Nine Job Search Turbochargers
Three Minute Read
If this was forwarded to you, you can get more career tips like this sent straight to your inbox every Tuesday.
Finding a job or changing jobs can often be life-changing. It can also be time-consuming. Yet many people find it hard to dedicate the required time to search because they’re pulled in many directions. Those competing demands may include school, your current job, friends and family, time, and personal care.
Fear not. You can adopt several great practices to achieve your goals.
Set realistic expectations about how much time you can commit. Our ambitions often exceed our available time. You need to make a concerted effort in your search, but don’t beat yourself up as long as you give it your best.
Break things up into bite-size projects. You may not get to revamp your resume, update your LinkedIn profile, and draft a cover letter in one sitting. Breaking up your search into digestible pieces will make it less daunting, and you’re less likely to put the whole thing off out of dread.
Use time blocking to make sure things get done. Make appointments with yourself to work on your job search. Perhaps there’s a time of day that generally works for you to review progress and draft messages. Put that on your calendar, and make sure you do it. If you don’t time block, it may fall by the wayside. If it’s important, it’s important enough to put on your calendar.
Network during your normal daily activities, such as lunch and coffee breaks. These are great times for important conversations that may ultimately lead to a job. We all have to eat, right? Use those breaks to get to know new people and catch up with existing relationships. You can also plan a walking networking meeting if that’s appealing.
In addition to networking, use break times to ease demands on your personal time. Follow up on leads, research people and companies, and send thank you emails.
Get up earlier. Assuming you’re getting enough sleep, you may find some extra time that way. Consider reducing your alcohol and caffeine consumption to sleep better. And exercising more may give you a boost of energy and increase your productivity.
Batch your meetings and interviews at times when your job or school schedule is least demanding. Does your company have summer Fridays? No classes on Wednesday? Try to batch interviews and non-job meetings on those days.
Amplify your search efforts by leveraging the help of agency recruiters. Independent recruiters can be your allies. Get to know recruiters so they can be on the lookout for opportunities appropriate for you. In a market still marked by more open jobs than jobseekers, they are eager to get to know you and want to tap you for ideas, too.
Outsource low-value activities. Is your time better spent fetching takeout or paying a few bucks and getting it delivered? Be smart about how you spend your time. It’s your most precious resource.
Adopt these practices, and you may find that you accomplish much more than you used to in the same time. Truly productive activities are the keys to success, especially in job search.
Do you or someone you know need help determining what kinds of roles and companies would be great work situations? Conducting an effective job search without endlessly applying online? I coach and advise people 1:1 and in hybrid 1:1/small group settings. Learn more about my career coaching and sign up for a free 30-minute Career Solutions Call.