Treat your job search like a full-time job.

Who hasn’t heard that from well-meaning coaches and others in our orbit who want us to get focused and get a job—fast.

Seriously?

Think about it. First of all, it’s nebulous, with no start or end date.

Second, it can be daunting to think about adding another 40+ hours to your already-packed week.

Even if you’re unemployed, you’re (hopefully!) either filling those traditional employment hours with upskilling or volunteering in a meaningful way that will help you advance your career and give you a sense of purpose.

I’d never suggest that you approach a product launch or bathroom renovation with a second-job mindset, so why would I ask you to do that with your job search?

Instead, I’d recommend managing your job search like a project, which means setting up a plan just as you would any other major endeavor.

Following are 5 rules to create a framework for your successful job search project:

Rule #1: Put it On Your Calendar

As with any project, the start is as important as the end date.

It’s not enough to say your goal is to have a new job in three months. If you’re like me, if you don’t block a time for your start date and follow that with a weekly cadence of time blocks, I guarantee some other (uninvited) task or distraction is going to creep in and take up residence in that space.

When we block time, we’re much more likely to commit.

I set my weekly schedule on Sunday, with an action verb for each focus block.

If Sunday is precious to you, try planning your week on the Friday prior, or get up a little earlier on Monday morning.

Choose times when you have the most energy for focus blocks. Are you most energized in the morning, or are you more productive at night?

What works for you? 2 hours each weekday at 7am? 3 hours on M/W/F starting at noon?

Once scheduled, protect your time!

And don’t wait for inspiration, because…

Inspiration comes by doing.

Rule #2: Build Your (Guilt-Free!) Job Search Budget

Make a list of every potential expense you might have while you search, identify your priority expenditures (and forego those expenses that are no longer serving you), and build a budget at the start of your project—just as you would for any other undertaking.

Here’s why I recommend that you set your budget upfront:

If you build your budget in advance, you spend less time stressing in the moment when a wise career investment idea comes knocking.

Some expenses you might consider are training/upskilling, network lunches, gift cards for your supporters, interviewing attire, haircuts, childcare, technology tools, and career services.

Pro tip: Review your budget with your significant other. Once it’s decided with your partner, you’re more likely to tap it guilt-free.

Rule #3: Break Your Project Down into Manageable Segments

Do a mind dump of everything you need to do for your job search. Some tasks to include are networking calls, company research, resume writing, LinkedIn updates, and cover letters. Then break those tasks down until they feel manageable.

Some of the best advice I ever got when feeling overwhelmed by a project was to break it down into its teeniest parts.

Here’s what I mean:

If you label your time block as “job search,” it might feel daunting because you’re not clear about what your task actually is when you sit down to do it.

Even narrowing it down to “write my resume,” can feel too big to get your head around.

If that’s the case, try to home in even further on the task. For example, you could write “Identify 4 areas of expertise that define my unique value to an employer.”

Rule #4: Batch Similar Sub-Categories & Tasks

Moving from one type of task to another—for example, from email to writing a cover letter to making a networking call—requires a mental transition that saps your time.

But if you organize similar tasks within the same block, you won’t waste time transitioning between tasks.

Here are some examples:

✨ Create a cover letter template, and then customize all letters within one time block.
✨ Schedule a one-hour block at the end of the day to respond to email.
✨ Conduct company research within another block.

5: Keep a Daily Journal of Your Achievements AND Challenges

Tracking and storing your MEASURABLE achievements prepares you to act quickly when a job opportunity arises.

BONUS: A journal also helps you track your learnings AND course corrections. You can share these experiences in interviews when they ask about your struggles and how you dealt with them!

Your journal can be as fancy as a colorful planner with lots of inspiring quotes, or as simple as a google doc or speaking into your phone—but make sure you keep one on a regular basis.

If you’re like me, this is the only way you’ll remember every single achievement.

More important—it provides a springboard for a quick resume update or interview prep when a recruiter calls you out of the blue.

After all, luck is the intersection of preparation and opportunity, as Seneca so wisely taught.

I’m cheering for you!