[09.29.09]

12 great comments!

Obsess Much? How Staying Busy Keeps You Sane During Job Search.

I write a lot about the psychology of job search. For me it is one of the top keys to finding a job in this or any market. If you have your head on straight, you come across differently than those who don’t. Your mannerisms deliver you in a confident way. You avoid the smell of desperation.

It allows you to focus less on over-pursuing job leads and more on pursuing with confidence the next wave of opportunities.

But even the most confident of us obsess a bit in job search. Why? Because “how is it possible that a smart person like me (with my background) isn’t being called for interviews”? Once the job search moves into months not weeks, you start to wonder. And wondering becomes worry. Especially if you begin spending your savings to fund your search.

So always having two or three warm leads is important. That way what happens with one is less important. As a result you are less often checking e-mail and more often busy doing something more valuable. Author and blogger Tim Ferriss says to check e-mail twice a day. At Noon and at 4:00 PM. Give it a try.

How do you know if you are obsessing?

You are consistently going “off plan” to check in with a recruiter (for the fourth time that week).
You are continually e-mailing the HR team to see if they got your resume via Monster.
You have Outlook set-up to check for new messages every 5 minutes and to make a noise when they come in.
Your Blackberry is set-up to “blink red” when a new message comes in.
You berate the HR team for not seeing the value you offer to their organization

Of course this is all wasted time and, importantly, wasted energy.

If you are one of those folks checking e-mail every ten minutes, I have some thoughts for you.

Build a communication plan. Decide who is in your job search network and then build an objective plan to confidently reach out on a periodic basis. For the most part, try to avoid impulsive actions.
Change Outlook and Blackberry settings so that you are not “prompted” to check e-mail throughout the day. No blinking lights and no “you’ve got mail” during job search (also a Ferriss point).
If you think you should call and follow-up with a recruiter, HR person or hiring manager. Check your communication log if you have one. More than once a week is too much. If they want you, they will call.
On those days and weeks when you know your expectations will be high. After a submission, after an interview, after a recruiter meeting. Plan events, meetings and special projects around the house that will keep you busy. Away from the e-mail. Ideally when the call finally comes you will be relaxed with your head in the right place to accept whatever news comes your way.
In terms of your mindset, remember that your life is not on the line here. While finding your next role is a big priority, your ability to balance this effort with other important things in life is also key. Your role as a parent, spouse, uncle or friend. Those roles can provide a great and highly rewarding distraction. Just when you need it.

For other ways to stay busy during job search, check out this post:

101 (Other) Things You Can Do While Looking For A Job

TimsStrategy Recommends

4 Ways You’re Sabotaging Your Job Search (and How to Fix It!) (Career Rocketeer)
4 Tips for Staying Encouraged During a Long Job Search (Career Rocketeer)

Mic Johnson

Once again, Tim. You nailed it. I swear we share parts of the same brain.
I’ve talked to quite a few people about the psychology of being employed and the job search.
Being able to take care of financial responsibilities and commitments is Objective 1 for many people. If you are able to do that through savings, another spouse, or any other means, then you move on to Objective 2, which for many can be just as difficult, if not more difficult than the financial piece.
And Objective 2 is how you handle the psychology of being unemployed. What is our outlook, both long term and daily? Are you ok with being unemployed for 1 month, 2 months, 3 months or longer knowing that you are looking for something more than just “a job”? Are you ok talking to people about the fact that you are unemployed and not desperate, but actually doing something that goes beyond a “job search”? Are you ok not having someplace to go every morning and not having the sense of security? Are you ok that you don’t have that thing that so many people define themselves by…a job?
I’ve been working through this process myself, on my own time and in my own terms, and I present myself that way to any potential employer or business partner. This opportunity isn’t just about what I can do for them, it’s about what I want to do and the type of environment I want to work in, the type of people I want to work with, etc.
I think too many people don’t go through this self-evaluation/introspection process and therefore appear lost or desperate as they do the old school functions of a traditional job search…job fairs, post for jobs online all day, etc, etc.
I’m not through my process. I haven’t set up a ton of networking meetings yet. But I’m getting closer. I have more reading to do..more writing to do…and then I will prepare my gameplan for networking.
Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.
Mic
Mic Johnson

