Looking for a New Job While Working Full-Time Here Are 10 Practical Tips!
At some point, we have all been there. Desperate for better career prospects but too tired and stressed at the end of a long work day to spend more hours in front of the computer searching for jobs. Working nine-to-five and living your other lives can feel quite overwhelming. And, looking for a job while working full time just spells exhaustion. You do not want to have worry lines when you can just live and work with ease.
It’s easy to get stuck in a vicious cycle, but fret not! We are here to share a few simple tips, so you do not have to undergo too much stress during your job hunt.
How to Look for a New Job While Working Full Time
1. Know what you want
One of the key questions is: Why do you want to leave your current job? The reasons can be related to your workplace environment or your disposition towards your current role. Or perhaps you want to take the passion route. Many things contribute to this ultimatum, and you must determine this before you can go forward.
By doing this, you are essentially making your job goals clearer. A solid job search strategy relies on foresight and setting certain expectations. Consider thinking beyond the job title. Think about what you want to be doing and what kind of place you want to work in. Looking for a job while working full-time can be a great opportunity for you to compare and discover what your current job lacks that you want to find in your new job.
Another factor that may affect your decision is location. How far are you willing to commute for this new job? This may not seem like a major dilemma at first, but if your current workplace is only a five-minute walk away from your apartment, you have to reconsider if this new job will give you a similar convenience.
2. Streamline your plan
Consider job hunting as your temporary part-time job. You have to set aside a certain amount of time for you to be able to properly navigate your way through this process. Go to your calendar and mark days when you can have your day off to go job hunting. Inform co-workers about your leave so your absence won’t be detrimental to the company’s daily business operations.
Streamlining your plan benefits not only you but also the people you’re currently working with. Job hunting does not mean that you neglect your current responsibilities. Balancing the two is key so that you leave your job without complaints and arrive at your new one with a clear conscience.
Maybe you find yourself asking: Should I tell my boss I’m looking for another job? Depending on your relationship with your boss, you may have considered confiding with them. This is a totally case-to-case basis, so you must test the waters first. How close are you with your boss? Are you on a first-name basis with them? If they really don’t want to let you go, your boss could endorse you to another department in your company or help you look elsewhere.
3. Use your weekends wisely
The weekends are sacred and rightfully reserved for downtime and leisure. But if finding a new job is a priority, then giving up a few weekends would be well worth it. With efficient planning, you will not even have to give up entire weekends. You could allocate the day for filtering job ads and writing up job applications, and reward yourself with a leisurely evening to unwind.
The trick is to be organised and use your time wisely. Disconnect from your social media feeds if you have to. Eliminate those distractions so you can focus on the task at hand.
4. Keep your resume updated
This is where you will shave precious hours off every job application. Having a current resume on file and on job sites such as JobStreet and professional online networks is one less thing you have to worry about when you spot an interesting job ad. You also increase your chances of being head-hunted if you have an updated resume online.
5. Use the reward system
Let’s face it: looking for a job is hard. Often, the process is tedious, and you may find yourself burning out and feeling too unmotivated to function. There are many things to prepare for and many people to talk to. So, it is important that you feel a certain level of accomplishment, even in the littlest of things.
For example, you successfully drafted your resignation letter or finally finished editing your resume. To reward yourself, eat out with friends! Buy yourself something nice, and do not feel bad about treating yourself. Remember that the job hunt inevitably comes with struggles and challenges, so rewarding yourself is not wrong, especially since you are working tough hours.
6. Sign up for job alerts
Adding on to the previous point, signing up for job alerts is an efficient way to get a regular stream of relevant job ads in your inbox. Why spend precious hours combing through job sites when you can have filtered job ads delivered directly to you? There are no limits to the number of job sites you can sign up on. It’s there, it’s free, and it’s easy.
Let technology do as much of the work for you as possible. It’s what it’s there for.
7. Engage a recruiter
If you prefer dealing with a human, engaging a recruitment agency (or two) might also come in handy. They are in a unique position of having influence over the advertiser’s choice of candidates. If nothing else, getting advice from recruitment professionals might give you a better idea of employment trends and where you stand in your job search.
Not keen on connecting through a recruiter? Maximise online tools, like JobStreet’s Career Tools, a resource curated by a reputable employment marketplace.
8. Use or make connections
One of the most powerful things when it comes to job hunting is the word of mouth. If you made some friends in your previous positions or know people from a particular sector, make sure to take advantage of your network. These people may help get you to a job position that you want a lot easier. If you find yourself struggling, you can also ask one of your co-workers for help. Just make sure that you can trust them!
Also, since we now live in a digital age, make sure to update all your social media handles about your current activities. You should also focus on highlighting your strengths by posting proofs of them online.
9. Make the perfect timing
Since you’re looking for a new job while working full time, it can be quite difficult to schedule an interview. Often, it may coincide with your office day. Nowadays, though, it’s now completely normal to do interviews through video calls. Since companies have adopted a work-from-home setup, you can arrange an online appointment and attend the interview during your free time.
Giving your company a resignation notice is also a courtesy that you can do to sustain a good relationship with them. If you’ve been with the company for only a few months, give them a 2-week notice. Although, some employers may appreciate it if you give them a month so they will have enough time to look for a replacement.
Giving a notice period is important because this gives both parties time to adjust. Make sure that during this period you’ll finish all your remaining workload and give yourself rest so you’ll arrive at your new job refreshed. The perfect timing should benefit not only you but also the company you are leaving.
10. Utilise your annual leave
Last but not least, maximise your annual leave credits. If you have been totally engrossed in your work, chances are you have also been neglecting your annual leave. What better reason to take a week off than to focus on your job search? To ensure minimal distractions, make it a holiday. Take a trip out of the city or treat yourself to a week at a relaxing resort. While you unwind, you can also channel renewed energy into your job hunt.
Searching for jobs can be a time-consuming and tedious process, but with the help of technology and an organised approach, it does not have to be as daunting as it seems.
We can also help you #SEEKBetter once you create or update your Jobstreet profile. Start that job hunting today and visit our Career Resources page to become fully equipped to land that dream role!
