March 29th, 2022

You know what they say "fail to plan is planning to fail" and that couldn't be more true for a strategic career/job change.  The hardest thing to do is look for a job let alone the "right job" when individuals have to balance a full time job, family commitments and the additionals.   After all of that you're energy is spent and looking for a job, the "right job" the proper way is the last thing you want to do.  Folks unfortunately I have bad news for you, unless you can invest that time in YOU and you're job search it will never get done or WORSE yet, the wrong job choice will be made.  BUT I have great news for you, your job search doesn't have to suffer! It can be fit in along with all those other things, it just has to be planned for.  Here are some easy steps to help with effectively make a Career Search Plan.

1. Give yourself 3 Hours a week "unplugged", "heads down" no distractions focused on job search activities.  Break it up in 3-one hour increments but whatever that time is it is meant for NOTHING ELSE but job search activities.
2. Schedule it on your calendar and your families' calendar so they know this is your time you are unavailable.  This is no different then if you have a doctor appointment or anything else.
3. Take 30 minutes in the beginning of each week to make a plan of what you want to accomplish during these time frames so that when it comes to the session you know exactly what you want to accomplish during that time so you DON'T WASTE THE TIME.
4. Last Here is a Sample 3-Hour Job Search Plan to Follow
   1. ​Research the type of Job you want to do and what the main functions and skills needed for it.  Once you find the options you like make a list of what similar and transferrable skills you have to do that.
   2. Research the Titles of people hiring for those roles along with some profiles so you can understand who your audience is better.
   3. Create an email template to connect with those people on Social Media (Linkedin), and then personalize it so you can start sending those communications to create the networking opportunities.
   4. Curate or create some content to post on LI or other Social Media platforms that is around your area of expertise so you get the attention of other professionals as someone who has authority in their space.
   5. ​Apply for jobs and send network connections to people holding the titles hiring for those jobs.​                     
      
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   7.  Happy Hunting!!