Stay Productive While Searching for a Job

By Leigh Ann Conselyea

Jobs Vacancy, Job vacancies, Employment Jobs

Recently, the Virginian-Pilot ran a story about a local woman who had applied for 667 jobs before finally landing one. She knew the exact number because she tracked them all on a spreadsheet. This story served to highlight a few things

* The job market is still VERY tough

* There are ways to make your job search more efficient and remain productive while searching

In the case of this individual, she was not an entry-level worker. This was an experienced project manager who had been laid off from a telecommunications company. So, she promptly began to apply her skills to her newest project-finding a job. This is a great example of one way to stay focused and have a creative job search.

It's easy to become discouraged when looking for a job. In a way, it's almost like online dating-You read a great ad, write an engaging response showcasing you at your very best, then hope they like you enough to call you. Inevitably, some will call; and some will not. Here are a few things to keep in mind when going through this process.

Set reasonable goals
For example, make it a goal to find and respond to a certain number of job postings every week. Hitting this goal will give you a sense of accomplishment and will also keep your job hunt going. It can take weeks for employers to respond, so make sure you are continually searching and applying; don't sit back and wait for responses-keep going!

Volunteer
You would be amazed at how many people you can meet while helping out organizations that need assistance. It's not only a great way to network, but you can sharpen your current skills as well as learning new ones. In addition, it helps you structure your days so you are less likely to feel as if time is being wasted.

Consider non-traditional job search methods
It's not all about the classifieds these days! Think about trying social media sites such as LinkedIn.com, or Twitter to help you find opportunities. Consider creating a Twitter channel that focuses on the industry you want to work in, so that you can stay abreast of news. Start following others in the that industry and pay attention to their posts.

All of the methods listed above can be helpful to you as you search for a job. In addition to offering learning, experience, and exposure, they will also help you to feel productive. When you feel productive, you have more confidence, and that can make all the difference.