During my recent “out of work” experience in late 2007, I got some great advice from a helpful career coach. Based on the premise that you can’t possibly look for work 12 hours a day, there were some powerful ways, she said, to spend my transition time. In fact, this 3-6 month period may be the only signifcant block of free time in my entire adult life. What could I do with it?
While tempting initially to “play” and “roam”, I knew I had to establish an early pattern of pro-active effort to get my search of on the right foot. So during the frst 4 weeks I did all the right things. However, once I had my resume updated, search engine alerts set up, my recruiters contacted, my other micro networks alerted and had planned a series of networking events, I allowed myself a chance to relax. Now relaxing is a hard mind-set to justify. You have to be careful that in your own mind, the minds of hiring managers/recruiters and in the minds of key people in your network that your “search ethic” is strong. They need to know that if they recommend you for a job you will knock ‘em dead and not show a lack of interest.
You see, there are folks - I’ve met a few - who did not engage. They did not have a sense of urgency about their job search. They got stuck in a mode of enjoyment. Watching TV, shopping on-line, grabbing a few beers at lunch, playing golf/tennis or whatever thing they so missed doing from college. Call it denial, being irresponsible or maybe just being lost (defned as not really knowing what they want to do in life), these people need what an old boss of mine used to call a “two by four to the head”. Without a balance between relax/enjoy and purposeful action, there will be diffculty ahead.
So, assuming you have a strategy for your search and you have implemented the early tactics… lucky you. You have time to re-charge your batteries and, perhaps more importantly, the batteries of those around you.
Here are a few ideas for you:
So, take advantage of this time. It may be your only or one of a very few open doors to really connecting to the world around you. Because, if you are like me, work can become all encompassing if you let it.
I found new parts of myself during my transition. I struck a balance between search and surrender because I listened to smart people around me. I had a strategy that forced early discipline and allowed some well deserved relaxation along the way.
Lucky me.