Full time job!

No, I have not found a full time job. It seems that time is not infinite when you are not working.

I try to treat job hunting as a F/T job, but I also believe in balance. You can drive yourself crazy scanning job sites - which of course is not the best way to find a job (network! network! network!). So I put time into the gym (good for mind and body), house work (I hate cleaning, but I can manage laundry), and a few little projects around the house (they actually get done when you don't have to work 40+ hours a week). But you do need to put time into the job hunt.

So now that you know that scanning job ads is not the most productive way to find a job, you need to get out and network. Not as easy as it seems. When was the last time you talked to someone in your business network just for the sake of staying in touch? Hmm? How about lunch? A coffee? No. Too busy at work right?

Starting to network when you are suddenly out of work is TOO LATE. Okay, sorry for the all caps. You still have plenty of time. Really. Please don't cry.

So even I, who has changed jobs a few times, sometimes don't have the time to invest in networking.

I have worked at a few companies and usually hang on to a couple of good friends from each place. So the networking there is somewhat easy, cause I like having lunch with them anyway. So long as we work near each other or try to plan a brunch a couple of times a year.

But sometimes you just need to send out a ping (or poke in Facebook terminology) to make sure that people remember you. Not everyone is keeping up on their networking are they? When was the last time someone contacted you just to keep in touch? Were they looking for a job at the time?

We all go through times when we need a job and your friends and past colleagues are your best source. Most people don't take offence to you touching base and asking about job opportunities.

Some people only contact me when they need a job reference or want to discuss changing jobs. I guess I've made a good impression, or they figure if I can change jobs fairly easily that I can offer some help. No problem! Love to help.

But I don't begrudge the fact that they are looking for help. We will all need it some day. Give back to the universe as it will give it back to you when you need it.

I do not have a magic list of jobs waiting to be filled, nor do I have a huge list of high ranking execs looking for people. I just have some good 'practices' that help when you need them.

The best time to network is while you are still working. Too late right? Just remember this when you get back to working. For now, start working your network. Get the word out that you are looking for a new opportunity. The more people that know you are looking the better. But make sure they know what you want.

So back to the full time job of job hunting. You need to put the time in. It's that simple. Mind you, it is totally okay to take some time when first laid off to relax, recover, rethink. Don't panic and start looking for a job the next day. Take the time to navel gaze, think about what you want to be when you grow up (if ever), inventory what you like and don't like.

Sometimes, what you've been doing isn't what you were cut out to do, or maybe there is something else you really want to do.

And maybe having a full time job isn't what you want at all. I've always thought working for a living was overrated anyway.

SHH