4 Tips for Making Time for the Job Search while Employed - CareerAlley

4 Tips for Making Time for the Job Search while Employed - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. Ralph Waldo Emerson When I talk to many friends who are dissatisfied with their current jobs, I often ask why they dont look for a different job. The response I get almost always is that they simply do not have the time that is required to look for a job since they are so busy at their current place of employment. Its been said that looking for a job, especially in this uncertain economic climate, constitutes a full-time job in and of itself. While this may often be true, it is entirely possible to make time to look for a job. The secret is all in the way you manage your time. If you have already optimized your resume, and you are familiar with the practice of tailoring your cover letter for different jobs, here are a few tips to get your organized and applying for jobs as efficiently as possible. 1. Spend several hours each Saturday and Sunday searching for job openings. The longest periods of time that you will have to look for a new job without worrying about your current job is during the weekend. If you usually use Saturday and Sunday evenings for leisure and socializing, then wake up a few hours early and scan as many job ads in different listings, both online and off, as you can. Highlight the ones you are interested in, and type up all the relevant information into one document. Keep each job opening entry down to the essentials so that you dont get overwhelmednote the contact information, the way in you are asked to apply, a few notes about details of the job, and some notes about the company or organization itself. 2. Establish a set amount of jobs for which to apply every day. Now that you have a collection of job openings that interest you and that you are qualified for, complete at least three or four applications ever day. Make sure that you spend time editing your cover letter so that it matches the job description perfectly. 3. Always be on the lookout for networking opportunities as you go about your day. You can diligently apply for jobs all day, but you jobs are more frequently achieved through referrals and random networking. As such, always be on the lookout for an opportunity to meet someone who may work in an industry or job which interests you. Whether its meeting friends of friends or simply talking to people when you go out to bars, clubs, restaurants, or sporting events, youll be surprised what a little bit of conversing can do for your job search. 4. Keep an excel spreadsheet that keeps track of all the different aspects of your job search for each job you are pursuing. The worst part of about applying for hundreds of jobs is following up on the hundreds of jobs afterwards. Its important to keep track of these things, and the easiest way to that is to create a database that indicates which jobs you are still waiting to hear back about, which youve had contact with, which you are in the interview stage with, etc. This is crucial so that you remember to follow up after each point in the job search for each job. Of course, it wont be a walk in the park finding a job successful while you are languishing in a time-consuming job that you dont particularly enjoy. Still, if you are diligent, efficient, and organized, it shouldnt be a problem at all! Good luck! Author Bio: This is a guest post by Nadia Jones who blogs at online college about education, college, student, teacher, money saving, movie related topics. You can reach her at [emailprotected] Good luck in your search.