3 Ways to Boost Your Job Search Productivity
The economy is on an upswing but your job search is going nowhere. Dozens of resumes have been sent out but still no job offer. What gives? Take a moment and focus on your game plan. Don't just aimlessly send out resumes and hope that one of them will answer. Not only is this a way of time, but it won't get you anywhere. Here are three ways you can boost your job search productivity.
1. Set small goals for yourself
Setting big goals such as, "I will find a job today" can seem overwhelming and ultimately be unproductive. Instead, give yourself small daily goals to reach. Instead of saying, "I will send out as many resumes today as I can," tell yourself, "Today I will spend some time crafting my resume to two or three different types of jobs." Another small goal could be, "Today I will pick two or three companies that I'm really interested in, do some research on those companies and apply." Small and steady goals can ultimately lead you to your big goal. It will become easier to tackle them and before you know it, you'll be closer to your end goal.
2. Focus on one thing at once
Job searching, writing resumes, making phone calls, etc. can be exhausting when you're trying to do everything at once. Focus on one task at a time. Set aside time to job search for the jobs you're interested in applying to. Don't just apply to them all. Narrow down the jobs that you are interested in and feel qualified for. Once you've narrowed down your choices, take some time to tailor your resume to each job position. Don't just send out resumes blindly without reading them beforehand. By focusing on one task at a time, you can avoid any mistakes that might occur when you're trying to do multiple things at once.
3. Look for untapped resources
The Internet isn't the only place to find jobs. Take some time and volunteer. Talk with your friends, family and past colleagues. Sometimes, the best jobs are the ones that haven't even been listed yet. Usually, companies will look to their employees to find referrals for positions that are opening up. If no referrals are found, companies will then post a job listing to their website. Talk to colleagues or friends who are in the same industry that you're trying to pursue. Try volunteering at a company so you can show your work ethics and habits firsthand and be at the front of an employer's mind when they're thinking of a position to fill.
Job searching doesn't have to be mindless and painful. It can have strategy to it that will make it productive and give you more time to do other things that you enjoy.
