Hustle While You Wait: Things to Do during a Job Search

Being “in between jobs” does not mean that you just have to send out applications all day and wait for a call for an interview. In fact, the time that you are waiting for a new job is the best time for you to do other things that you might not normally be able to do when you are employed. Jobs will not come faster or slower if you take your time doing things that are unrelated to your career; but your life will definitely see an improvement. Here are some suggestions:

• Do volunteer work. You always say that you don’t have time. Well now you have more time to finally do something that will contribute to your community, and to the society as a whole. The great thing about volunteering is that it does not only contribute to the betterment of a certain group of people, but it also serves as a learning experience for the volunteers. If you are looking for a sales job, spending time with people you might not know personally will help you gain more confidence and craft a higher skill in conversing with people.
• Give your friends and family the time that they deserve. After some volunteer work, go home and share a cup of coffee with your wife, a tub of ice cream with your kids, and some bottles of beer with your college friends. Who knows, you might get a piece of knowledge or inspiration from your toddler, or a new job opportunity to target from one of your old colleagues.

• Consciously do one random act of kindness a day. Help a grandma cross the street, chat with somebody you see on the street. It will help you see the world with a new set of viewers and will make you appreciate life more. Doing that is always much better than being stuck in one of those IT jobs for the whole day.
• Evaluate yourself against your set of values and principles. People get too caught up with the realities of life, so much that they tend to drift away from their principles and values. Where are you now in your life in terms of the principles that you are supposed to use as your standards for living? Take the time to reflect on your life and on where you have gone in the years. Refocus and recommit to your values.

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