As a job seeker, you should consider time management as one of the most important techniques to help you find a job (and keep it) effectively. Fortunately for those who don’t have the gift of innate time management, various tools exist that can help.
Don’t ignore the basics. You can have all the latest apps for time management around, but if you don’t know your schedule in the first place, none of them will help you become more effective. A simple day planner allows you to schedule each day and know what’s ahead, and you can easily choose a variation that works for you. To do this, consider using this checklist to figure out what you really want from your planner and then find one that fits your needs. Decide whether you prefer to write things down or have it readily accessible on your phone/computer (Remember the Milk is a good free site that helps keep track of your schedule and to-do lists, all in the same place). And then make sure to actually use it — update it daily and you’ll soon find you have a much better handle on what time you actually have to get things done.
Take some time (seriously) to figure out how you spend your days. Before you go about downloading the latest apps that get that magic combination of highest rated/most votes, you need to really figure out what you need. Make yourself a simple schedule that breaks down your day into 15 minute increments and, for a week, write down what you do every fifteen minutes. This way you know how you’re actually spending your time — or wasting it. Plus you see what you focus on the most and where you might be able to shift your focus so you can spend a majority of your time engaged in activities that will get you that coveted job.
Tame your media distractions. Going beyond simply putting your phone on silent when you’re job hunting, there are a few tricks you can use. If you have someone whose call you truly can’t miss, set your phone to alert you only when that person calls. All other alerts go to silent mode, including emails, texts, and social media updates. They can wait. You may also want to check out StayFocusd, a Google Chrome extension that blocks those sites that suck your time away. Again, you get to set up the time (including a brief length of time that you get to indulge in your distraction) and days. This way you can focus on job searches rather than your fantasy football stats or the latest Huffington Post article.
Use technology to help you. Along with the apps to help you avoid the distractions, use them to help you focus and organize. Something as simple as Google Docs, Evernote/OneNote (see a comparison of these two platforms here), or OneDrive allows you to keep all of your cover letters, resumes, lists, and Excel spreadsheets of job search progress in one place, and all of them have smartphone compatibility. Use these types of sites in combination with your planner so you can find whatever you need quickly.
Once you write out your schedule and know what you want to accomplish in terms of a daily, weekly, and monthly job search, you’ll feel much more accomplished. And all of these organizational skills will help you in any future job.
For more lifestyle or health and wellness tips, read our related blog posts or reach out to the experienced staffing team at Medical Professionals today!
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