Finding The Job Is Your Job – Even if you are Employed

A question came in from a reader of this blog asking me "how do you find a job when you already have a job?". The answer back really is, "How badly do you want a new job and why?". You now have a second job if you really are going to look. I won't get into the Why in this article as many people think the 'grass is greener if they are doing something else' or there are pending decisions to be made at work, and that truthfully is more a matter of setting clear and concrete life goals. My answer does focus on the 7 steps below on the SMART approach to finding a job S – Specifically define and write down for your self what it is you are looking for. When I say specifically, make sure you have the following:

• Job Requirements – what makes you happiest. Don't worry about title.
• Location – Where do you want to live?
• Compensation – Define the range and then go back to Job Requirements. www.salary.com can help you decide if you are in the range.
• Talk to your family to consider what they want from you

M – Make friends in that industry or business. This saturday for instance I will be at a Project Managers Institute Meeting helping out and making new friends with Project Managers. I'll hear what's happening in the various industries and companies. A – Actively speak and talk to everyone in your industry. Every day go out of your way to call someone related to your industry. Find someone to help you draft a professional resume or go to one of the many blogs on the subject. A great site is Quintcareers.com R – Meet with Recruiters and explain what you are looking for. Many won't take the time but call alot of them that focus on your industry. They will tell you what's happening in the industry and what you need to do. Recruiters probably won't call you back unless they have a specific job to match your skillsets. T – Define your Timeframes and set milestones against them. If you only have until Year End and it's October 1, you should have goals defining what you've done by end of each week as you only have 8 or 9 weeks to accomplish your goal. Just like a job, you are going to wake up in the morning and define your daily To-Do and expected results. Set a measurable goal for that day based on what we said above and 'Get er 'Done'. Don't leave until you've done it.