What Not To Do When You're Unemployed
What's scary, at least to me, is that on any given day only 20% are spending time job searching, mostly in the morning and early afternoon. I know job searching is hard work, and it can be easier to try and avoid it. However, you're not going to find a job if you don't work at it. It's that simple.
If you're serious about finding a job, you should treat your job search like a job. You should spend all day, or at least most of it, job searching - writing cover letters, tweaking your resume, searching for and applying for jobs, and connecting with people who can help you.
If you're discouraged, and it certainly can be discouraging to job search in this economy, look for a support group. Many libraries, churches, and non-profit groups offer them.
For online advice and support visit our Job Search Forum and join our LinkedIn Group and we'll help as best we can.
At the least, get up at the same time you used to get up when you went to work, skip the extra hour in front of the television, and dedicate at least some of your socializing time to networking time.
More: Ten Steps to Find a Job | Job Listings
Comments
I would disagree with your advise to spend ALL DAY with a job search. I have heard my perspective on this echoed in commentaries from career consultants on NPR. As an Executive Search Consultant, I have worked with many professionals who have found themselves’ to be unemployed in this difficult economy. Looking for a job can be discouraging and can lower moral and confidence if you aren’t getting the results you desire. When I meet a candidate who has spent all day, everyday, on their job search: you can see their confidence diminish and their attitude is often quite negative. I recommend that my candidates only spend two – three hours a day searching. The rest of the time should be spent 1. doing something they are good at and that makes them feel good about themselves (nothing boosts moral like feeling like a winner! Train for a marathon, paint, draw, join a soccer league) 2. Volunteer (another feel good activity) 3. Educate your self (read literature or take part in training to keep your skills fresh) 4. Network (take on a visible role on a committee within a professional organization or non-profit- this is also a great way to gain exposure to potential employers) I do however recommend that my candidates wake up at the same time they did while they were working and to keep a structured schedule but for goodness sake: DO NOT SPEND ALL DAY ON YOUR JOB SEARCH or face the outcome of lack of confidence when you actually do get an interview!
I agree with you, Michelle, on not spending all day in looking at job boards on the Internet. But I would say that some of the things that you mention really would be part of the job search.
Volunteering and other networking are definitely part of the job search since you never know who you will meet who may have an important connection. And educating yourself is, as you said, a way to keep your skills fresh. In a way that could be part of your strategy for a job search so that you are really ready when you find a good opportunity.
I am currently between jobs, and I probably spend about 4-5 hours a day looking for and applying for jobs I find on Internet job boards. Then, depending on what I have coming up, I may do some preparations for an interview, I write a little something on my blog, I read other blogs on job searching or that are specific to my field, etc. It ends up being a busy day, but I try to find a balance that works for me.
I actually didn’t suggest spending all your time looking for jobs on the internet and I agree with you that’s not going to work. Many jobs are still found the old fashioned way – by networking, both online and off-line.
All those other things that have been mentioned – reading blogs, getting ready for interviews, networking, training, etc. are all just as important to your job search as actually searching for jobs is. Volunteering can be a great way of gaining additional experience, meeting new people, and connecting with people who can help. In-person networking is important, too – a cup of coffee with a ex-colleague, a pink slip party, a business mixer, or a job fair.
As far as running a marathon or any other activity that requires a signficant commitment of energy, effort and time, I’d be careful that it’s helpful rather than a distraction. My brother is a marathon runner and he does it evenings and weekends, working around a high pressure job.
The same holds true for taking a class. A friend of mine became an avid quilter when she lost her job, but she took the class in the evening – just as though she was working. If you look at the survey statistics I mentioned, the extra hour spent sleeping, plus the extra hour watching tv, plus some of the socializing time, are more than enough time to run, paint, draw, hike, volunteer or do plenty of other activities without sacrificing precious job search time.
I don’t think you should lose sight of your personal life – we all need personal time, but it is important to take those extra hours and do something worthwhile with them – and something that will help you find a new job.
