1) Approach finding a job as if it were a full-time job, because it
is. If you had a job, you would report to work at the same time each day
(like 8 am), take an hour (or less) for lunch, and quit at the same
time each day (like 5 pm). You would work five days every week. And you
would work hard to accomplish as much as you could because your career
depended upon it.
interviewing tips - When you are searching for a job, you should follow the same type of schedule because your future depends upon it.
interviewing tips - Treating your job search like a part-time hobby guarantees that it will take longer.
So, begin tomorrow by reporting to work and spending the day on tasks that lead to a job.
2)
Approach finding a job as if it were a project. That means you should
set goals for yourself, make plans, and monitor your progress. You
should apply all of the tools and skills that you used in your last job
to the project of finding your next job.
As you must expect, this is an important project. The sooner you complete it, the sooner you gain a promotion into a job.
3) Be your own boss. Set expectations for what you need to accomplish, provide direction, and monitor your work.
Meet
with yourself once each week to evaluate your performance. I recommend
doing this by writing two reports. The first is a candid evaluation of
what you accomplished during the previous week. The second is a
description of your plans for the coming week. Your plans should include
your goals, actions, and priorities.
The first time that you
write these reports, write an evaluation of what you have done so far.
Describe the results that this effort has produced. And compare these
results with what you wanted to have.
Next, map out a realistic
plan for the next week based on achievable goals. For example, you could
set goals for the number of people you will call, the number of
networking meetings you will attend, and the research you will conduct.
In
the coming weeks, compare the results that you obtained during the
previous week with the goals that you set. For example, if you planned
to attend twelve networking meetings and you attended only two, you
should a) explain why this happened and b) plan actions that will
correct such a difference. You should also analyze why you missed your
goal because this provides insights on what you need to do differently.
For example, Your goal (e.g., of attending twelve networking meetings)
may have been set too high. Or maybe there are things you can do that
will make it easier to achieve your job search goals, such as car
pooling with a friend who is also looking for a job.
Finding a job is a full time job. Work through it with a plan and the support of a good boss (yourself).
I wish you the best of success.
