A Good Start

Job vs job search – striking similarities

Everyone wants to be more productive; to get more out of the time they invest in whatever it is that they’re doing. Looking for a job is no different. It’s all in how you go about it.

Many job-search experts note that “under-performing job searches… are usually starved for time.” If you haven’t been successful, doing more of the same isn’t necessarily the best option. Maybe it’s time to look at what you’re doing and how you’re doing it.

Planning your work & working your plan

Consistent with the notion that looking for a job is a job, try planning your job-search day as if it were a work day. Establish a routine if that helps.

Get up early. Exercise (if that’s part of your regular routine.) Shower and dress. Some find it helpful to dress well – not necessarily in full, formal business attire – but nice enough as if you’re going out somewhere; nice enough to make you feel positive and productive. Dog-eared pajamas, slippers and a bathrobe won’t put you in a mindset to accomplish anything.

Then plan your day as if you were at work.

Early in the morning is a good time to check your social media for anything meaningful. Experts advise that, if done regularly and purposefully, you should be able to tackle this in about 15 minutes – maybe 30 minutes allowing for something unusual. Make a call list of people you need or want to contact that day. Know where you’re submitting your credentials (and how – and when – you need to do that.)

Most time management gurus advise getting your most difficult (or maybe distasteful) tasks out of the way first. (Some call it, “Eating the frog.”) They note that getting over that hump is the best approach because it helps you avoid procrastination and provides a feeling of accomplishment.

If there is some task on your list that demands your full focus devoid of interruptions, try getting out of the house and retreating to somewhere without distractions or interruptions. It could be a coffee shop or a fast food restaurant. Many prefer the quiet and solitude of a nearby library. This should provide the isolation you need and allow you to concentrate on the task at hand.

Also, if you’re meeting someone for lunch or coffee, try arriving a half hour or an hour early to give yourself some focus time. You also can use that extra time to re-check your email and get caught up.

Having done all that… and now that it’s the end of the day, you’re ready to plan your tomorrow and do it all again.

Sounds like a job, doesn’t it. Well, it is.

More tips.