As someone who was once unemployed not too long ago, I can attest to the fact that looking for a job, if done consistently and with dedication, is a full time job.

Kate Wilson, contributing writer at The Job Bored mentions various ways to get organized in your search.

Inspired by her post – I have decided to share my daily “to do list” of applying, following up and getting organized while unemployed. Of course the list changed depending on the day, job boards, and networking lunches and follow ups.


Get Serious In The AM – Board To Death

• I was constantly on every job board out there. Even though I was getting the daily newsletters, I was still visiting the sites, blogs, and researching new boards. When I saw something that WAS A FIT FOR ME I applied.

• IMPORTANT – Even though you may be desperate keep in mind that the employers may not be. Don’t apply for jobs just to apply. It will drain you and it’s a huge waste of time. Spend more time perfecting your resume, personalizing cover letters, and hand writing notes. ANYTHING to help you stand out!

• The early morning is the best time to conquer this part of the application process. Be the first to apply and the first to follow up on your application via phone, email, handwritten letter and hard copy of your resume by the end of the day.

Afternoon Delight

• Make a list of follow ups, cards, calls, and network emails to complete before the end of the day.

• After you’ve met your goals (mine was to apply to at least 3-5 jobs a day) and made your list – take a break. Go for a walk, set aside an hour to watch TV, read a book, run, anything! Do not overwhelm yourself because your burn out rate will be incredibly high.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

• Gather all notes, thank you’s and resumes and walk them over to the corporate office/contact. This is not an everyday venture – but if you find something that you MUST interview for – do whatever it takes to get that interview. Doing too much never hurt. Doing too little gets you absolutely nowhere.

• If you have nothing planned for an outing of deliveries – call HR Managers, industry contacts, old colleagues and check in. You never know what could be opening up…

Checking In

• Kate Wilson makes a great point in her article. When you were working you always had a manager or supervisor to answer to. Delegate this responsibility to a trustworthy friend or family member. Have them call you once a week to discuss your process. Take it a step further and send them your weekly “to do list” and review each point and task with them.

This “to do list” is very general and worked for me most days. The most important piece of advice I can give to the unemployed is to STAY POSITIVE. Believe it or not this will not be your situation forever. If you make it your job to find a job you will not fail!

Please email me with any questions regarding your search, career conundrums, and interview inquiries.