6 Steps to Stop Procrastination When Job Hunting

6 Steps to Stop Procrastination When Job Hunting6 Steps to Stop Procrastination When Job HuntingStop procrastinating and get back to your job search with these six tips.Youve spent the last few months lounging around the house enjoying work-free days. Or maybe you just quit your job and are preparing to transition into something new. Whatever your reasons are for not being employed at the moment, sooner or later youll need to find a job.The problem is, once youve enjoyed time off, it gets a little bit harder to start looking for a job. Eventually you start putting off your search further and further until its absolutely necessary to take action.Looking for tips to reduce your time amongst the unemployed? Here are six steps to help you stop procrastinating when looking for a new job.1. Make your bedWhat does your bed have to do with looking for a job? On the surface, nothing. However, making your bed plays a vital role in your mindset for the day. Think about it a warm, rumpled bed lo oks so inviting you may just lie back down. And if you do, it will be easy for you to say five mora minutes again and again until it becomes Ill do it tomorrow. Avoid the entire procrastination ordeal altogether by simply making your bed when you get out of it. Youll be more likely to stay up and start being productive, as youve already completed your first task of the day.2. Treat the day like you would a normal work dayYouve made your bed, now whats next? Getting out of your pajamas and carrying out your morning routine like you would on a normal workday. Why? Because treating each day like a work day will get you one step closer to your first day at a new career. It doesnt matter if you dont even plan on leaving the house, getting dressed and properly groomed shows that you are ready to work.Having trouble finding the motivation to get back to productivity? Try creating a workplace feeling at home. Even if youre just going online to look for job opportunities, do it at a desk. No t in your bed. Not on your couch. Do it at a work desk or if you dont have one at home, your dining room table. If being at home is too much of a distraction, set up some place where youll have the best chance of success, such as a library or a caf.3. Create your plan of attackOne of the main reasons people tend to procrastinate finding a new position is because theyre unsure of what kind of job they want, or which companies theyd like to work for. Creating an outline of your job search strategy before you begin will help get things on the right track.Thoroughly plan out how you will go about your job search, outlining your career objectives and the necessary steps it will take to achieve your career goals. Be definite of what type of work you want to do. Once you have that, determine which companies you know offer what youre looking for and then narrow that list down to companies you want to work for.4. Calendar your plan and stick to your scheduleYouve targeted the companies you w ant to apply to and listed all the tasks related to your job search. The next step is to ensure that things get moving as quickly as possible. Make a detailed calendar of your job search strategy with dates and times for all of your relevant tasks. For example, on Monday between 900am and 1200pm, you will update your resume. You could take a one hour lunch break and then apply to your target companies between 100pm until 500pm.Once your schedule is in place, stick to it. Try your hardest to minimize distractions. Remember, your job for the day and every day that youre still unemployed is to look for a new job.5. Be prepared with the necessary toolsAs with a regular work day, you have to be armed with the right tools for your job search if you want to be successful. Is today resume updating and job research day? Then make sure that your laptop and internet connection are working properly. Is today interview day? Then make sure that you are dressed appropriately and you have physical copies of your resume and other important documents ready.Having all the tools you need for your job hunt on hand will ensure that you do not lose your momentum and helps minimize distractions.6. Mark the tasks you have already doneRemember that calendar you made of your tasks? The one youre dutifully sticking to? Highlight or check off the tasks that youve already completed. Nothing motivates a person more than seeing that youve actually made headway on your career goals.So get up and get moving. New opportunities are waiting for you

