Meg Wubbenhorst

When I was job searching, I created a Job Tracker in Excel to *see* my progress and milestones. Sections were: "Jobs I'm interested in" - live job postings (COMPANY, TITLE, JOB POST LINK, LOCATION, APPLIED?, HIRING MANAGER/CONTACT, STATUS, NOTES) "Companies I'm interested in" - organized by category (DIRECT LINK TO THEIR JOB BOARDS) "Missed out on me" - if I was rejected, jobs went into this category at the bottom. I wanted to keep record but didn't want to easily see it. The title of this category is important -- *they missed out on YOU*.

Keep. It. Short. You're likely writing to someone who is extremely busy. Keep it at 2 short paragraphs max. Be personal, yet not overly focused on yourself. Be friendly and flatter them, but don't be obsequious. Be succinct and direct in your request. Don't use any version of "pick your brain", "time for a chat" or anything that would require their precious time. Instead, ask 1-3 specific questions so they can respond when *they* have time. Remember - your goal is to make a connection and open up a dialogue. Make it as easy as possible for them to respond and be patient.

Put something on your calendar to look forward to -- the anticipation will motivate you through the job search drudgery and give you something to work towards. Plan a weekend trip to a fun destination. Visit a friend or take a roadtrip to a city you’ve never been to in your state. If budget is an issue, take a picnic lunch to a local park and spend the afternoon reading. Look up free events in your hometown. Go for a long bike ride and explore your neighborhood. Meet a good friend for a fun lunch. Go to a matinee movie. Join a book club. Set up a potluck supper for a group of friends. Go to a local sporting event. Take advantage of this free time and enjoy yourself a bit, because once you are employed, your freedom will be limited.

Throughout the week, take some time for your mental health and give yourself a break. Meditate. Snuggle with your pet. Read a magazine or book. Write in a journal. Learn all the lyrics to your favorite song. Look through photos. Take a long shower or bath. Shoot hoops. Work on a puzzle. Try to learn a language. Make a doctor’s appt. Take some silly selfies. Sketch the human form. Scrub your toilet. Go for a bike ride. Work on your cartwheel. Eat some blueberries. Wash your sheets. Or, all of the above. The point is — get up, get away from the computer, and go do something. Not social media. Not reading articles online. Not watching TV or videos. Just do something that will make you feel good (it’s watching animal videos for me).

When I'm job searching, I contact old bosses, coworkers, and friends, and pretty much anyone I haven’t talked to in awhile. People who care about you are rooting for you. Thus, it feels really good to hear their encouragement and support…you just have to reach out and ask for it. Beyond reconnecting with people who build you up, it’s also a smart move to get your name out there and put yourself top of mind. Perhaps your long-lost friend in Albuquerque can connect you to someone at a company you're interested in. Or, your old boss may have turned down a job that he’s overqualified for, but you’d be a perfect fit. Ultimately, your network is there to support and encourage you, so let them!

Put something in your calendar to look forward to. Visit a friend or take a roadtrip to a city you’ve never been to…the world is your oyster. Take a picnic lunch to a local park and spend the afternoon reading. Look up discount days for museums. Go for a long bike ride and explore your neighborhood. Meet a good friend or your significant other for a fun lunch. Go to an afternoon movie. Join a book club. Set up a potluck supper for a group of friends. When the weeks drag on and time seems elastic, seeing that one bright spot on the calendar will help get you through the rough days. Take advantage of this free time because once you are gainfully employed, your freedom will be limited.