There is an old adage that "Looking for a job is harder than working." How true! The rigors of job search are magnified by the turmoil we experience: lack of self-confidence, humiliation, financial pressure, and the undercurrent of emotions that color all we do: fear, anger, depression, anxiety, loss. One practical step we can take to lower the stress and conserve our energy for finding work, not feeding our bloated worries, is to manage our time effectively.
Have you ever noticed that you get more chores done when you’re busy? If time is limited, we squeeze in those extra demands because we know they have to get done by a deadline and we fear putting them off. When time is unlimited, such as when you take a few days off work, there is no pressure to rush—"I’ve got four days, I’ll do it tomorrow." Suddenly, you are back at work and realize that you didn’t accomplish half of what you had planned.
This lack of structure is magnified when you are unemployed. There is no pressure to get up, get dressed, get out of the house by a specific time. We know we have things to do. We need to update our resume, create some new cover letters, research some possible job openings. It is so hard to get started because we hate having to do it, we don’t feel creative or excited about the whole prospect, and we dread having to go through the horrors of interviewing. We procrastinate, telling ourselves that when we are ready, it will just "flow." For a few hours, a few days, we’ll just indulge ourselves and relax.
When the end of the month arrives and we compare our diminishing bank balance to our multiplying bills, we mentally beat ourselves up for not having accomplished what we had so earnestly intended. Now we generate our own pressure, magnified by guilt and self-reproach. Stress levels and blood pressure rise. We feel resentful, angry, depressed. "I didn’t ask to get into this situation. It’s unfair. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it."
Adopting a reasonable schedule can avoid reaching this point. Try these ideas:
1. Take a day to do nothing but plan out what you are going to do, and when.
2. Concentrate on not over-committing yourself. You may be used to working 8 or more hours per day and think that is what you will now spend on job search. Remember that adage: your hunt for work is a lot more difficult than simply walking into a familiar employer and pursuing your daily routine. Recognize that and limit your job hunting to fewer hours per day.
3. If you rigorously limit your job hunt-related activities to 4 hours per day to start (you can always increase later), you may find yourself forced to stop before you are ready. This creates the impetus to get you going the following day -- you can hardly wait to get back to what you are working on.
4. When your "work time" is over, stop. Consciously focus your attention on relaxing: take a walk, read a book, throw a ball, watch television, whatever pleases you. You will be able to relax because you know you completed exactly what you planned. The guilt, and the sense of "I should have, I should be" no longer exist and you are free, for a short time anyway, to do anything you want.
5. Identify your priorities by looking at what day of the week is best for each kind of activity. If you are searching the classifieds, Sunday is the premium time to do it. If you are networking or cold calling, concentrate on the morning weekday hours. Agency visits, whether for temporary work or head hunting, can be relegated to the afternoons when employers are difficult to reach and already fatigued.
6. Analyze your own daily energy patterns and put them to work for you. Make sure that during your high energy periods you are "out there," contacting people and presenting yourself. Use your low energy times for solitary, mundane tasks: researching companies and jobs, organizing your paperwork, planning your next day’s activities.
The inevitable stress of unemployment and job search can never be totally eliminated, but managing your time and being gentle with yourself can turn a painful situation into simply an uncomfortable nuisance.
Virginia Bola, PsyD
Email: bola07@comcast.net
Dr. Bola operated a rehabilitation company, developing innovative job search techniques for disabled workers, for 20 years. A licensed clinical psychologist, she developed vocational programs for the mentally ill, served as a Vocational Expert for Social Security, Civil Court, and pioneered vocational testimony in Workers’ Compensation Hearings. She is author of The Wolf at the Door: An Unemployment Survival Manual (Authorhouse.com). Reach her at: http://www.virginiabola.com
Monday, July 21, 2008
Job Hunting Tip - Time Management
Reservations Supervisor Job Opening in Huvafen Fushi Maldives
Currently we have the following positions available for the people who are ready to take a part in one of the greatest resort in Maldives
Purchasing Manager
Finance
Reservations Supervisor
(Room Reservation)
English Teacher
Human Resources
Priority will be given to Maldivian Nationals
If you are looking for a career in a company focused on training and career development of their people please send your letter of application, bio data and photo before 24th July 2008, addressed to
Human Resources Manager at
Email: jobs@huvafenfushi.com
HR Manager Job Opening in Helengeli Island Resort
Helengeli Island Resort is recruiting Maldivian for the following positions
HR Manager
(Head of Department)
Negotiable Salary
HR Coordinator
Negotiable Salary
Eletrician
Negotiable Salary
A/C Mechanic
Negotiable Salary
Room Attendant
Salary: Mrf 2500
Package: Negotiable Salary based on qualification and experience) , monthly service charge, annual bonus, fully paid annual leave, medical insurance for staff and family members etc. and last but not least the familiar “ Helengeli Team Sprit”
Interested candidates may contact us and / or send their applications with a CV and supporting documents to:
Helengeli Island Resort C/O Crown Company,
Fasmeeru Building, 6th floor, Male’ or
By fax +960 6642881 before 28th July 2008
Email: hr@helengeli.net
For further questions please call 7781890 (Mohamed Zahir)
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Accounts Assistant Job Opening in Universal Enterprises Pvt Ltd
Universal Enterprises Pvt Ltd
If you are well presented and have the ability to manage your time and use your initiative this could be just you are looking for…
Accounts Assistant
Must have passed 04 subjects in A’ level with at least credit pass in Accounts or Commerce
Good Knowledge in Computer applications
Preference would be given to candidates having experience in the respective field
Salary: Negotiable
Personal Attributes:
Below 35yrs
Pleasant personality, decent & hard working
Friendly and customer oriented
Confident and positive work attitude
Willing to work long hours as required
Interested candidates may send their CVs along with educational certificates to:
Personal Department
Universal Enterprises Pvt Ltd
No 39 Orchid Magu, PO Box 2015
Male’ 20-02 Republic of Maldives
Tel: 3332274 / 3332248
Email: ismail.amith@unient.com.mv
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Job Openings in Panorama Maldives Pvt Ltd
Panorama Maldives Pvt Ltd
Job Vacancy
Title: Accounts Clark
Minimum Qualification:
Good result in GCE A/L O/Level – Accounts subjects
Fluent in written/spoken English and Dhivehi
Reliable and hard working
Experience in book keeping and Office Administration
Computer Literate
Title: Reservation Assistant
Minimum Qualification:
GCE A Level / O level
Good command in both written & spoken English
Efficient, Reliable and willing to work long Hours
Computer Literate (Windows XP / Ms. Excel / Ms Word)
Salary: Negotiable on Qualification & Experience
Interested candidates please send their application with CV, Photo of ID card to the following address on or before 25th July 2008, by e-mail or post- addressed directly to the below address.
Addressed to:
Panorama Maldives Pvt Ltd
M. Muli, Sabudheli Magu
Male’, 20316
Republic of Maldives
Tel: 3327066, 7784849
Email: panorama@dhivehinet.net.mv
