Creative Job Search: Organizing a Job Search

Advance Scheduling

Successful job seekers have mastered the art of managing their schedules. Job search scheduling and goal setting should be done daily and weekly. Establish measurable goals. For example, block out the hours you have committed to the search and identify what you plan to accomplish. If you set 9-11 a.m. Monday for library research, your goal could be to identify 10 new employers you can pursue for employment leads. Tuesday's goal could be contacting the 10 new employers you identified Monday. Tuesday, 1-3 p.m. is scheduled for making direct telephone contacts. Be realistic but challenge yourself.

Make Yourself Accountable

Check your progress at the end of each day and week. See if you accomplished your goals. When you do, commend yourself and decide if you can set tougher goals next time. If you didn't accomplish the goals, explore why and decide what you need to do to succeed in the future. Maybe your goals were not realistic; you tried to do too much. Learn from this and plan more realistic goals for the future. It may be a good strategy to involve someone else in your search. Attend a job club. Talk with a trusted friend; give them permission to hold you accountable to your plans.

Keep Accurate Records

If you are conducting a serious job campaign, you may make hundreds of contacts and generate new opportunities daily. You need to develop and maintain a filing system and not rely on your memory. There is a variety of systems you can use; the choice is yours. Just keep it easy to use and maintain.