The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
Whenever I talk to job seekers who have been unsuccessfully searching for work for a long time, I often hear a common theme. These candidates have spent almost 100% of their job search time sitting behind a computer searching through online job ads. This is simply not the most effective use of your time out of the workforce. Here are some tips for balancing your activity during your search:
Make a point to network every single week.
The old adage, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” really is true. In most cases, a friend or colleague won’t be able to get you a job for which you’re not qualified, but they may be able to get you an interview when your resume would otherwise have been overlooked. Anything you do that involves talking to other people about your job search counts as networking, whether it’s lunch with a former coworker, coffee with a recruiter, or a formal networking event in your area.
Schedule time for follow-ups.
Whether you’re inquiring about a submitted job application or following up with a colleague you met while networking, these intimidating tasks often get pushed to the back burner as you prioritize your time. Scheduling them into your weekly agenda ensures that you will set aside adequate time to close the circle with various activities that you’ve started.
