Easy Steps to Stop Procrastination During Your Job Search

Cecile Peterkin
Posted by in Career Advice


Whatever your reasons are for not being employed at the moment, it will be necessary for you to do a job search sooner or later. The problem, however, is that once you’ve experienced the luxury of having so much free time, you might find it very challenging to get off the couch to start looking for a job. You may even find yourself putting off your job search until such time that you don’t have any other option but to get just a job - any job.

Here are some tips on how you can stop procrastinating when searching for a job.

1. Make your bed as soon as you get out of it

Making your bed is part of starting your day right. When you see your bed rumpled, you would easily feel the urge to go back to it and just lie down. When you do, you will find more reasons to not get up just yet. If you want to fight procrastination, you need to have the right mindset the moment you open your eyes in the morning. You will then be more likely to stay up and start being productive.

2. Consider each day as an ordinary working day

Once you’ve fixed your bed, carry out your morning routine just like you would on an ordinary workday. By treating each day like an regular workday, you are actually preparing yourself to go back to the workforce.

It would also help if you could create a workplace ambience at home. It’s likely that you are doing your job search mainly online, so you might as well arrange your desk and chair so it would look somewhat like a home office. This way, your mind will be away from any distractions while doing your job search.

3. Have a plan of action

One of the biggest reasons you procrastinate is your lack of a plan. If you don’t have any goals to reach, it would be hard for you to be motivated to do something. Thus, it is important that you have a specific plan of action for your job search. Outline your career objectives and identify the steps you need to take to achieve those goals. You should be specific when it comes to what type of work you desire. And then, identify which companies are offering the job you want, and narrow your choices down to the companies that interest you the most.

4. Create a schedule and stick to it

After you have targeted which companies you want to apply to, the next thing to do is set a schedule. Specify what dates and times you are going to do what. For instance, on Monday, your task is to update your resume between 9 am and noon. Then have an hour break before you start sending your application to your target companies from 1pm to 5pm. Make sure that you stick to your schedule.

5. Seek advice from a coach

A personal coach is not only for employed individuals who want to advance in their careers. You may need a personal coach to help you search for the right job for you. A coach will create a plan with you to ensure that your job search is efficient and will lead you to the job that fits you the best.

These are just a few steps to get you started on the job hunt.  If you stick to a schedule and follow through, you will be working before you know it.

Photo Courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Pamela thanks for your comment. Start at the beginning. Do you have the experience and education needed to work in say a career services office at your local college? If not, find out what the position entails and what you would need in order to be able to to work there. You can even try to do an informational interview with someone who works there now - just to find out if it's really what you want to do. This way you won't have invested in any real money into it before you even know if that truly is your passion. Remember that a position always looks better from the outside looking in!

  • Pamela B.
    Pamela B.

    I am trying to move from my current position into the field that I very passionate about. That's education. I prefer not to leave the company because benefits are great. However, getting older I would love to spend my remaining 5-8 working years doing something I love. My current role does not entail that possibility. I enjoy mentoring and coaching students to fulfil their career dreams, or to create a dream. Where/ how do I begin?

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Pamela being a stay at home Mom for those years can make it tougher to find a position but not impossible. For those 13 years you were responsible for maintaining a home, tending to sick kids, being in the PTA, keeping the finances for your home and so on. Don't belittle those accomplishments. Most CEO's of fortune 500 companies could not do what you have done. If you worked in a field that required certification, it would behoove you to get updated. If you want to go into another field, maybe you could check out education first and then apply for an entry level position. If you were a student at a college, try out their career services office for assistance with your resume and cover letter as well as help with interviewing techniques. They could even help place you into a position. Don't forget to check out temp agencies, also. From personal experience, they work. Hope some of this helps. All the best.

  • Sandra Vazquez
    Sandra Vazquez

    Everything above is what I keep telling myself.

  • Pamela M.
    Pamela M.

    Nancy, I've been a stay at home Mom for the last 13 years, I've tried to re-entering the workplace but w/o much luck. The 13 years is hard to overcome, then in addition my last job I was with the same company for 20

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    Thanks for the comments. @Calvin what do you need help with exactly? With your resume? We have a resume writing service that could help you if that's the issue. Are you having a hard time finding jobs that fit your skills and qualifications? Are you going online and searching jobs or are you waiting for the jobs to come to you? Be proactive, not reactive. @Cynthia it's hard to get by the age sometimes. Make sure that you are limiting your resume to about the last ten years. Apply for jobs for which you are qualified and make sure that you follow up, if you can. Research the company first. Find out about the current employees. If they all look like they are 12 then the company is probably not for you. Best of luck to all of you.

  • Cynthia Bennett
    Cynthia Bennett

    My problem is age discrimination. I have lots of experience, but I am over 60 (but not over the hill!!!)

  • Marlyn B.
    Marlyn B.

    Instead of 'reason's for not being unemployed' I believe it should be 'reason's for not being employed.' Great article & excellent advice.

  • chris m.
    chris m.

    yup been dragging my feet for 2 months now! I get on the sites everyday

  • Salina C.
    Salina C.

    Hi Calvin...I hope someone has responded to your post and offered some advice...any luck?

  • Calvin b.
    Calvin b.

    My name is Calvin bell I need help on getting my next job

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