A job search can be stressful. It might come unexpectedly, and you feel ill-equipped to cope. However, we all have resources of time, money, energy and emotions that we can use towards a successful job search.
A job search can be stressful. It might come unexpectedly, and you feel ill-equipped to cope. However, we all have resources of time, money, energy and emotions that we can use towards a successful job search:
Time. You need time for your search –to think about your next moves, to research ideas, to follow up on leads. You also need time for self-care during this bewildering and sometimes frustrating situation. Finally, you need to time to plan your long-term career goals. Calculate your severance, savings and other means of support to see exactly how much time you have now. Then, schedule search time, self-care, and planning time into your calendar.
Money. You need money to invest in supplies, networking events, training, and research. You also need to stretch your money over the length of your unemployment. You should also consider money issues of your future job -- compensation requirements, your market value in today’s market. Adjust your budget to account for your new reality – your need to save and buy time, but also your need to invest in your search. Calculate how much you could bring in with temp or consulting work, and factor that into your time and money plans if that is a feasible option.
Energy. You will be pulled in different directions – research, interviews, networking, getting by day-to-day. You need to prioritize what to do and when. You should also address your future priorities, playing to your strengths of when you are most energetic and productive. Block out the challenging parts of your search when you know you are most productive.
Emotions. You need to stay motivated, be focused, and remain patient. You should also incorporate your emotional needs for your next job -- what gets you excited to get up in the morning? Plan down time to stay in tune with your emotions and give you a chance to refresh.
You control your time, money, energy and emotions – use them all. Make sure your job search plan harnesses all of your resources to plan for your future job and get through your current situation.
Is Your Job Search Flexible or Just Unfocused?
As a recruiter, I’ve seen lack of flexibility on the recruiting side with employers clinging to every last detail in their ideal spec while perfectly good candidates get overlooked. As a career coach, I see jobseekers prematurely dismissing possible targets waiting for that perfect job. It’s true that you want to be focused in your job search (otherwise you dilute your efforts and come across as scattered and possibly desperate).
5 Questions to Test If Your Resume Is Recruiter-Proof
After recruiting in search and in-house for over ten years, I have read thousands of resumes. Due to sheer volume of resumes received and all the other things that vie for the recruiter’s attention in the hiring process – scheduling, interviewing, networking, reference checks, client debriefs, and more – the resume review process is ruthlessly quick.
Why Conventional Wisdom On Work Flexibility Is Always Wrong
In a previous post, I wrote about why employment statistics are always wrong. In a similar way, conventional wisdom on work flexibility is always wrong. It is impossible to generalize something that is inherently case-by-individual case. Therefore, any boilerplate advice or conventional wisdom is bound to omit a key consideration, underweight or overemphasize other considerations, or take too long-term or short-term of a view.
