For a Job Seeker, Time Management Can Be One of Your Biggest Enemies

Searching for a job can be a long process and does take up a lot of time. Getting opportunities to interview, preparing for interviews and meeting people does take a lot of time and can be exhausting. Not properly managing your time can hinder you significantly and can slow down your progress.

Below are some tips for managing your time properly during a job search:

Set a daily schedule for yourself and stick to it - Even though you are not working, set a daily work schedule for yourself as if you are working. Set aside at least several hours each day (typically seven or eight) and stay close to that schedule. The best time to reach out to network contacts is during business hours and those should be the hours you are working to find your next position.

Write down your daily tasks each day- Writing down what you have to do each day on a sheet of paper might sound tedious but will help you remember what you need to accomplish on a daily basis and keep yourself focused. Making checklists or to-do lists can help you stay organized and keep you up to date with what needs to be accomplished for a successful job search. This will also help you remember appointments, interviews and follow ups.

Keep mind of opportunities to network- Sometimes we are faced with choices in life and when it comes to networking events, we do have choices to make. Networking events can be intimidating at times but have proven to be effective ways to find a job. Getting out and meeting new people is a great way to find other opportunities for jobs. Networking events can make the day longer, however, they are worth the time and you never know what might arise afterwards. Taking time to go to these events will increase the number of people you meet during your search and can help point you in the right direction.

Keep mind of opportunities that might not come often- While networking, you will come across people who have hectic schedules and will not have a lot of time to talk. If you are given an opportunities to speak with that person (even if it's by phone), make time in your schedule to do so. You never know what might come of that conversation and if you pass, you might not get that opportunity to speak with that individual again. Take the opportunity when given and it might open up another door for you.

Linked In: A Powerful Tool For The Professional and the Job Seeker

Since social media started booming as a popular form of communication, LinkedIn has grown to become of the best business tools available. Seasoned professionals can utilize it to keep in touch with clients, customers, former co-workers and colleagues and job seekers can use the site to look for jobs and network contacts. LinkedIn can help sell your experiences and capabilities with a well written profile and keep in touch with past and present co-workers. LinkedIn does take time but is beneficial in the end.

Even though it does take time to write up and develop, LinkedIn can be a valuable tool for the following reasons:

• it offers the capability to showcase your talents and experiences to a large group of people
• research can be done on companies, which can be beneficial for job seekers
  
• messages and introductions can be sent to contacts all over LinkedIn
  
• it can be used to network and build business relationships
  

LinkedIn is a remarkable and beneficial tool and below are tips on getting the most out of utilizing it:

Only Accept and Request To Be In Networks of People You Actually Know, Have Worked With or Have Done Business With

As a general rule of thumb, if you do not know someone requesting to be in your network, do not accept them as a contact until you have verified who he or she really is. Sometimes you can send a message to a person requesting to be in your network as a way to verify his or her identity but if you do not know the person at all, do not accept them into your network. This will help you manage your contacts and who you are connected with.

If You Are A Job Seeker and Wish To Send an Introduction to Someone, Make Sure the Introduction is Meaningful and Clear


Asking a contact to pass your introduction along to another contact is a great form of communication but take time to proofread what you wrote and make sure it's clear, concise and to the point. If your contact can't understand what you are trying to communicate, neither will the person who he or she will be sending it to! Take the time to write introductions that are meaningful and will help get your foot in the door with another person.

Use Personal Discretion When Putting Up Phone Numbers, E-Mail Addresses or Other Forms of Communication

If you don't want random calls on your cell phone, don't put your cell phone number on your LinkedIn profile. If you don't want e-mails to a personal account, do not put your personal e-mail on your profile. With more and more users utilizing LinkedIn each day, there is a greater chance that someone will take time to call or e-mail you to a personal e-mail address if it is on your profile.

Do Not Use LinkedIn to Bash Former Employers or Companies

LinkedIn messages are sometimes forwarded to other e-mail accounts and with Twitter and Facebook, information can spread very rapidly to a large number of people. Taking the time to openly bash a former employer or supervisor could end up in the wrong hands and might even eliminate you from contention for future positions. Once it is posted or written, that message can be spread like wildfire.

The Resume; The Key To Getting Your Foot in the Door

On a daily basis, hiring managers are often forced to sift through hundreds of resumes in a short amount of time. With little time to spare, hiring managers have to decide quickly who will get the phone calls for interviews and put the other resumes in the trash. Being able to keep your resume from hitting the trash can will mean the difference between getting your foot in the door and possibly getting a job.

