Three Things You Should Do While Job Hunting

Imagine sitting at home filled with frustration because the job you had for five years just let you go. Company X just got acquired by a Japanese company. You turn on the TV and start to watch the news and wonder how you can get back in the job market. We all experience this at least once in our career. The worst thing to do at this moment is to dwell on the job you’ve lost. You need to be proactive and preparing to get your next job. While you’re in this process there are three things you need to be doing to maximize your job hunt.

1. Get a part time job

I understand you have your pride and you were doing amazing things in your previous organization but let’s examine reality. You’re currently unemployed and unless your unemployment is still in function then you should be getting a part time job at least. Keeping cash in your pocket will reduce your stress level and buy you time to look efficiently and effectively. This will keep your cash flow moving and allow you to remain active during the downtime. Having a part time job will help you avoid having gaps in your resume as well.

1. Start Networking

You will never regret stretching your network in the world of hunting for jobs. Spend time growing your network and the opportunities will follow.  I have received majority of my job offers through connections I have built in the past through networking. If you don’t know where to start check out Meetup.com in your local city and see what events are currently happening. This serves as a good resource which tells you about group meet-ups based on your interest and your location

1. Improve your skillset

When you’re in the job hunt it’s a perfect time to add to your skillset. When I finished contract roles in the past I designed a set of learning goals that I would work on in my spare time. You should be finding ways to make yourself more valuable when you land your next job. I once spoke with a lady that learned how to write code during the four months she was unemployed. She was able to land a higher paying job in her field because of some of the unique skill set she developed during her time unemployed.

If you’re currently unemployed make sure you’re doing these three activities to maximize yourself in the job hunt. When you’re done reading this pull out a notebook and start developing a strategy around these three activities. Losing a job is devastating but the one’s that quickly rebound use these three activities to maximize their time.