3 years you need to stay where you are and devote yourself wholly to that job.

Now on the side, that should not prevent you from investigating future opportunities. You may want to use this time to get some additional education in the future area you want to pursue. You can begin making logical steps to make a change but you need a more stable economy to make that workable. Also, you may want to put your personal finances in order while you are still employed. Get rid of any debt like credit card and auto loans. You want to be mean and lean for the change that you want to pursue in the future.

Yes, it is always best to be sitting in a job interview when you don't need the job. That is a dramatically different situation than when you are sitting there and are up to your neck in bills and the electricity is about to be turned off. In the former case you can say that you would like the job but don't need the job.

The hardest thing about looking for a job when you're unemployed is the thought of what you're going to do if the money runs out. It's really not easy to find a job when you already have one. Of course you want to keep the details from everyone including your coworkers, because some employers will immediately terminate upon finding out you're preparing to leave. They seem to do this to prevent attitude contagion. Put aside as much money as you can as a buffer in case this happens, and keep doing what you're doing. Maybe an HR manager here and there will stay late, so it shouldn't hurt to explain your situation ("I am currently employed") and ask if they would mind a non-traditional interview time. Good luck and cheers for moving forward.

ok, i promise this one isn't spam like the 1st three. you're right, it's tough to get away from your current job for interviews. it's not like you can ask your boss, hey i have a job interview, can i take off early? you're going to have to take some sick days or sick time. even if your boss doens't believe you, he will likely not question you unless you've made it a habit of calling in sick at the seemily most opportune times (ie mondays and fridays or the day before/after a holiday etc).

schedule several interviews at once where you can go to in 1 or 2 days. ask the new employer if they can do a phone interview with you. you'd be surprised how many understand your situation. that would make it easier. some may be willing to meet with you on a weekend or after normal business hours. if you really want the job and if they really need to fill the job, you'll both find ways to talk.

The statement doesn't mean that it is logistically easier to find a job.

I means it is easier to be hired if you are still employed. You have more value to an employer when you still have a job. If you are unemployed you are negotiating from a position of weakness (I need a job) and can't as easily walk away from a poor job offer.

Also if you have been unemployed for a while - potential new employers will begin to think "Why have they been unemployed for so long? What's wrong with them?" You will have less value to them and even if they offer you a job odds are they will offer a lower salary to save them capital money.