Speaking from personal experience I have to say I think most of the day should be spent on a job search. Sure there are other activities that are important which can increase your knowledge and can boost morale, but non are as likely to help you reach your ultimate goal of obtaining a job as applying for positions and interviewing. The more I interviewed the more comfortable I became with the whole interviewing process, I looked upon denied opportunities as practice runs and a chance for to reflect upon what I could have done better in order to improve for next time. In the end a job search really is a job it might not always be fun and you may not always feel up to it but it something that has to be done in order to get what you want and the more opportunities you seek out the more likely you are to secure one.
I can’t imagine how any one would find a job spending only 2 or 3 hours a day job searching. That’s barely enough time to check email and send out a resume or two. I spend a lot of targeting all my resumes and cover letters and it’s time consuming.
Checking for new job postings, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, etc. and networking all take up part of my days. And I try and get out of the house every day to network, too.
The article says that unemployed people sleep an extra hour per day. I wonder how many more available jobs there would be if I slept one less hour? How about if I don’t sleep at all? Will that create even more jobs? Or is it just that employment is cutting into the natural amount of sleep that people need.
Looking for work more than 2-4 hours per day is a waste of time. I know plenty of good people who network constantly, driving up Starbucks share price, but who are still unemployed 6 or 12 or more months into it. Networking is like fishing. You can go a whole season without catching anything but carp.
I search all 10 internet boards that I use in about 1/2 hour. On a good day I’ll apply for 1 or 2 positions since posting for jobs that aren’t an exact fit is fruitless now days. That takes about 1/2-1 hour. Then I tweet, linkedin and blog. Leaving the rest of the day for endless networking.
I strongly suggest that people spend what time they think is productive searching for a job, and no more. That’s going to leave plenty of time to sleep, do housework, socialize, get some training and watch TV.
Now I have to go, or I’ll be late for my support group. You know, a bunch of unemployed people sitting around not looking for a job. After all, if everyone spent all their time looking for a job, then this article would be pointless since no one would read it.
Alison,
I’m with you 100%.
Job search is a job in itself. There is more than enough work to fill eight hours per day with lots of free personal time as well.
You are more likely to have a shorter time in your job search if you dedicate yourself to various aspects of your job search:
* Defining your value proposition (sales pitch)
* Creating a strong resume portfolio package
* Finding and applying to appropriate positions
* Marketing your value to your existing contacts
* Actively expanding your network of connections
* Contacting your references and priming them
* Writing thank-you’s to people who help and support you
* Refining your online presence
* Practicing your interview delivery
* Reading about and studying job search strategy
* Volunteering in appropriate associations and clubs
* Taking time out for coffee breaks and lunch
In my opinion, job seekers who do these things are likely to feel more fulfilled by keeping busy, making connections, helping others, and doing a good job at their job – job search.
Sharon Graham
Canada’s Career Strategist
http://www.SharonGraham.ca
Chris Getzoff, PSR, MCPC; CG Consultants HQ
While theory may have its place, it just won’t work in this market…..
I’ve been in the recruiting industry 28+ years and counting; it’s been my experience knowing a lot of this job search comes down to timing. I’m now going through my fourth recession as a recruiter; if, a candidate has been out of work six months to a year or more….they may need to shift gears, move or try to do something else for awhile, find a temp job if possible, whatever it takes. In the beginning when they were laid-off or let go….they should have laid the ground work and kept the paper trail going….resumes needs updating fairly frequently ( keeping it to one page) when they see something on the boards that fits their experience and criteria, act or call their favorite recruiter. If, they do attain a face to face interview, keep money out of it and off their paperwork.” It’s not what the company is going to do for you…It’s what you’re going to do for the company” attitude. (Manage expectations of everyone involved, especially their own) No sour grapes, no bad-mouthing; view this as an opportunity to be embraced.
Having a menial job rather than no job at all, proves to a future employer the candidate’s flexibility when the chips are down (can be sold by a savvy recruiter as such) employer will recognize it as a temporary measure while the job market recovers and will respect the candidate even more. Utilize, their neighborhood, family and friends as a networking source, these contacts are invaluable and usually the best jobs out there, volunteer to a charity, register at community college job centers and more, I call it the hidden job market. Yankee ingenuity.
