The job search process can take time, but there are things that job seekers do to themselves along the way that negatively impact their own efforts.
Some job seekers make the mistake of thinking that, since they're unemployed, searching for employment is now their full-time job and they need to spend 40 hours a week job hunting. That's actually not the case!
When you spend that much time searching for a job, you run the risk of burning out and you start to dread the process.
The key to a successful job search is learning how to job hunt efficiently—and intelligently. Here are some ways to accomplish this goal.
Know How To Job Search
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Before jumping into an efficient job search routine, most job seekers will need to do some legwork.
Those blindly applying to as many jobs as possible ("spray and pray") are just wasting their time. It's important to do some early research and put together a bucket list of companies where you want to land a job interview.
You'll also need to take some time to think about what your best skill sets and accomplishments are. This is essential to putting together your strategy for marketing yourself to employers and will also impact how you put together your resumes and cover letters.
Taking some time early in the process to get all your materials together and do a little research on the job search process will save you time in the long run as you build an efficient job search that fits into your schedule.
Figure Out When You're The Most Productive
It's important to still have a life while hunting for a job, so it's a good idea to block off a period of time for your job search efforts and do your best to stick to that time.
Ask yourself, "When am I the most productive? When will I get the most done—morning, afternoon, or night?"
Job seekers also need to take into consideration their own attention span as they schedule out blocks of time. For example, if you're a morning person who works best in one-hour blocks, you could block 8 a.m. to noon for your job search, with 15-minute breaks after every hour.
Obviously, not everyone can stick to the same schedule all the time, so there's always room for flexibility. But in general, it's a lot better to schedule blocks of time for job search efforts, rather than trying to do them sporadically.
Add Balance To Your Job Search Routine
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Job hunting doesn't mean that you have to spend five days a week in front of a computer!
Theoretically, a person could spend four hours a day, three times a week on the job search, leaving the rest of the time to attend to personal matters, work a part-time job or side hustle, volunteer, or spend more time networking. All of these things may actually complement your job search, especially networking.
The key is to not drown yourself in the job search. By putting in some early work, job seekers can job hunt efficiently and still have a life. They may even find the job hunt enjoyable, as it's a great chance to learn a little bit about yourself as a professional and meet some new people.
Even if you do land a great job, there are still some career strategies that can put you in a better position for the next time you're on the job hunt.
Are you still struggling with the job search? Work It Daily can help!
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