This post is written by Jessee (pictured), a guest blogger. She's a working professional and the author of the blog BusterPeach. Her career has endured four cross-country moves, two layoffs, a major merger, and the launch of three startups – all with just two employers. While her expertise lies in contact center operations management, she has focused heavily on employee training and development and is especially passionate about coaching soft skills and sales performance.
The "apply online only" world we live in makes it convenient to search and apply for jobs from the comfort of your home. But it's a huge adjustment to spend your days job searching in coffee-stained pajamas and call that meaningful.
After a recent layoff, my struggle with being housebound became most evident when my Mom asked each day, "Find any good leads?" I daydreamed of dropping a hot iron skillet on her pinky toe.
I missed the hum of work, feeling productive, and the comforts of a schedule. Family life became increasingly difficult. I began to define myself by my output of clean laundry, and I couldn't help but feel exploited every time people had the nerve to put on clean skivvies.
After months of hovering over job boards the way I imagine a bookie monitors SportsCenter 24/7, I was determined to change something up. I decided to rock this job search old school. Offline and face-to-face! Oh, the village elders would be proud!
Rejected and Dejected
In my best suit, with my best foot forward, I walked in to my target companies. I was committed to give a firm handshake, make a connection, and hand off my stunning resume. I even put on makeup.
I was not prepared for what I experienced. Every receptionist was armed with a threadbare script—"Ma'am, I'm sorry, you must apply online"—and generic business cards. In minutes, I was back in my car still holding my stunning resume. These people know their mission is to deflect and redirect. While it felt good to be out of the house, I was spinning my wheels, and wasting my good pantyhose doing it!
Defeated, I went back home to stalk job openings and calm my jangled nerves with household chores. When my attic reached a state of organized utopia, I was at my lowest point.
In a half-insane moment of total clarity, I designed a job search system resembling a schedule I'd use if I were working. The schedule looked something like this:
ACTIVITY: Search and Apply for Jobs
SCHEDULE: Mondays and Thursdays, 9:00 - 11:00 A.M.
- Mondays and Thursdays are the most strategic days, because newspaper job ads run Sundays and Wednesdays.
- Set up e-mail alerts for job boards to notify you of new, relevant jobs. Give yourself permission to stop watching job boards every minute of every day. Trust that you're more effective when you're not burned out.
ACTIVITY: Network
SCHEDULE: Wednesdays, 12:00 - 1:00 P.M. and 7:00 - 8:00 P.M.
- Shamelessly interrogate your network for leads. It can be as simple as meeting a former co-worker for coffee, going to the library, or attending a job fair.
- Spend this time outside the house, dressed for business.
ACTIVITY: Follow Up
SCHEDULE: Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:00 - 11:00 A.M.
- Follow up by phone or e-mail on each job you've applied to. Use a loose script of savvy questions to get on the employers' radar and stay there.
ACTIVITY: Organize and Track
SCHEDULE: Ongoing
- Set up a paper or electronic file for each job you apply for [Hint: Pongo Resume's Tracker and Task Manager do a lot of this for you automatically]. Include notes on: Job description, source of the posting, specific resume and cover letter you sent, relevant company research.
- Journal your interactions (on paper or online), maintain all contact names, telephone numbers and e-mail/postal addresses. Your first entry on the journal should be something like "Applied Online 03/29/09." Subsequent entries should detail names, dates of contact, and any specifics that were discussed.
Once I had a schedule with smart goals on it for each day, I could devote the allotted time to advance my job search, feel the pleasure of accomplishment, and then set it aside. As a bonus, I was able to give myself permission to catch up on those DVR recordings and enjoy my family without the constant sense that I was neglecting my job search duties. Pinky toes everywhere are thanking me!
What methods do you use to organize your job search?
RELATED LINKS
The Basics of an Effective Job Search
Job Search Quiz: Are You Well Informed or Lukewarm?
Who Are You? Answer the Question, Help Your Job Hunt
Jesse, I am so proud of you. You write so well. You are so smart.
This woman is brilliant! I believe the statement in the first paragraph should read "her expertise lies in" enabling those of us who are unemployed and stuck in the "Bermuda Triangle" of the cyber employment search to validate ourselves and feel much less like "losers". Her writing is humorous, yet filled with terrific direction. Great job Jessee!
Thank you for the wonderful tips! Job searching online is overwhelming and frustrating at best. Your blog had me laughing while jotting down notes! Thank you for the tips on time management and staying on track. Fantastic read!
Good point. I spend entirely too much unfocused time looking for another job. No doubt I would do better to adopt a similar schedule. Got to go, I have follow up calls to make. Thanks for the advice.
Thanks all! It's nice to know the information is going to good use AND making you laugh! If only it were that funny while it was happening to me!
You hear this alot about the economy lately and I hope it's true. It is said that the best ideas are often born in the darkest of times. This definately felt like one of those personal achievements and it paid off, because I finally got a great job!
I appreciate the comments!
This is a helpful site. Glad I came across it. I enjoyed the blog. Oh those dreaded questions " How is the search going?" Hard to answer when there is generally no news to report. I also struggle with feeling guilty balancing free time with job searching. Thanks for the insight!
Jes -
Beautifully written, coherent and touching on a topic that I can only imagine is of concern for so many at this time. Having been in the purgatory of looking for a job while trying to keep from slipping into despair, you have hit all the points needed for a life line.
Love your work as always! Cilla
Excellent, and sooo funny! I can relate completely! I especially like the comment, "the village elders would be proud!" That had me crackin' up, because that is what I feel like when I'm being interviewed by someone who is younger than my favorite pair of slippers! Keep the comments and humor coming! I'm looking forward to them! Lancaster, Ca.