But hanging out at home won't get you a job. Getting yourself up and out in the morning isn't easy. Nevertheless, I urge you to fight the universal temptation to goof off. Job hunting can't be a part-time effort when the spirit moves you. It must be a full-time, disciplined, compulsive pursuit. So change your thinking immediately. The best way to go about it is by making the job search a job in itself. If it makes you feel better, think of it as a nonpaying job.
Do whatever works.
In reality, you could be out of work for several months. How long? The rule of thumb is 4 full-time weeks of job searching for every $10K in compensation. The higher the salary, the narrower the pyramid. At the $100K level, it could take up to a year.
Look at it not as time on your hands, but as an opportunity to immerse yourself in finding a job that turns you on.
GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER
First, you need a place to run your job search. Think of it as your command center, the place where you'll make serious career decisions and do high-powered thinking.
If you don't have a quiet place to work, create one. Avoid makeshift offices. Too many job searchers create portable offices wherever they happen to be at the time. One minute they're in a den, the next in the bedroom or basement or on a patio. When in the field, they're running their job search out of their attaché cases.
It's mobile for sure, but after a week, you're struggling with chaos. Open that Pandora's Box of an attaché case and out will tumble letters, your appointment book, scraps of paper, files in disarray, a half-eaten doughnut, and who knows what else.
A comfortable place to work in your home can put a whole new spin on your job search. You'll quickly find a reassuring comfort in order. Like any well-run office, yours ought to have all the essentials, including telephone, answering machine, stationery, computer or typewriter (or both), file cabinet, pencils, pens, postage, paper clips, and stapler. The idea is to get up in the morning and get right to work so you don't miss a beat.
The two most essential tools are an answering machine and a day organizer. When you're out in the field, you don't want to lose important calls from potential employers, headhunters, leads, or colleagues. It could be the call you've been waiting for. That answering machine is critical.
Day organizers are great for organizing your business life. Pocket-size or book-style, they help keep your appointments in order when you've got a busy day planned. Everything is right there in front of you-appointments, calendar, addresses, telephone numbers, notes, and important reminders.
KEEP A JOB SEARCH LOG
Order is the name of the game. Once you get into your job search, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how busy you are. You'll be going full tilt making appointments, phone calls, follow-ups - you name it. The best way to track it all and maintain total control is by keeping a job search log. How you do it is up to you. Use a notepad, a type-writer, or better yet a personal computer. To be on top of your job search, make entries daily.
Here are the critical components of a job search log:
- Correspondence (sent or received, with dates)
- Calls (made or received)
- Company
- Contact
- Follow-up
- Status
CREATE A SCHEDULE
Once your office is set up, create a schedule and try to stick with it. Be flexible. There'll be times when you are in the field all day or at the library preparing for a killer interview or undergoing an intense round of interviews. The rest of the time, you'll be like a disciplined machine faithful to your schedule.
Advice: Start early so you get the benefit of a long, productive day.
Consider this model schedule.
8 a.m. to 12 noon.
Get a cup of coffee and scan the morning papers. The more you read the better. A couple of dailies and The Wall Street Journal should tell you what's happening on the business front. Look at the want ads and business pages, and scan the general news as well. You never know when you'll pick up a lead or a brilliant job-hunting strategy.
Be sure to check the want ads every day. Most job searchers read want-ad pages on Wednesday and Sunday, traditionally the busiest days for classified advertising. Yet many perverse employers run ads on other days as well, just to see if they'll stumble on some creative mavericks.
This is the time to think about when you're going to call people and schedule appointments. Knowing when to phone busy company owners and managers is an art in and of itself. People are funny about receiving calls. Some managers never answer their own phones. Others do so at off hours, such as before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. when things quiet down. Some have elevated ducking callers to a sport. You're on your own. Be creative. In this high-tech age, it's easy to avoid telephone calls. A secretary is the traditional guardian of the gate, screening all calls. More frustrating is voice mail which hurtles you into a dark chasm of options, never knowing whether anyone will ever receive it or, worse yet, whether your call will ever be returned. At least with a secretary, you stand a chance of leaving an impression and, if you're lucky, finding an ally, so you can pave the way to an actual conversation with the boss.
When you're not scheduling appointments, talk to colleagues and contacts, write letters, and keep your log up to date.
12 noon to 3:30 p.m.
Make good use of the lunch hour. The working world can afford to waste away an hour munching burgers, sandwiches, and soft drinks. You can't. Eat on the run. Fifteen minutes should do it. Lunches aregreat times to get from one place to another or do research. Forget about reaching anyone in the corporate world during this period. They're either actually out having lunch or using the time to work undisturbed at their desks. Calls from compulsive job seekers won't be greeted kindly.
To get a more objective and relaxed reception, schedule appointments in the afternoon, preferably between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. You're taking your chances with morning appointments. Often, they're fraught with confusion and tension. The day is just beginning. Busy entrepreneurs and managers don't know what's ahead and they've yet to find their stride.
Warning: The worst interview day is Monday. Unless business owners need someone desperately, few have the patience to give their undivided attention to a job interview first thing in the week. However, there'll be times when you have no control over the matter and you're forced to see people at their convenience.
4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Late afternoon is wrap-up time. When possible, try to get home before the end of the business day to return calls. If you can't, check your answering machine messages from the field so important calls can be returned. Resume chores started in the morning. Send out letters, make entries in your log, or finish any other necessary paperwork.
5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Before calling it quits, change the pace by getting some exercise. Walk, jog, or bike; play racquetball, tennis, or basketball. They all accomplish the same end. The idea is to do something you enjoy. It's critical for your mental and physical well-being. Exercise is a healthy escape valve, relieving pent-up tension and anxiety. Just getting out of the house relieves the pressure a little. Try to set aside an hour every day for exercise. If that's impossible, try every other day. I guarantee results.
DON'T BE A MARTYR: GIVE YOURSELF A TREAT
Granted, job hunting is hard work, but it's not a prison sentence either. Just as you'd reward an employee for exemplary performance with praise, a bonus, or a gift, treat yourself the same way.
When you achieve a goal, give yourself a treat. I'm not talking about running out and buying a Corvette or flying to Paris for the weekend. A half-day off, a meal in a favorite restaurant, a new dress or tie, theater tickets, or just hanging out with a friend for an evening is what I had in mind. Achievements or major inroads in your job search are relative. A major lead, contact, successful interview, or pending job offer is worthy of reward. You do not impress anyone by playing the martyr. Uppermost, you're depriving yourself of well-earned self-praise.
Now we're ready to fine-tune some skills and ease the job search into second gear.
