Have you ever heard that searching for a job is a full-time job? Job seeking can easily result in the same time and effort as that of a full-time job. In fact, with all the resources available to job seekers today- and the myriad of different lines of communication for presenting yourself as a job seeker- there is almost no excuse for your job search not to be a full-time job. If you haven’t already, doing so can make your job search more productive and effective.
Modeling a full work day in your job search will help prepare you for an eight-hour work day. Especially if you’re a recent graduate or you’ve never been in an office atmosphere. Conditioning yourself to this could be advantageous to your future adaptability as an employee.
By making your job search a full-time job, you also increase your chances of being noticed simply because of your persistence. If you’re working full-time in your job search, you’re searching deeper into job boards, newspapers, and your networking. You’re generating more resumes and cover letters, and you’re making more cold calls and follow-up calls.
This job search method can also help you hone skills that are necessary for work place success. For example, job seekers must learn to be organized. Contacts should be kept straight, resumes and cover letters should be tracked and calls should be scheduled. This will teach you to keep a calendar and meet deadlines in a timely manner.
Creating a full-time job out of your job search also shows a great amount of initiative and perseverance, both of which are necessary traits in the workplace. When the day becomes long and tiresome, you’ve already weathered yourself to these midday mood swings or fatigue attacks. Since you’ve been working full days already, you probably have a better grasp on what you need for a pick-me-up, or the motivation you need to continue being productive.
This system can help you find a routine as well. Depending on the workplace, this could be a large factor in your productivity. Routine doesn’t have to mean that you do the same thing, in the same order, and at the same time everyday. It could mean that you begin the week by creating a list of contacts you’d like to make throughout the week, or you leave the workplace every night with a prepared list of what to begin working on tomorrow. This methodology can be beneficial in the workplace where you will most likely be juggling multiple tasks.
Why not begin to prepare yourself for the real-world workplace? The skills you sharpen and the experience you gain throughout your job search will continue to make you a more competitive candidate for the job of your dreams.
Do you think the job search should be a full-time job for those that are not already employed? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!
IMAGE: Courtesy of Flickr by slightly everything
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