6 Ways to Make Time for Job Searching
Most people simply do not have the time to relax and really enjoy themselves during the day. To kick back, clear their minds and “just be.” Not even during times that used to be designated for such inactivity. For example, the survey also revealed that 67 percent of Americans won’t be taking breaks to enjoy the summer months this year. My friend once said, “It should be illegal not to be able to take vacation,” and if this were true, most of us would continually break the law.
Life is busy and in order to have time for something we must make it. The same is true when searching for a job. Having a job while looking for new work can be a chore, because you already have a 9am-5pm requirement that takes up most of your time. So, to help those of us looking to transition, below are six ways to work the job search into your busy schedules:
1. Job alerts
Sifting through job boards like Indeed or Monster can be time consuming. Instead, sign up for job alerts to automatically notify you once a job becomes available. Job distribution service ZipRecruiter offers this service to its users. Job seekers can sign up for a free account with the company and create job alerts specific to the role they’re looking for. Open positions matching the role will automatically be sent to the job seeker (and you can control how often you receive the alerts). The great thing about this feature is that you can create however many job alerts you want. Decided not to pursue entering the communications field? You can also delete job alerts at any time.
Having alerts sent to your email will cut down excess time spent sorting through job boards.
2. Apply via social media
Many companies have adopted the “apply with (social media)” feature and for good reason. Recruiting via social media continues to rise, so it benefits both the company and the job seeker to have this type of feature. Applying with LinkedIn is very popular and will cut down on the time it takes to fill out online applications. Be certain to update your social media accounts with your latest experiences when using this feature because your online profile takes the place of your resume.
3. Add Resume to Databases
If you’re really strapped for time, why not drop your resume in a database and allow the employers to come to you? Instead of sorting through job boards to find the right role to apply for, you can sort through emails from interested companies—a much better use of your time.
4. Save Jobs Feature
Have you ever come across a job ad but didn’t have the time to apply for it that very second? Don’t allow lack of time to cause you to miss out on the job opportunity. Using a “save jobs” feature lets you save interesting ads/posts to return to later. ZipRecruiter enables its users to save jobs by simply clicking on the star icon next to each posting. If once you go back and look at the post you realize it’s not a good match, you can easily “unsave” by clicking the highlighted star again.
5. Go Mobile
Don’t slip under the false impression that you can’t find the time to search for jobs just because you cannot physically sit in front of a computer. Go mobile and apply using smartphones and devices. Many companies are optimizing their websites for mobile users. ZipRecruiter’s system lets users apply on the go using a quick mobile apply form to add basic information.
6. Set Aside Time
Perhaps this tip should’ve been first, but as the saying goes, “Save the best for last.” Again, to be able to commit to something you’re going to have to make the time. Look for ways to rearrange your schedule to suit your job search efforts. Are there activities you can cut? Is there one day where you can set aside a few hours to apply for jobs? Most often the actual problem isn’t the amount of time, but how we choose to use it.