Depending on what market the candidate lives in metropolitan or small, they need to get on their thinking cap, get creative, register with smart aggressive recruiters and keep all avenues of possibility open. Obviously, were in a tough market with over 2 million people out of work, no amount of advice is ever going to be the magic answer. But, pounding the streets everyday and relying on the job boards is just not enough and pray everyday, it works.
BTW…my last search firm closed our branch office letting 12 people go on a Friday, the end of March. I can tell you, I wasn’t about to go on the government dole; I regrouped by May, opened my own firm; in July, I posted my biggest month in production revenue, in a year. In a good market I normally average about $23K a month…but I don’t depend on theory to pay the bills. I plan my work and work my plan.
Alison and Sharon:
I agree 100%. Finding a job IS a job.
As a Corporate Recruiter, quite honestly, we can often see who has rushed their job search and who has invested time and due diligence in learning about our organization. It’s often obvious from what is written in a cover letter, for example.
When I first arrived in Londdon from South Africa, it was the end of the dot com crash and finding a job here toook me 8 months. Not a good job, just a job! During that period I guess I spent about 5 hours per day actively looking and researching, so completely agree with the views in the post. Those tough times are a real test of character and are often a make or reak time for people. You’ll either finish up weaker or stronger nad more confident from a period of unemployment. All the hard work has paid off though and my latest venture is an online site providing career advice to students at http://www.mytalentplace.co.uk
Very interesting post, but I think there may be some semantics at play here. Most people, including me, seem to agree on the things that need to be done each day. Sharon’s list is a really good one.
However, many people may consider the “real job searching” to only be when they are finding and applying to appropriate positions -looking for jobs and sending out resumes.
The networking, revising the resume, volunteering, refining the online presence, etc., may not be what they consider “active” job searching, so they don’t include it when they figure out all the time that is spent. Just my opinion.
Alison, I agree with your post and I also believe that we have a life which you have not denied. Dr. Morito, the founder of Morita Therapy said that effort is good fortune. That does not mean looking for work all the day but working everyday at that goal and I think that may take looking at our lives as a whole. many jobs are found “unconventionally” and I think that takes a degree of awareness.
To: Ms Alison
Hello Mam, the phrase: Finding job is a job; we have to make an extra efffort to do it….this is also an advise that was given to me at the Center for Newcomers in Calgary same as well in Alberta works here in Edmonton.
I came from the Philippines, and I am here now in Canada. Based on my experience in my counrty how to find a job at this point of time, is not an easy job to find one. We have to be patient all day and always think of a positive attitude that there will be one job that can be offered.
I am also one of the workers who was laid-off here in Canada last July 2009, but I am still fortunate to be given enough time to find new employer. As a job finder, I need to beat the time in my status here in Canada, with help coming from friends and meet their friends,gov’t agency, immigration.I look on the internet for possible employer in Job Bank,call for the verification of the job and I personally submit my own resume.
I also landed in an interview, yes its true that some interview ends up with nothing but I need not to loose hope and confidence, I will again.
Finally, last week I was interviewed and the employer is willing to apply for the necessary documents to extend my stay here in Canada, I just hope Service Canada will approve the application.
Thank you for the space and time..I hope I inspire people espesially those who are still unemployed
I’m with ya, finding a job is my new job. It does not pay as well as my last job though! I do spend time in the morning checking my job alerts and netwoking mails. I read the latest posts from the West coast forums and online trades. At this point if I have nothing that requires my attention right now I enjoy some time that I have available to enjoy the spoils of my labor! I know that soon enough I will be wishing I had time to take off! Tha afternoon roles around and it’s back to the search. I do spend my day with one eye on teh search, out and about I scan teh horizon for Help Wanted signs or comapnies I might want to cold call for potential opportunities!
This verbal volley is a good exercise. It looks like there is consensus that devoting time to your job search on a regular and consistent basis is required. What isn’t mentioned is how to do this effectively. Activities such as “tweaking your resume”, “networking”, “utilizing social media”, etc. are necessary. The mere effort of performing these tasks may or may not be effective. Tweaking your resume requires research and critical thinking. Effective networking requires finesse and great communication skills. Utilizing social media requires an understanding of who your target audience is and knowing where to interact and what your online profile needs to look like. In other words, you know the “what”, but do you know the “how?” Alison provides a wonderful forum to discuss these things. I would also recommend http://www.seanmccaffrey.com for more free information.
