It can be hard to find a job in any market, let alone in the midst of a pandemic! So, here are 3 Job Search Tips that can help you be successful.
1) View and approach finding a new job as if it were your full-time job because it is.
When you are currently employed and searching for a new job, this can be challenging but having this mindset will help you stay focused on your mission. So, at least in the short term, treat the search process as if it were a 2nd job.
If you are out of work, but you had a job then you would report to work at the same time each day (like 9 am), take an hour (or less) for lunch, and finish your day at the same time each day (like 5 pm). You would work at least five days every week and some days you would even work overtime. You would be busting your butt to accomplish as much as you could because your career depended upon it!
For some reason, when we find ourselves on the horizon of a new opportunity, whether due to boredom & a lack of growth opportunities or due to layoffs etc, we often don’t commit the same level of effort to the search as we should.
When searching for a job, follow this same type of schedule because literally, your future depends upon it!
What you put into the search, you will get out of it. Sure, you can treat your job search like it’s a part-time hobby, but that pretty much guarantees that the process will take longer, and you may not be as satisfied with the results if you lack the commitment to the process.
So, whether you are just starting your search, or have been at it for months, make a commitment. Start by reporting to ” job search work” and spend the entire day focused on taking steps towards your goal of getting your dream job!
2) Treat finding a job as if it were a project.
What do I mean by that? Well, this means you need to assess the scope of the project, decide upon key deliverables, and break them down into manageable steps. Once you’ve set clear goals for yourself you can use those as the foundation for making your more detailed action plan. This needs to involve regular check-ins with yourself with a real-talk reality check to make sure you stay focused. Apply all of the tools and skills that you learned in your last job to complete the project of finding your next job. Oh, and don’t forget the deadline!
This may be the most important project of your career, as the results can determine your outcomes for the next 2 or more years. The higher quality of your search and the sooner you complete this project, the sooner you will be starting your next job.
3) Don’t forget to be your own boss and hold yourself accountable.
Set yourself some clear guidelines and expectations for what you need to do in order to direct, monitor, and complete your work.
Send a calendar invite to yourself for an appointment each week to evaluate your performance. I recommend looking at the past week and having a candid reflection on what you accomplished. Then, write a description of your plans for the coming week. If you work better with s schedule, break down the larger project into smaller action items that you want to attain. Try using a SMART goal worksheet to include specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound goals for the next week. This will help keep you on track.
Once you have written your reflection on the past week you can assess whether you are on track. Next, set a realistic plan for the next week based on achievable and realistic goals. For example, you could set goals for the number of people you plan to reach out to for networking or the number of companies your will research, then apply to.
In the following weeks, you can compare the results that you obtained during the previous week with the goals that you set, just like with a work project For example, if you planned to attend seven networking meetings and you attended only one, then you will want to assess: a) why this happened and b) plan actions you can take this week to fill in the gap that was created. Analyzing why you missed your goal provides insights into what you need to do differently. For example, Your goal (e.g., attending seven networking meetings) may have been set too high for your first week. Does the goal need to be more realistic? Or do you need to put in more effort? Or are there things you can do that will make it easier to achieve your job search goals, like putting a post on your social media, highlighting your skills, and asking your network for advice and feedback?
So, if you were wondering how to kickstart your job search, start by treating it as a full-time job. Make a plan, treat your job search like a project, and remember to be a great boss to yourself by having regular check-ins and follow-ups (with yourself).
Happy job hunting!