When outlining your job-search schedule, you should have a realistic time frame in mind. If you'll be job searching full-time, your search will probably take at least two months. If you can devote yourself only part- time, it will probably take at least four months.
You probably know a few people who seem to spend their whole lives searching for a better job in their spare time. Don't be one of them. Even if you can search only part-time, give the effort your whole-hearted attention. If you've got a job and don't feel like devoting a lot of energy to finding a new one right now, then wait. Focus on enjoying your present position, do your best, and store energy for when you're really ready to begin your job search.
If you're currently unemployed, remember that job hunting is tough work physically and emotionally. It's also intellectually demanding work that requires you to be at your best. So don't tire yourself out by working on your job campaign around the clock. At the same time, you must be sure to discipline yourself. The most logical way to manage your time while looking for a job is to keep regular working hours.
If you're still employed, job searching will be especially tough; don't work yourself to the point where you show up for interviews looking exhausted, or where your current job begins to suffer. On the other hand, don't be tempted to quit the job you already have! Employers prefer hiring applicants who are already working somewhere. The long hours are worth it. If you're searching for a job while you have one, you're in a position of real strength.
If you're searching full-time and have decided to use several different contact methods, divide each week, allotting time for each method. For instance, you might devote Mondays to answering newspaper ads, because most of them appear in Sunday papers. You might devote Tuesdays and Wednesday mornings to developing your contacts and calling a few employment services. You could spend the rest of the week contacting companies directly. This is just one plan that may or may not work for you.
By trying several methods at once, you'll make your job search more interesting, and you'll be better able to evaluate the potential of each method, altering your schedule accordingly. Take care, however, not to judge the success of a method simply by the number of interviews you obtain. Positions advertised in the newspaper, for instance, are likely to generate many more interviews per opening than are unadvertised positions. But there are far more of the latter.
If you're searching part-time and decide to try several different contact methods, we recommend that you try them sequentially. You simply won't have enough time to put a meaningful amount of effort into more than one method at once. So estimate the length of your job search and then allocate so many weeks or months for each contact method you'll use.
If you're expected to be in your office during the day, then you have an additional problem to deal with. How can you work interviews into business hours? And if you work in an open office, how can you even call to schedule interviews? You should make every effort to keep up both performance and appearances on your present job, so maximize your use of the lunch hour, early mornings, and late afternoons for calling. If you keep trying, you may be surprised how easy it is to reach a particular executive after office hours. Often you can catch people as early as eight A.M. and as late as six P.M. Jot down a plan each night on how you'll be using every minute of your precious lunch break.
Your inability to interview at any time other than lunch just might work to your advantage. Set up as many interviews as possible for your lunch hour and schedule them to take place at a mutually convenient restaurant. This will go a long way toward creating a relaxed rapport with the interviewer. (Who isn't happy when eating?) But be sure the interviews don't stray too far from the issue at hand.
Lunchtime interviews are much easier to obtain if you have substantial career experience. People with less experience often find no alternative to taking time off work. If you have to take time off, take time off, but try to do so as discreetly as possible. You might want to take the whole day off to avoid being too obvious about your job search, scheduling two to three interviews on the same day-but no more. It's very difficult to maintain an optimum level of energy for more than three interviews in one day. Explain to the interviewer why you might have to juggle your interview schedule- he or she should be impressed with the consideration you're showing your current employer by minimizing your days off, and will probably appreciate the fact that another prospective employer is interested in you.
If you're searching for a job--especially part-time--you must get out there and do the necessary tasks to the best of your ability and get them over with. Don't let your job search drag on endlessly. Finally, remember that all schedules are meant to be broken. The purpose of a job-search schedule is not to rush you to your goal but to help you map out the road ahead, and then to evaluate periodically how you're progressing.
So You've Been Fired or Laid Off
If you've been fired or laid off, bear in mind that you're not the first and won't be the last to go through this traumatic experience. In today's changing economy thousands of professionals lose their jobs every year. Remember, losing your job is not a reflection of your worth as a person; it's usually a reflection of either your company's staffing needs or your employer's perception of your performance. If you weren't performing up to par or if you weren't enjoying your work, then you'll almost certainly be better off making a new start.
Don't begin your job search with a flurry of unplanned activity. A thorough search could take months, so your first priority is to negotiate a reasonable severance package and determine what benefits, such as health insurance, you're still legally entitled to. Also, register for unemployment compensation immediately. Don't be surprised to find other professionals collecting unemployment as well-it's for everyone who's lost a job.
The next step is to develop a strategy and form a plan. Now is not the time for major changes in your life. If possible, remain in the same career and the same geographic location, at least until you've been working again for a while. On the other hand, if the only industry for which you're trained is leaving town or is severely depressed in your area, then you should give prompt consideration to moving or switching careers.
Avoid mentioning that you were fired while arranging your interviews--but be prepared for the question "Why were you fired?" during an interview. If you were laid off as a result of downsizing, briefly explain, and be sure to emphasize that your job loss wasn't due to performance. If you were in fact fired, be honest, but try to put the best possible spin on the situation while letting the interviewer know that you've learned from your mistakes. If you're confident one of your past managers will give you a good reference, tell the interviewer to contact that person. Don't speak negatively of your past employer, and try not to sound particularly worried that you're temporarily unemployed.
Finally, don't spend too much time reflecting on why you were let go or how you might have avoided it. Think positively, look to the future, and be sure to follow a careful plan during your job search.