I was unemployed once before and, along with freelancing, spent every possible second job searching. I felt so desperate to get back to work that I jumped at a very unsuitable job with a very unsuitable employer. Five months later I quit (the only time I ever quit a job without having something lined up other than freelancing).
This time I’m trying to take my time and make a good decision–I’ll likely return to school this fall while picking up some part-time menial work.
Because the American employment lifestyle is so relentlessly stressful–it took me 20 years to get to the place where I could take a real 10-day vacation this year (ironically just before losing my job)–a breather from the rat race feels very healthy right now.
I read this and got so upset until I read everybody’s reply… thank you to those who did. The first couple of weeks I was on the computer 7 am – 7 pm…. My body ached, my mind was spinning, I couldn’t sleep well, it was horrible. Those of us unemployed don’t just have to look for a job, we need to secure our homes/mortgage, credit cards, call all the utility companies, etc to ensure nothing else falls apart until we do find a job. And yes, in this new world it’s all about professional networking — which normally occurs in the evenings… THEY even advise not to be on the computer 7 to 7 as I was doing. It was suggested especially now to enjoy the summer a bit since it’s slow out there, to go back to get a certification which will help me find a job, to learn something new to keep my mind occupied, and yes… make sure to stay on top of any recruiter contacts and search job sites a few hours each day– but not the ENTIRE day. Anyone who replied to this should be writing these articles!! How disappointing because I’m sure there are those who will thing this is sound advice and follow. Pathetic.
I’m not sure what Linda was referencing, but nobody (including myself) expects anyone to be on the computer 12 hours a day job searching.
The original article I mentioned talked about people spending their extra time socializing, sleeping, cleaning, and watching television. None of those things are going to help you find a job, except maybe the socializing.
What I said was that you should treat your job search like a job (and most people don’t work 12 hours a day). That meant, and sorry if I wasn’t clear, that a typical “work day” (6 hours – 8 hours is what our survey suggests is appropriate) would include applying for jobs, networking, connecting with people, joining a support group, etc.
Also, a few hours searching the job sites is more than enough time, because that’s only part of effective job searching and just applying for jobs online is a tough way to find a job. You need to be networking, talking to people who can help, etc., as well – doing all those things that Sharon mentioned.
Also, our Forum is available for anyone who needs personal help and advice:
http://jobsearch.about.com/forum
Im with you Linda as I have the same points you’re talking about.
We have children, schools, mortgage, car loans, etc…
I have been searching with all my contacts & job search sites and contacting a lot of employers, but at the end, they say we will see.
No body can feel what I’m saying until & unless he is in the problem itself.
By the way, Im writing this comment at 6 am as you said Alison and dont feel like getting asleep.
I feel like having the power to do a lot of things, but of no use.
Finally I have decided not to search for the employer.
Do business, that is the final answer.
Maybe it is in everybody’s hands, but this is what I can manage in the time being.
I have already spent one full month searching and a single interview I have attended although I have 11 yrs experience in my telecom field.
But, all companies are freezing hiring at least until the end of this year.
So, my suggestion,
1- Search for something profitable u can make
2- Do all your best to be on top of the recruiters list
3- BE PATIENT.
I think being patient, as hard as it is, is really good advice. This job market is the worst I’ve ever seen and it’s taking people a long time to find a job.
Just in case there are some people who aren’t aware, I do understand what you’re saying – I’ve been there, too.
One of the things, if you’ve every been unemployed, that you’ll never forget is trying to figure out what you can pay when, how you can juggle the bills, and how on earth are you going to find a job that will pay them. I’ve made the same phone calls some of the rest of you have, trying to hold everything together.
I was lucky in that I lost my job in a much better job market and I was able to find a job within a couple of months, but it was a really difficult time in my life.
I’ve been there too; I understand how difficult it could be to be unemployed. One could use a lot of support during that period of time.
I improved my skills and pass the exams between jobs. The learning also helped me with my job searching.
Here is my blog with a few things that I have learned from my own experience.
http://blogs.tracymoh.com/thoughts/position-yourself-when-unemployed/