Time management is essential to a successful job search
Over the years, I’ve watched people struggle to navigate obstacles to rewarding employment. I’ve spent a career dissecting why people get stuck in dead-end jobs and stalled job searches. The reasons vary, yet many problems people encounter are self-inflicted or due to things under their control to change. I have seen ineffective communication and poor time management rate at the top of the list. Effective communication is a much larger topic, so I’ll focus on time management. Many factors contribute to poor time management. Let’s start with where I think the problems begin.
Lack of clearly defined goals
You can’t manage your time without clearly defined goals, timelines, and priorities. Without an overreaching purpose or destination, you’re lost. You’re likely to react to anything and everything that comes at you. Instead of saying: I need a job or I want a better job, define them. You can plan on the exact nature of either of these goals to change as you learn more, but focusing on what matters most to you can help you set specific targets and timelines. With a particular goal clarified, you can move backward to determine the steps needed to achieve it. Complaining and never working on a solution is a poor use of time.
Making assumptions that aren’t true or lead you down the wrong path can waste a lot of time.
Making assumptions
Unless you have a magic wand, you’ll need a detailed plan. Vague references to “networking” or “research” will not help you get started. Who do you need to network with? What do you need to know? How will you approach your searches or the people you want to talk with? Without specifics, you can waste time pursuing unsubstantiated leads and hair-brain suggestions. It sounds pretty easy to apply for posted jobs that “sound interesting”. But if you haven’t determined what you need on your resume to be competitive, you’re wasting your time. Making assumptions that aren’t true or lead you down the wrong path can waste a lot of time. Underestimating the time and effort required to submit an application can be costly.
Lack of preparation or investment
If you need to learn about the type of work you are interested in or an organization, don’t expect the answers to come to you by sitting next to the right person on the bus. In addition to writing out your plan, determine precisely what you’ll say. It doesn’t work to ask everyone in your network if they know of a job, especially when they may be in the same situation as you. The information gained by asking about someone’s work or a company can help you prepare for an interview. Preparing questions will help any conversation flow. The information you gain will help you prepare meaningful answers to interview questions. Unless you take the time to prepare, you could have several interviews that don’t lead to offers. Consider this another time management issue.
Procrastinating and/or missing deadlines
What can I say here that you don’t already know? Waiting until the last minute to take action can lead to unsatisfactory results. If an employer receives 50 responses to a job posting within one day, and even 10% of those are strong candidates, why would they look at another 100 applicants? Applying 5 minutes or one day after an application is due wastes time. (Ask Jordan Childs about how important meeting a deadline is.)
You’ll save time by planning.
Not using a calendar
This is basic to time management. We all have 24 hours in the day. We can choose when to add activities and tasks. If standing appointments and meetings aren’t visible, how will you know when to schedule all the other activities required for achieving your goals? Take everything out of your head and put it on the calendar. You will soon see how unrealistic many of your assumptions are. You’ll save time by planning when you can get things done instead of leaving them on a never-changing to-do list.
Being short-sighted
Many people have their eyes set on something specific. This is good when you’re competitive for the roles you’ve set your sights on. But if you’re transitioning to something new, it might require taking a different route. A job one step below your goal can help you gain competitive experience. If you’re quick to reject roles that could lead you to the next step, you’ll waste time by applying for jobs out of your reach. Instead, consider how quickly you could move up from a role that isn’t your final destination (even in another company) when you have the extra experience. Consider all options for getting to where you want to be.
Overall, I’ve pinpointed some key areas where changing basic behaviors will make a marked difference in your results. Let me know which you apply and how your results have changed.
For more career advice, check out my webinars on Goal Setting and Managing Your Time and Multiple Commitments and follow me on LinkedIn and (X) Twitter.