How to Use Facebook to Find a Job

How to Use Facebook to Find a JobHow to Use Facebook to Find a JobThe way employers find qualified candidates has been drastically revolutionized by the internet and social media over the past 5-7 years. Ads placed in a newspaper are no longer a pertinent way to search for a job. The internet certainly increased the range of ads but the numbers stayed relevantly the same until social media changed the whole playing field and became an amazing way for recruiters to tap into social groups comprised of their target demographic.Weve talked about using LinkedIn to search for a job but lets not rule out Facebook. The worlds most popular social media site can provide your best access to companies looking for your specific talents. Especially Facebook groups that are specific to your career and following company pages for the industry leaders in your area. Joining a professional group on Facebook will provide insight about industry trends and hiring periods that might not be obvious to other people.Because social media has become a popular source, businesses now simultaneously release job openings onto all of their social pages when they become available including Facebook.Note Make sure that if you are going to use Facebook to help you search for jobs and get leads, that your personal page reflects you as a professional, not as the party bro from UT Job recruiters need to landsee you as a potential job candidate A great way to do this is to create a public and a private Facebook account. Your friends and family have access to the private account so that you can interact with them on a personal basis and any job recruiters searching for you will only see the professional profile.Dont overlook other online sources for job searching, like industry leading blogs. These blogs keep you informed on changing trends, major company events (such as job fairs or get to know us networking events) and openings in their company that might present the perfect job opportunity. They a re also a great way to anticipate what will happen with your future employer. You should also join their mailing list to stay one-step-ahead, just make sure their emails dont wind up in your spam accountBecause social media has become one of the most effective recruiting tools for employers, if you learn how to navigate the finer points of these platforms, you will definitely have a serious advantage over the competition searching for the same job

A Spys Guide to a Top Secret Job Search

A Spys Guide to a Top Secret Job SearchA Spys Guide to a Top Secret Job SearchLooking for a new job while employed can take a lot of effort, from strategically planning interviews to finding time to rework your resume. But a secret job search can be surprisingly fun if you look at it from the right angle. Why not take it to the next level by adopting a 007 persona? After all, it takes a stealthy, savvy and suave person to keep an active job search off the bosss radar. Bring a little excitement and edge to your job search by thinking of yourself as a secret agent working on a top-secret mission1. Use Your Gadgets WiselyTake advantage of mobile apps. Its the digital age, and technology has provided many conveniences that were not possible before. Use this to your advantage. Simply Hired has an app that is available on iTunes and Android. Searching on a tablet or phone is effortless, and its mora discrete than looking on a big computer screen. Speaking of whichDont search on your work c omputer. If you conduct your personal job search during what are supposed to be work hours, youre putting yourself in a vulnerable position. Employers have the right to search your browser history. Moreover, if they find out they wont be pleased about your activities.2. Stay IncognitoKeep your resume under wraps. Dont post your resume on every job board someone is bound to notice. If you hand out your resume, make it clear that your current employer is not aware of your covert operations.Dress appropriately. Dont walk into work in full-on interview attire if you dress casually on a day-to-day basis. Leave your interview clothes in the car, or mix pieces of formal and casual clothes. Get creative. You can disguise yourself in many ways.3. For Your Eyes OnlyUse LinkedIn carefully. Hailed as the place to network for job opportunities, LinkedIn provides a great space to build connections. abflug by interacting more with your network and updating your online profile. As always, check you r settings to select the degree of privacy before you start sharing information.Approach social media with caution. For better and worse, social media is where content can go viral. A private job search, however, should not be something you share with your entire social network. Use private messages, avoid status updates about your job search and adjust your privacy settings. Remember nothing online is private.Share selectively. A job search is insider knowledge and best not to be shared with coworkers. Telling your coworkers is the easiest way to blow your cover, as people like to gossip.4. Double Agent StatusCreate and remember your backstory. You need a cover for your interviews and calls. Doctor appointments, dentist check-ups, whatever it needs to be a reasonable and believable story. Schedule them cautiously and space them out to avoid suspicion.Separate your job search from your workspace. Dont take calls in the office and dont schedule them during work hours. Use your person al emaille on your personal phone or home computer for electronic correspondence with potential employers.Finish strong. Keep on keepin on at work, and dont fall victim to unprofessionalism because you anticipate leaving the company soon. Think of the long-term benefit you want to keep a good relationship with your current employer for any future recommendations or opportunities.5. If Your Cover is BlownHonestly is the best policy. Its important to prepare an appropriate explanation for your employer if your mission is compromised. You want to give a straight answer with a carefully constructed, yet truthful reason. Be sure to emphasize that you are still dedicated to your current role.Leading two lives simultaneously isnt easy, but you can learn from great secret agents like James Bond and Jason Bourne. The key to succeeding undercover? Tread carefully. In the words of George Herbert, The life of spies is to know, not to be known.Read Related ArticlesUse Free Time to Advance Your J ob Search5 Tips for Keeping Your Job Search Secret from Your Boss