Once again, Tim. You nailed it. I swear we share parts of the same brain.
I’ve talked to quite a few people about the psychology of being employed and the job search.
Being able to take care of financial responsibilities and commitments is Objective 1 for many people. If you are able to do that through savings, another spouse, or any other means, then you move on to Objective 2, which for many can be just as difficult, if not more difficult than the financial piece.
And Objective 2 is how you handle the psychology of being unemployed. What is our outlook, both long term and daily? Are you ok with being unemployed for 1 month, 2 months, 3 months or longer knowing that you are looking for something more than just “a job”? Are you ok talking to people about the fact that you are unemployed and not desperate, but actually doing something that goes beyond a “job search”? Are you ok not having someplace to go every morning and not having the sense of security? Are you ok that you don’t have that thing that so many people define themselves by…a job?
I’ve been working through this process myself, on my own time and in my own terms, and I present myself that way to any potential employer or business partner. This opportunity isn’t just about what I can do for them, it’s about what I want to do and the type of environment I want to work in, the type of people I want to work with, etc.
I think too many people don’t go through this self-evaluation/introspection process and therefore appear lost or desperate as they do the old school functions of a traditional job search…job fairs, post for jobs online all day, etc, etc.
I’m not through my process. I haven’t set up a ton of networking meetings yet. But I’m getting closer. I have more reading to do..more writing to do…and then I will prepare my gameplan for networking.
Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.
Mic
http://profile.typepad.com/1220292248s14607 Tim Tyrell-Smith

Hey Mic – Those are great questions you ask. And you are right to call it a process as it takes time and energy! Thanks for sticking around and for writing such thoughtful comments!
http://profile.typepad.com/1220292248s14607 Tim Tyrell-Smith

Hey Mic – Those are great questions you ask. And you are right to call it a process as it takes time and energy! Thanks for sticking around and for writing such thoughtful comments!
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffswitzer57 Jeff Switzer

Tim – Thank you so much for continually displaying your passion and for sharing your insight and expertise so effectively and eloquently on job search related topics. Having been in forced job search mode for the 1st time in my 20+ year career I’ve now seen first hand how dead on you are on these topics and how helpful (both technically and psychologically) it is to know that you’re not alone in your feelings. As you mentioned, I feel my best when there are multiple “warm” leads to act on. I hope I can find some way of “paying” you back for this in the future.
Mic – Timely and accurate comments and questions too. Over 6 months in job search and I know that if you don’t take the time for self-evaluation and for establishing a plan for handling and dealing with the psychological aspects of job search you can find yourself lost and lacking for confidence. Exactly the things you need to guard against.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffswitzer57 Jeff Switzer

Tim – Thank you so much for continually displaying your passion and for sharing your insight and expertise so effectively and eloquently on job search related topics. Having been in forced job search mode for the 1st time in my 20+ year career I’ve now seen first hand how dead on you are on these topics and how helpful (both technically and psychologically) it is to know that you’re not alone in your feelings. As you mentioned, I feel my best when there are multiple “warm” leads to act on. I hope I can find some way of “paying” you back for this in the future.
Mic – Timely and accurate comments and questions too. Over 6 months in job search and I know that if you don’t take the time for self-evaluation and for establishing a plan for handling and dealing with the psychological aspects of job search you can find yourself lost and lacking for confidence. Exactly the things you need to guard against.
Mic Johnson

Sure thing, Tim. Keep up the great work.
By the way, when your reply to my comment was posted, I wasn’t alerted via email. Not sure if that functionality is built into your site, but wanted to let you know.
Feel free to use me to test it further if necessary. My email address is kumic94@gmail.com.
Regards,
Mic
Mic Johnson

Sure thing, Tim. Keep up the great work.
By the way, when your reply to my comment was posted, I wasn’t alerted via email. Not sure if that functionality is built into your site, but wanted to let you know.
Feel free to use me to test it further if necessary. My email address is kumic94@gmail.com.
Regards,
Mic
http://profile.typepad.com/1220292248s14607 Tim Tyrell-Smith

Hey Jeff – Thanks for your kind words and for sharing your experience. We are all in this thing together. Never alone. And there is no pay back required!
http://profile.typepad.com/1220292248s14607 Tim Tyrell-Smith

Hey Jeff – Thanks for your kind words and for sharing your experience. We are all in this thing together. Never alone. And there is no pay back required!
Josh McLean

Tim – Great article. Recently I’ve felt like a kid in a candy store constantly getting distracted and not saying focused on high value activities during my search. Many thanks for always providing practical tools, such as the communication log, to implement your ideas.
Mic – Thanks again for great comments. Personally I’m working though the self-evaluation/introspection process as well so I can relate to your Objective 2 insights.
Regards,
Josh McLean
http://www.linkedin.com/in/joshmclean
Josh McLean

Tim – Great article. Recently I’ve felt like a kid in a candy store constantly getting distracted and not saying focused on high value activities during my search. Many thanks for always providing practical tools, such as the communication log, to implement your ideas.
Mic – Thanks again for great comments. Personally I’m working though the self-evaluation/introspection process as well so I can relate to your Objective 2 insights.
Regards,
Josh McLean
http://www.linkedin.com/in/joshmclean

Obsess Much? How Staying Busy Keeps You Sane During Job Search.

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