The Busy Job Seeker's Challenge

I hate my job and am actively looking but find it hard to balance the demands of a search with my full-time hours. How do I look while working?

Answer

Honor your lunch breaks and save them for interviews or trips to the local coffee shop or library with your personal laptop.  Respond to emails, schedule interviews, and answer job postings via Internet and cell phone so there is no question that you’re not using company time or resources. 

And another tip? Stop letting American Idol suck up your evening hours and use them instead for networking, company research, and other job search activities that can be done outside of normal business hours. 

If you need to take time off for interviews, use the weekends and evenings to catch up on your work so that you don’t fall behind and can still get a great reference.  A detailed job search takes as much time as a full-time job so it might feel like you’re working a second shift.  Remember that this is temporary, and keep a job search journal to remind yourself of your progress.

Caroline Ceniza-Levine is co-founder of SixFigureStart, a firm that equips young professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to launch six-figure careers. Caroline, an expert in career changing, is also a partner at Redseeds Consulting, a recruitment firm specializing in management consulting, and teaches professional development at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs.

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