Job Search Basics Overlooked, Part 2: Staying Focused and Encouraged

Like many job seekers I talk to, when I was searching for a job, I found myself at the most unorganized and unfocused time in my life. After several weeks of accomplishing and doing nothing, and feeling more miserable and depressed about everything, I read that I should be treating this time in my life much like a job. The job was finding a job, and it was now my full time job. Simple enough, but I didn’t get myself there right away.

Setting a work schedule, weekly goals, daily tasks and keeping organized are often overlooked. Likewise is personal growth, staying healthy and connected — yet all of these will keep you focused and encouraged in your job search. A focused and encouraged job seeker presents a stronger interview presence, and a better shot at the job.

Here is my top 10 tips to start with, and below are a couple links that will give you even more direction and tips:

1. Get out your calendar and setup your work week. I recommend that you work on your search Monday through Thursday – from 9 am to 5 pm and take Fridays off, unless you have follow up work or interviews.
2. Write out weekly goals, and daily task lists. Don’t give up whatever your methods of organizing, planning and time management were — keep using them weekly; hold yourself accountable to your goals and your tasks.
3. Keep track of everything in your search – potential employers, contacts, networks, phone calls, etc. Create a spreadsheet, a journal, or perhaps better yet, utilize online tools like Jibber Jobber.
4. Create a to-do list for your home and take time weekly to tackle projects. This is the time in your life when you can take 3 days weekends, so utilize your time to get caught up at home. Completing home projects will give you a sense of purpose and feeling of accomplishment, even when the job search is at a low.
5. Network. If you’ve been doing any reading about job searching today, you’ve been drilled on the subject, but don’t forget about personal networking. Take time to reconnect with old friends or go visit with family you haven’t seen for a while. You will come out of this time feeling better about your priorities and personal connections while conversations and emails with friends and loved ones can help you stay encouraged.
6. Research the best selling career improvement books on the market today and make it part of your job to read through several. Put time in your weekly planner to read.
7. Stay on top of your industry – budget time each week to read and research trends and news that affects your industry and profession — you cannot afford to fall behind on this, or perhaps you will now finally have the time to catch up on industry trends.
8. Find a professional networking group in your area and attend meetings. Ideally find a couple — one that is targeted in your industry or professional discipline and one that supports job seekers. If you cannot find one within driving distance, look at online sources.
9. Find an accountability partner and schedule meetings with your partner regularly. Go over what you have accomplished in your job search — and what you have not. Have your partner help you set goals that may be out of your comfort level.
10. Stay healthy. Even if you have to give up your fitness club membership to cut costs, find ways to do regular workouts. A job search is just as stressful or even more so then your job was before, so some kind of exercise routine must remain.

Check out these links for more advice:

Advice: Keeping Spirits High During a Long Job Search

Keep a Job Search “To Do” List