In order to have a resume that stands out, you don't have to resort to goofy tactics or gimmicks to catch the attention of the hiring manager. Some people have resorted to sending balloons, wild animals (no joke), and even printing their resumes on different colored paper to get them to stand out (anyone remember the resume Reese Witherspoon had in the movie Legally Blonde?). Having the right content is what will get your resume noticed and help get your foot in the door for the interview.

With great content, your resume has a better chance of catching the attention of the hiring manager when he or she is going through lots of resumes in a short amount of time. Below are some tips on how you can tailor the content of your resume to make sure the hiring manager considers you to be a candidate for a position:

1) Keep your content concise and to the point- having lots of experience is helpful but keep in the mind the person looking at your resume will only have about 10-15 seconds to read each resume in the pile. Having content that is long, lengthy and hard to follow will make it difficult for the hiring manager to grasp and could make it easy to pass you up. Keep your content concise, to the point and easy to read for the hiring manager

2) Don't Be Afraid to Use Bullet Points- using bullet points can make it easier for a hiring manager to look at your accomplishments (more on that later) and follow the content in your resume. It also helps the hiring manager determine whether or not your experience is relevant to the position he or she is interviewing for and makes your resume an easier read.

3) Add Sizzle By Adding Accomplishments to Your Resume- prove to the hiring manager that you can get the job done by listing your accomplishments for each position. If you increased sales at one job, give a percentage of how much you increased sales. If you increased participation or membership, explain and give a number by how much. Make sure your accomplishments show the hiring manager you can make and meet goals and prove you can make a positive difference in the workplace.

4) Tailor Your Resume to the Job You Are Applying For- read the job description and ask how you can tailor you resume so that the qualifications the hiring manager is looking for can be shown in your resume. It's not unusual for someone to recreate the same resume 10-15 times for each specific position. Make sure the content of your resume reflects what the open job is looking for and prove your skills and background match the qualifications.

5) Have Another Set of Eyes Look at Your Resume- you never know what someone else will point out, good or bad, when looking at your resume. While you might not catch it, someone else might catch something that doesn't make sense, spelling errors or anything else that might get your resume thrown in the trash.

Prove to the hiring manager you are right for the job by having content that is concise, to the point and matches what the hiring manager is looking for. By doing that, you will have a better chance ending up with your foot in the door and getting a new opportunity.

The More Skills You Learn, the More Opportunities That Can Arise

When looking to build your career, having a wide set of skills can not only help get your more opportunities but could open up more doors along the way. As they always say, "throwing all your eggs in one basket" in terms of a skill set can limit you at times so exploring different opportunities to learn more will help you out in the long run.

If you are a college student, take advantage of the internship and learning opportunities your school has to offer. Many schools out there have invested a lot of time and money into getting new equipment, networking with individuals looking for college interns, finding different ways for students to study abroad, etc. College is a time for learning and taking the time to take part in different projects, use the different equipment available, and even studying abroad can help lay the foundation for finding your first job out of college. Taking advantage of opportunities to learn different skill sets will make you more marketable to employers and help find what you really want to do.

For those who are already in the workforce, networking can help increase your skill sets and make you more marketable. Taking time to talk with people in your network and sharing your goals can help the people you are talking to point you in the right direction. These people within your network might know someone who can provide the guidance needed to find different ways in which you can increase your skills set.

In addition to networking, taking classes can help increase your skills set and put you a step ahead of other candidates looking for a position. Many professional salesmen take outside sales classes to learn different ways to sell over the phone, schedule appointments, and close the deal. These classes are time consuming but provide these salesmen with additional skills to find and close new business. Having additional training on a resume can help set you apart from other candidates and could be a deciding factor in getting an interview and in some cases, getting hired. Taking the time to learn additional skills can help your career move along and put you ahead of the competition.

Whether you are a college student or seasoned professional, taking the time to learn other skills can help you benefit your career and the opportunities that come with the additional training.

When Interviewing and If Needed, Have a Portfolio

Interviewing is an opportunity to prove to a hiring manager you are the best fit for a job and one of the best ways to show you can help this person make more money is to prove what you are capable of. In some industries, having a portfolio of work samples to show a hiring manager can help make you more marketable and appealing in a job interview and prove to the hiring manager what you are capable of doing. If needed, bring a portfolio or samples of your work to the interview to prove to the hiring manager how you can add value to his or her company and prove you are the right fit for the job.

Having a portfolio of material does take time but can set you apart from other candidates in the end. Taking time to look through documents you've written, proposals you've drawn up, pieces you've written, etc. can help you find the proof you will need to show a hiring manager your desire to earn the position. These materials also show a hiring manager your ability to use your skill sets to earn more revenue and money for the company.

