Demons, Roadblocks and Pitfalls on the Way to a New Job—Part Two

Last week I covered lethargy, fear, disorganization and email—common trip-ups to people unwillingly ensconced in searching for a new job after losing one to a layoff. But there are many more factors that could sabotage your chances of success, such as how you use your time. For instance:

Household chores—"I’ll just clean the garage before I get started today." "This load of laundry won’t take long."

Avoid letting your time be eaten away by chores just because “you have the time.” You don’t really. Set aside a window of time early in the morning or evening for some household work, but maintain a daily “work schedule” for your job hunting. Besides, you should be getting out and networking, not just staying at home.

Your dog or other pet—“Wag, wag, play with me.” You take out the leash and go for an extra walk, just because you can.

Your pet can be a great source of solace for your spirits, but you need to keep your play time to a minimum during your most productive daytime hours. Toss a ball once in a while, but try to avoid being sucked in by cuteness. Take that extra walk during your lunch break, or stick to the same schedule you would if you were still going off to a job each day.

TV watching—Now I can watch my soaps! Oprah’s on at 4! All day sports...wow!

If you have a favorite show you never got to watch because of your job, either record and watch it later or take your lunch break during the time of the show. And, turn the TV off once it’s over.

Lunch out—Your friend calls and says, “Hey, let’s get together for lunch at __!” The old gang invites you to meet for coffee and chat at a café.

Now that you are not working at a "job," many people will mistakenly think you have all the time in the world for social events during the day. Gauge these carefully in your job hunting strategy. An occasional totally social gathering is fine, if you can afford it. The most productive way to spend your going out dollars, though, is on lunch or coffee with someone who can help further your job search efforts.

Watch for Part Three of this series on demons, roadblocks and pitfalls next week. If you have suggestions for additions to the list (and solutions), please let me know at OneTomatoataTime@gmail.com.