4 Smart Job Search Productivity Strategies

Forget spreading out the newspaper classified section and circling entries in red pen. It’s 2017, and technology means job hunting is more sophisticated than ever. So why does it still take so much time and effort? Whether it’s internet distractions, working hard, not smart, or letting a disorganized process take over your life, the job hunt is full of pitfalls. Being intentional and strategic about the way you apply for jobs will help ensure you stay positive, motivated, and in the best frame of mind for upcoming interviews.
- Co-Work
Job hunting can be isolating work: it makes us feel purposeless and lonely, so we turn to social media and the internet for distractions and comfort, which can make us lose motivation and get even more discouraged. Not only that, but the old adage is certainly true: a task fills the time you allow for it. If you don’t set up specific, structured time to apply for jobs, it’s easy to wake up late, halfheartedly work all day, and feel as if you’ve done nothing by the time dinner rolls around.
Co-working can solve all these problems at once. Find a friend or ask your network for introductions to other job-seekers, and set up a time to work together. Have a buddy who’s a journalist, designer, entrepreneur, or works in a flexible arrangement? Meet up at a cafe or library to work alongside each other. Not only will you get a boost of motivation from getting up, putting on real clothes, and getting out of the house, studies show that declaring your goals or intentions to others makes it more likely that you’ll complete them. With this in mind, start your co-working session by goal-setting, and keep each other accountable! Keep your session reasonably short — 4 hours is a good length — and structured, so you can take the rest of the day to take care of yourself (check out our tips here) or work on building up your skills.
2. Automate
The most time-consuming part of applying for jobs is finding the right positions to apply to in the first place. It seems like positions are posted in more places on the internet than ever these days, so cut down on the time you spend combing through job boards, and do everything you can to make those prospects come to you. Sign up for email groups or listservs in your industry, set notifications on job websites to send listings to your inbox, and make a twitter list of all the job boards, recruiters, and major employers in your industry.
Keep a “core” cover letter and resume ready to customize with job details and qualifications and send along with each application. Ask your references if they would mind if you did this for letters of reference as well: if they send you an editable PDF or a document with a digital signature, you can substitute in the name of each new company so you don’t have to ask for a new letter each time.
You can also use Fillintech to automate the process from start to finish. Enter the information from your resume or CV, answer some questions and Fillintech will take care of the rest. It alerts you to new jobs perfect for your skillset, and you can even set it to automatically apply for you. It doesn’t get more productive than that.
3. Track
Tracking your work is a great way to stay organized and motivated. Keep a spreadsheet, use a tool like JibberJobber, or take advantage of Fillintech’s free to use built-in job tracking features, and log the status of each application. It’s useful, of course, to be sure you don’t waste time re-reading the same job description or prepping multiple applications for the same position, but it can also help you set realistic expectations and strategize about how you work.
Track your work for a week and take a few minutes to analyze the data: what did you finish this week? Are most of your prospects in one phase, or are they spread out? When did you get the most done? Maybe you’ll find that you’re your most productive on Wednesday afternoons, and you’ll know that’s when you should schedule your work sessions! Maybe you had a big spike in productivity last week on a day when you worked outside — get out to a cafe!
This will also help with your state of mind and managing expectations for your productivity: if you find you can send five good applications in your standard work session, don’t set a goal of sending 10! That only leads to disappointment and frustration. Keep your goals realistic and push yourself when you know you can handle it.
4. Audition
Keep your skills sharp and show off your amazing work by auditioning your craft along with your application. Are you a web designer? Create an amazing digital resume and link it in your application and email signature. Maybe you’re great at project management? Share your project plan for applying for jobs. Are you a people person? Record yourself introducing your background and qualifications in an elevator pitch, and send a video cover letter instead of a printed one.
Breaking up the monotony of composing cover letters and resumes will keep you inspired and help your application stand out. If you aren’t applying for positions that lend themselves well to these kinds of auditions, take the time to break up the routine and keep your skills sharp by volunteering, consulting, or even answering questions about your field on sites like Reddit or Quora. Bonus: you might find an unexpected connection online who could help you land your next job.
The days of half-heartedly slumping in bed, watching Netflix all day and panically sending out cover letters at 2 AM are officially over. These 4 strategies will help you make the most of your job search time, keep your motivation up, and work smarter. Make the most of your time with others, understand how you work, use technology to your advantage to automate as much as you can, and get creative! Your next career move is out there, and you’re ready to go make it.