Over time, it is difficult to save everything you've created for various jobs so have success stories from inside and outside the business world ready in hand as well. These stories may not be hard copy documents of writing samples, proposals or other materials you have put together at different jobs but can prove to a hiring manager what you are capable of. If you are apart of a non-profit, business, or social group, have a couple of success stories ready to go before that interview. These success stories will prove to the hiring manager you can use different skill sets for a wide range of applications and will set you apart from other candidates. The goal of the interview is to help prove you are a right fit for the company and with success stories, you can sell the hiring manager on how you can make him or her more revenue.

Having a portfolio can help set you apart from other candidates and prove to the hiring manager your talents and capabilities. Make sure you have one ready to go in order to prove you can help the hiring manager make more revenue for the company nd want you to be on his or her team.

Don't Give Up

During a job search, getting turned down for a job or several jobs is no doubt frustrating and can shake your confidence. Feeling like you are getting close to landing a position and then being turned down is difficult to deal with and upsetting. It's hard to get back up after getting knocked down but how are you supposed to get another job if you simply give up?

Getting turned down for several jobs is part of the job-search process and it's no doubt that it can be upsetting and frustrating. There are instances in which you might feel you are a fit for a position only to lose out because someone had more experience, the company decided to promote from within, etc. Sadly, rejection is a frustrating part of the job-search process but giving up won't help you get that next position.

Rejection is hard to take but there are ways in which you can still be considered for future positions with a company that turned you down. At certain times, sending an e-mail to the hiring manager or putting in a quick call to ask why you were not selected for a position could open the door for more possibilities in the future. That shows the hiring manager you are respecting his or her decision and it gives you an opportunity to learn what you could do different in your next interview. Taking a few minutes to find out why you didn't get selected could open the doors up later on for other positions and help you improve your interview skills.

If you find yourself getting rejected for quite a few jobs, don't be afraid to network with other people who could help you improve your interview skills, resume, etc. Take time to sit down with people you trust and explain how you answered certain interview questions, have them look at your resume, and offer them to provide feedback. Feedback isn't always easy to handle but can point you in the right direction on how to improve the way you interview, write your resume and cover letter, etc. Take time to talk with others on how you can improve your job search and get your foot in the door at more places.

Going through a job search is a difficult process and getting turned down can make it easy to give up. Throwing in the towel won't get you the next position and there are ways in which you can learn from getting turned down. Taking time to call the hiring manager to understand why you didn't get selected and seeking advice from others could help you improve your interview skills, your resume and get your foot in the next door. No matter how many doors get slammed on you in the job process, those who keeping looking for the open window to go through instead will find themselves back to work because they did not give up.

When You Land a Job, Take the Time to Help Others Along the Way

Landing a new position is a great feeling and can bring about great career opportunities. It's a great feeling to get a job offer and accept it because something was accomplished through hard work and dedication. No matter how far you go and what positions you land, continue to take time to help others.

At one point or another, all of us has had help from one person or another in regards to a job search. Whether it was someone taking time to look at a resume for you, reading over a cover letter, putting in a phone call to a contact, etc., we've all benefited from someone lending a hand along the way. Don't forget who lent you that hand in need and don't be shy about helping others along your path.

Being in transition is difficult and frustrating and keep that in mind if someone reaches out for your help. Take a few minutes to put yourself in that person's shoes and understand what that person must be going through, his or her frustrations and the need for someone to help them with the job search. Sometimes taking 15 minutes to talk to a person by phone can help point them in the right direction and can provide them the guidance needed for a job search. Find a way to help someone reaching out for your assistance and realize that the time you are taking will mean a lot in the end.

No matter how far you go, always take a few minutes to help others in need. It will be appreciated and you never know what can come from that relationship.

Give Back To Others No Matter How Far You Go

If it weren't for the help of several people along the way, I would not be where I am today. Many people have taken the time to provide advice, help me with my job searches and help me develop my skills along the way. I will never forget the kindness these people gave to me and will always return the favor or give back to others.

During the rough times in my life, many people went out of their way to help point me in the right direction in life and I will always remember their kindness. On both a personal and professional level, these people took time out of their lives to help guide me to where I needed to go. Helping me out was a choice of theirs and for making that choice, I will always take time out of my day to help them with their needs.

No matter how successful you are or whatever job you land, take time to help others. Whether it's through networking, a phone call for advice, offering to call someone on your behalf, take time out of your day or week to help someone who could benefit from your help. You will not only build trust with that person but provide them a reason to help you later on down the road. You might not know what they can help you with at the time but that person won't forget the kindness you showed towards them.

Whenever you come across someone you could help, remember you may have been in that person's shoes at one point or another and how grateful you felt that others took the time to help you. Don't forget where you came from and taking time out of your schedule to help someone else will help that person find his or her way and give them a reason to pay it back later on.