If you are unemployed, you have just accepted a full-time job as a seeker. You will put in 40+ hours into your job search easily. Try not to conduct your job search with anything less than a full time effort. This will help you increase you chances of finding the right fit. If you are putting in part time hours for whatever reason remember it may take you longer to find that right opportunity. Searching for the right fit for both you and the employer takes time. To succeed at this position you need to set goals, create a timeline and an action plan to get there. You need to have professional accountability for yourself and your productivity. You also have to take time to educate yourself how to seek out new opportunities. What worked 5+ years ago when you were in the job market is completely different from what is expected of you in today's market.
We are treating this like a full time job! Think about it. At your past job you had rules and policies to follow. Maybe you had to be at work at 8am in the morning. You also knew that you had a report due every Friday at Noon. Do this with your job search!
Following is a simple work schedule can increase your productivity:
7:30 a.m. - Early morning callbacks to contacts you were unable to reach the previous day.
8:30 a.m. - Off to a quiet area to do further research and write follow-up letters from the day before.
10:30 p.m. - Hit the telephone all afternoon. Do not stop until you have contacted every potential employer and every potential contact
12:30 Lunch time
1:30 p.m. - Send same day follow-up e-mails or letters to the most promising contacts of the day.
3:30 p.m. - One last attempt to reach all those who were unreachable during the day.
4:30 p.m. - Attend an event where you have the chance to network (Career Fairs, Networking after hours, Trade Shows, Professional Association or Volunteer).
6:30 p.m. Eat dinner and have some "you" time. You will be more effective during the day if you do this.
Of course this schedule will change per day. In looking at the above, there are major activities missing such as informational interviews, job interviews, morning networking events, all day trade shows and etc. Some of you may be students and cannot commit to the times and hours listed. You will have to adjust the schedule to fit your individual needs.
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