Six tips to help you from being overwhelmed by your job hunt -

Six tips to help you from being overwhelmed by your job hunt - The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one. Mark Twain, in The Success Principles, by Jack Canfield It seems obvious you cant be successful until you get started. Earlier this week, I wrote about how making a plan for your job hunt is a big step in the right direction. You cant get started on everything at once, so break it down and work on one thing at a time. My friend and business coach Cindy Petersiel introduced me to a term that describes this basic, yet important idea: chunk it down. (Although, I have to admit that Im not a big fan of the term itself. Something about the word chunk doesnt appeal to me. The concept, however, is very sound! As a career coach, I advise my clients to chunk down their tasks so they wont be overwhelmed by the process of finding a job. Its great advice for any of us facing lots to do and not enough time. (That pretty much describes most people I know!) Some tips for chunking it down: 1.) Review your assignments and goals. Create a list of everything you need to do. Make sure you have a complete picture of the tasks and create a time frame. 2.) Break down the project into natural segments. Write a resume may be one project. Make a networking plan is another task. Prioritize the segments and think about how much time each piece will take to complete. 3.) Focus on one thing at a time. Compile a daily to do list. Make sure it is reasonable; dont give yourself too many tasks on one day. Depending on the job and your patience, you may need to further chunk down the steps. (No one should expect to write a resume in a day!) To decide what to do first, consult your list of priorities. To keep your focus, try to include some fun, interesting or simple tasks early on. If youre doing things you enjoy or finish rapidly, youll give your project a boost and quickly check things off of your to do list. 4.) Plan ahead. Make sure you have everything you need to work on your task as scheduled. 5.) Seek help. It helps to have a good support system. Ask for advice when youre really stuck and to ensure that you are on the right track. (Ive had many clients who are so relieved to partner with an expert so they dont have to worry if they are on the right track.) Learn how I can help you move ahead with your job hunt. 6.) Reward yourself. Celebrate your accomplishments. Do something fun! Get ahead by getting started timeless advice for job seekers! photo by Harold.Lloyd