The Times on Time Management

My friend Jackie posted this link http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/jobs/06search.htmlon her FB page and it got me thinking about how I'm managing my time in my search.  I'm not.  An interview trumps everything, even those ridiculous phone interviews where I block out the time and  stay home so I can be pre screened without any white noise or distractions.  As much as I attempt to organize the different functions in my search (this is where being in sales is truly helpful because a job search is not that much different from what a salesperson does everyday), the  hiring people aren't performing their roles in this production very well. They're not picking up the phone when I call to see if they received my resume, they're not responding to my emails and mostly, they're not providing information. As in any sales cycle, information is valuable and we waste so much time chasing it.  The beauty of email is you can inform but don't have to engage. So a simple "We appreciate your interest in our company, but you're not a good fit" response means I can cross them off the list and move on.  Communication and courtesy would make this process so much easier.

My search may be wreaking havoc on my waistline and mental acuity, but I know my energy and focus are best in the morning, after the gym, so that is my dedicated search time. Everyday.

What Keeps You Up at Night?

Are the thoughts tumbling around in your head in the middle of the night related to work? Your career trajectory? Unemployment? Relevancy in today's ferocious marketplace? Customer loyalty? Profitability? Creativity? Unique value propositions?

Have you grown weary of being pleasantly persuasive without getting results?

Searching for work is tiresome on a good day. Constantly presenting your talents,the value you provide and your accomplishments can be exhausting. Especially to people who aren't as passionate about you and your goals as you are. The worst part of looking for work can also the best part; making new friends. If you're lucky, your network will include people who are funny, intelligent and empathetic. If you're extremely lucky, one of those people will lead you to the person who recognizes your value and hires you.

It only takes one. One job, one connection, one person who recognizes your unique talents. However, until that one comes along, having a supportive network of people whom you can help and can help you, does wonders for your self esteem and mental health.

I am lucky enough to have a network comprised of intelligent, funny, insightful, compassionate people who I would have coffee with even when we're employed! While we're all competitive people, we don't compete with each other. We provide support,leads, share war stories, warnings about dead ends, perspective and laughter.

A solid network is a treasure and should be nurtured because it's about so much more than getting your next job.