210: How to Conduct a Job Search When You Have a Full-Time Job

How to Conduct a Job Search When You Have a Full-Time Job

Starting on January 25th, I am offering a group coaching program called Land Your Dream Job.

This is an 8-week small group coaching program for a maximum of 15 participants – focused on planning and executing a targeted, proactive job search that will support you in landing your dream job.

Land Your Dream Job will help you:

• Identify exactly what you are looking for in your dream job and ideal employer

• Develop a comprehensive job search strategy, customized to you

• Learn how to network in a targeted, proactive way (I call it Bow-and-Arrow networking)

• Overcome mental blocks that are holding you back from realizing your career goals

• Get the support and expertise you need to help you through the inevitable lows of a job search – and celebrate your highs!

What do you get with the Land Your Dream Job group coaching program?

• Eight weekly, 1-hour Zoom sessions – they will be recorded if you can’t be there live

• A maximum of 15 participants – you’ll get the attention you need

• A designated accountability partner

• Facebook group for questions, encouragement, and sharing job leads

• A member vault with session recordings, handouts, and supplemental materials

To register:

https://lydjjoin.carrd.co/

For a 15-minute call to ask questions:

https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/15-minute-call

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Today, I wanted to share strategies for those of you who will be conducting a job search this year while working full-time.

You’ve probably heard the expression that looking for a job IS a full-time job. But what if you already have a full-time job?

The biggest issue I see for people in this situation is the tendency to put their job search on the back burner because they have so many priorities going on at work. This is especially prevalent in people who aren’t unhappy in their current job.

To be clear, this is a job search that is targeted and proactive – not just passively looking at job boards or waiting for recruiters to contact you. There’s nothing wrong with a passive job search; however, today I want to talk about how to conduct a job search that is focused and active.

I’m not going to talk about the obvious things you need to do in any job search, like update your resume and LI profile.

Here, then, are my top six strategies:

1. Set a SMART goal.

   I love the quote, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Sensitive.

   You can set a SMART goal for the desired result, such as “I will be in a new position by September 1st of this year.”

   You can also set SMART goals for the steps along the way, such as “I will reach out to Bob Jones at XYZ company by January 15th.”

   Here’s why this is important: goals keep us focused and on-task. They keep us from blowing off our job search plans in favor of something more pressing at work.

2. Establish your WHY.

   I encourage you to write down your why – essentially, it is a manifest for why you want a new position. It has to be compelling and meaningful to you. You can choose whether to share your WHY with anyone else.

   You WHY could center around a new skill you want to develop, a new industry you want to enter, the contribution you want to make in the world. It can be a financial WHY, especially if is paired with another WHY.

   Here’s an example:

   “I want a new position because, now that I’ve earned the PMP designation, I want to grow that skill set into a strength.”

   Another example:

   “I want to work in the non-profit sector because I am committed to ___”(whatever the non-profit does).

   Here’s why this is important: We humans tend to lack commitment to something when we don’t know why we are doing it. The busyness of life and our many obligations tend to get in the way.

3. Block off time – and get specific.

   This is a big one – again, work obligations can easily usurp our intentions if we don’t calendar in time to conduct our job search.

   Perhaps you block off time for one networking lunch a week, or to attend one networking function every month. Maybe you allot 15 minutes per day, as I do, to networking activities on LI.

   Just as important as blocking off the time is to set specific goals for that time. For example, your 15 minutes on LI might involve reaching out to a certain number of people to connect with or posting/commenting in the groups you belong to.

   Make sure you are realistic in blocking off time – don’t set an unrealistic goal for yourself.

   Here’s why this is important: Work obligations can seem more important – more urgent – in the moment. When I know this is how I planned to spend this time, it allows me to relax into the activity, rather than feel stressed that I’m not doing something else. And by listing exactly what you will do during that time, you won’t waste part of the time figuring out what to do.

4. Mindset matters.

   Mindset matters in every area of your life – and your job search is certainly no exception.

   I’ve done plenty of podcasts on mindset, so I won’t go deep here. Here are a few tips:

   -Be aware of what you are thinking – about your job search, the job market, your qualifications, how long it is taking to find a new job. Don’t beat yourself up for having negative thoughts – just notice them.

   -Decide what you want to think – on purpose. Practice your new thoughts so they become like “muscle memory” – creating new neural pathways in your brain.

   When you find yourself avoiding your job search activities, revisit your thoughts. It always starts there.

   Here’s why this is important: It is impossible to change our behavior without a corresponding change in our beliefs. Either we’ll avoid the activities that will lead to a new job, or we will go through the motions with the wrong energy.

5. Weekly rewards.

   If you have blocked off time for your job search this week and did the things you decided ahead of time to do towards your job search in that time, then you deserve a reward.

   Many people make the mistake of waiting until they get their new job to give themselves a reward. THE NEW JOB IS THE REWARD.

   You need encouragement along the way. Perhaps it is treating yourself to a round of golf or a new outfit. Whatever is rewarding to you.

   You could also reward yourself each day. For example, if you love going to the gym or having a glass of wine, you require yourself to do the job search work first.

   Here’s why this is important: You are improving your relationship with yourself – having your own back in terms of following through on your commitments to yourself. This is a skill set that will serve you in every area of your life.

6. Remember that networking should be a two-way street.

   As I teach networking, it is an equal exchange of energy. Meaning: you give as much value as you get.

   For example, you are meeting with an old colleague. When you get together, you begin by asking about them – what they think of their new employer, what challenges they are facing, where their frustrations lie.

   During this conversation, you are providing value. Whether it is a listening ear, a best practice, or a referral, you are helping that person out. This is happening BEFORE you ask for anything.

   Here’s why this is important: Most people don’t like the feeling of “all take and no give” in networking, so this approach feels better to you AND you are much more likely to get the assistance YOU need by providing value FIRST. 

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If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more: