Your Time is Now

Your employment status usually frees up extra time

Many people say that looking for a job is a full time job. Although there are differing opinions on that statement, it’s generally agreed that, in order to be successful, your job search should occupy a major portion of your day. Whether or not that consumes 35-40 hours per week, remains to be seen.

Realistically, if one assumes that a normal work week occupies approximately 40 hours per week, it’s also realistic to assume that your job search will occupy less time than that. So what to do with the extra time.

Look around

Depending on your circumstances, there may be family or domestic responsibilities that you could assume and still devote a substantial amount of time per week to your job search. While executing personal duties or relieving a spouse of doing such things may be laudable, in the grand scheme of things your job search is extremely important and, if you’re not careful, non-job search duties can absorb more and more of your time such that your job search takes a backseat. Not a good position to be in.

If your circumstances enable you as much time as possible for your job search, the reality is that you probably won’t spend that much time on your search. So, what to do with that extra time?

The truth is that are very few job seekers who couldn’t use some addtional personal or professional development. And now that you probably have time on your hands, learning new skills or honing existing skills is an exceptionally strong way to use that time.

Fortunately, in this day and age, there is no shortage of things to study and learn. Taking a course at a community or junior college is simple, easy and convenient– and not very financially demanding. If that’s not apporpriate for you, when you look, you’ll find an avalanche of webinars and YouTube tutorials – virtually all of which are free.

And let’s not forget your local library. Within its confines rests a treasure trove of listings, directories and educational sessions as well as business and professional publications and instruction. Not to mention an endless supply of self-help and instructional books and tapes which are there for the taking.

While you’re job seeking, there are many ways to use any free time that you may find yourself fortunate enough to have. When all is considered, professional development deserves a high spot on your list of things to do.

More tips.