Looking for a new job can be overwhelming and it seems that a lot of people are doing a lot of exploring right now. I see an article every day about “the great resignation”. I don’t believe for a minute that everyone is looking for something new.
Sure, there are people who banked a lot of money over the last 18 months. No travel, no commuting expenses, no gym membership, no frosted highlights. If all that cash went into savings, then there is a group of people who have a newly found cushion. They can afford to use their f*&k you money to do just that – quit without a new job to go to.
Most people are not in that position but they are frustrated enough with their return to work/company/boss/pay situation to want to find something better.
Looking for a job when you have a job is one of the hardest things to do. It takes focus and discipline. Those things are not always available in abundance when you are juggling the rest of your life.
Focus – it is easy to go down the rabbit hole when you start reading job postings on LinkedIn. 45 minutes later you have imagined yourself as an aquanaut, a flavor developer for Pringles and dozen other things for which you are not even remotely qualified.
Decide on the three most important things your new job should have. Write them down. Use them to set up filters so you see only relevant jobs. That keeps things a little more efficient.
Discipline – block time in your calendar to work on your job search. Looking at postings on Sunday night when you are dreading Monday morning is not the best frame of mind.
Try blocking a couple of lunch time sessions and an evening. Try for three times a week, just like going to the gym. Plan your sessions. You want to apply for posted roles but that should only be 20-30% of your time. You also want to spend time reconnecting with former colleagues and people you know from volunteering. Also, consider your current colleagues. Take a few into your confidence that you are starting to think about something new. You never know who will make the key suggestion or introduction that will get you into the best job of your life.
Recruiter's Couch 