Job Tips, Job News, Job Search – Blog by Browse Local Jobs

Getting lost in your job search is a surprisingly easy task. It takes a lot of energy to stay focused and work your plan for finding a new job.  There are several detours and side tracks that can derail the best of efforts. As the title of this article suggests as little as 10 days into your job search you can become listless and lose your drive. Giving in to any of the following distractions in excess can lead your job search off track rapidly.

Poor Management of your time: Your time is even more valuable during a job search. When employed the employer compensates you for your time. It is essentially their time. When you’re unemployed you have to foot the bill so your time is your own and you are the only one responsible for managing it. Be sure to do so very wisely. Avoid the following distractions to optimize your time.

• TV- Afternoon soap operas, talk shows, and game shows are the enemy of any job search. Opera is not your friend when looking for a new job.
• Personal calls – Employers don’t often allow personal calls because they can quickly become a time consuming and costly distraction. Try to save your personal calls for off hours just like you would at work.
• Web Surfing – Solitaire and chat rooms are the same. They take more time than you would ever believe. If you’re online and it’s not progressing your job search, close the computer and reflect on what you can be doing.
• Forget the milk – Personal errands are necessary, but avoid running your errands when you can be calling employers. Save them for the end of the day or you may quickly see your day evaporate.

Wallow in your own self-pity: Getting discouraged will take you off track faster than anything else. Stay busy during business hours and avoid giving in to depression or other negative drivers. Learn more about your emotional state during a job hunt.

Job Searches Hate Mean People: Negative people will drag you down with them. Avoid negative or mean people during your job search. Surround yourself with positive motivated people and ask them to help keep you accountable.

If you can avoid these major job search pitfalls you odds of losing your job search will decrease dramatically. Stay positive, stay focused and work your plan and you will find a new job before you know it.

Related posts:

1. Manage Your Job Search Culture
2. How I Survived My Job Search
3. Manage your emotions during a job search
4. Job Search Action Plan
5. Handling the Stress of the Job Search