13 Ways To Ease Into A Job Hunt While Still Employed

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Looking for a new job can feel like a job in and of itself. From conducting research and filling out applications to attending interviews, a job search demands a lot of time and energy. If you’re already working hard in your current position, it can be even more exhausting.

Fortunately, the process of job hunting won’t require you to take leave of your current role just yet. The members of Forbes Coaches Council share 13 smart ways that you can ease into a job search without sacrificing your performance at your existing job—or your sanity and energy.

Featured members offer advice on hunting for a new job while still employed.
Forbes Coaches Council members offer advice on hunting for a new job while still employed. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS.

1. Do One Thing At A Time

Reframe your job search and do one thing at a time. Think of it as a marathon: Slow and steady wins the race. Identify what that next opportunity looks like. Build your brand around the target audience (e.g, update your résumé on LinkedIn). Take 30 minutes each day to identify key contacts inside the organization you are interested in working for who can make hiring decisions. Develop an outreach plan to connect with these decision makers. - Don Pippin, area|Talent

2. Find People Doing Work You’re Interested In

To start looking for a new job when you already have a job, find people who are doing work you’re interested in and reach out to them to chat. Ask how they got started in their work, what they enjoy and what they don’t like. Most will eventually ask if you’re looking. That’s great! Have a statement prepared to let them know you’re just starting to look to see what else is out there. Then, continue the discussion. Good luck! - Jennifer Wisdom, Wisdom Consulting

3. Focus On The Payoff

Try shifting your perspective. See if you can view it in any different way. What perspective would replace exhaustion with exhilaration? Try focusing on what your payoff for the work would be. Imagine it. Envision it. Consider what you could get out of your efforts rather than what your efforts appear to be taking out of you! Explore what’s possible by seeing through a different lens. - Jay Steven Levin, WinThinking


Reverse the roles: switch from job “hunter” to job “gatherer.” Prepare your professional profile on LinkedIn to create a personal brand on the social media platform. That way, recruiters and businesses who are looking for a particular person through the filtering process will be able to find you easily. The SEO will highlight keywords that you use in your description and profile to create a match. - Jedidiah Alex Koh, Coaching Changes Lives

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5. Determine What You Want Next

Research and reflect to identify your ideal company profile and target roles. To take yourself to market effectively, you will need to determine where you would fit into a new organization and how you can add value. Having clear goals from the outset will enable you to hone your résumé messaging and focus your job search to maximize the return on your effort. - Amy Phillip, Career Certain

6. Build The Right Relationships To Let Jobs Find You

Don’t focus on “hunting” for one in the first place. Focus instead on platforms such as LinkedIn where you can connect and build relationships with people that share something in common with you. Build the right relationships, and the jobs will find you. - Michael Quinn, HireMilitary

7. Block Out Time For Searching

Scheduling and blocking specific times for your job search each day is essential. Plan your weekends well so that you can do more when you are free from your regular job. And make sure to utilize LinkedIn and network with others virtually as much as possible. It will help you to stay focused and optimistic. Game on! - Izabela Lundberg, Legacy Leaders Institute

8. Work With A Recruiter

Outsource what you cannot resource. Find a recruiter to work with to land your next role. Provide them with your résumé and insights on what you seek to transition to in the future. They will do the heavy lifting for you and bring back quality opportunities. More importantly, recruiters often speak to the company and can assess its interest in your skills, which eliminates online applications. - Amera McCoy, McCoy Consulting LLC

9. Tell Friends And Family About Your Search

Tell your friends and family that you’re job hunting. Be clear that you’re in the preliminary stages of your search. Let them know how they can help you. Talk with people who are open to possibility and change to keep you motivated. These conversations can help you brainstorm ideas for next steps, get the word out that you’re looking for a job and connect you with potential employers. - Rosie Guagliardo, InnerBrilliance Coaching

10. Identify Time And Energy ‘Leaks’

When you’re trying to find time to look for a job when you already have one, identify time and energy “leaks” first. It’s pretty common to have habits and practices that take up your energy and time (such as popping over to Facebook, Instagram or ESPN and getting distracted) and aren’t very productive. Stopping those leaks opens up the time and energy you need to invest in your job search. - Kate Dixon, Dixon Consulting

11. Become A ‘Passive’ Searcher

In today’s job market, it is important to always keep your résumé and LinkedIn profile up to date. You can also indicate on LinkedIn that you are looking, set it so that only recruiters can see this and upload your résumé to various job sites that are appropriate for your industry. This will allow you to “passively” search on an ongoing basis, as your online presence will help recruiters and headhunters find you. - Jonathan H. Westover, Utah Valley University & Human Capital Innovations, LLC

12. Connect With Your Network First

Connect, first and foremost, with your network. This is valuable because it communicates your intention to others and potentially helps you learn about opportunities in the market. People within organizations often know about vacancies well before they are advertised. When time is scarce, it is easier to begin the job search process in this manner, rather than going through the typical job portals and agencies. - Linda Aiyer, InfinitU Consulting

13. Don’t Overwhelm Yourself

Get clear on your vision for your new job, identify manageable actions and don’t overwhelm yourself. You don’t need to submit hundreds of applications, and you don’t need to apply to jobs that don’t excite you. Focus on a few key positions each week and let that be enough. Applying consistently to one or two jobs a day will get you to your goal. - Bri Seeley, Seeley Enterprises Inc.

Full Article @ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2021/01/26/13-ways-to-ease-into-a-job-hunt-while-still-employed/?sh=4c9d47415ff9