Tips for Fitting a Job Search Into Your Busy Life

Trying to find a new job on top of your existing day job and other responsibilities feels overwhelming and daunting. It’s often what keeps people stuck in the status quo for a lot longer than they want.

I know how it feels. Like you, I had a job that was demanding. I wanted to continue to be an engaged mom and spouse. And I still wanted to maintain my health and well-being.

So how was I going to fit a job search into an already packed life?

I knew I had very little energy at the end of the workday. The last thing I wanted to do in the evening was spend extra time on the computer.

But I also didn’t want to spend my entire weekend endlessly searching for a job.

I had to find a way to do a little of both. Here’s what worked for me.

First, I decided that I had to do it. After hemming and hawing for months, once I decided that it was time, that set in motion my resolve to make it a priority. We often forget that thinking about something is not the same as committing. Once you commit, it’s easier to take the first step.

I already knew the type of work and role I was targeting, so for me, it was a matter of finding those opportunities. If you're not clear on what you want to do or feel stuck, you will need to prioritize some of the upfront exploration.

I broke my search process into two phases.

Phase 1: Generate lots of potential options

On a weekend, when I was mentally fresh and could get a chunk of undisturbed time (like 90 minutes to 2 hours), I would prioritize my research. With some upbeat music and a cup of tea, my goal was to find as many interesting companies and opportunities as possible. I let myself go down rabbit holes and wander. I had a spreadsheet open with a tab for interesting companies, potential job descriptions to evaluate further, and people to network with. As I went, I dumped anything I found interesting into that document.

In this phase, the aim is for quantity over quality. Don’t filter, don’t let your mind give you the “yeah buts,” and don’t spend too much time screening things out. You want to show yourself that there are a lot more opportunities than you initially thought. That is a big boost to your motivation and confidence.

Because my brain was relaxed and fresh, it felt like I was primed to see more possibilities and be more creative in thinking about career options that felt exciting to me. And knowing I had a good chunk of undisturbed time (thanks to a supportive spouse) allowed me to make a lot of progress and go where my search led me.

Phase 2: Evaluating opportunities in manageable chunks

Let’s face it, trying to muster up the energy for the job search after a long day of work is often a losing battle (Netflix always wins). That’s where chipping away at your spreadsheet comes in.

In the evenings or if I had an extra 15 minutes during lunch, I’d take a single company from my spreadsheet and evaluate it more thoroughly. Were they the size I was looking for? Did it look like they were in growth mode? Did they have any postings that looked interesting? If it didn’t feel like a good fit, I added a quick note of why I screened them out and moved to the next company on my list.

This worked for me because even when I was lacking time, mental energy, or motivation, I was still able to keep my momentum going. It doesn’t take a lot out of you to evaluate a company or two to figure out if you want to keep them on your target list.

If I was intrigued and felt like the company should stay on my target list, it also felt easy to do a quick search on LinkedIn. I’d look for someone at the company that I could reach out to and send a short connection request. After they accepted, I could send a longer note explaining why I wanted to chat.

Getting these conversations was an important way for me to learn more about the company, build advocates internally for companies I prioritized, and practice my elevator pitch in a low-stakes way. It was manageable to squeeze in one or two half-hour conversations at some point in the work week – and it had the intended benefit of finding job opportunities that hadn’t yet been posted.

Managing the guilt of juggling a job search while employed

I’ve often felt guilty when launching a job search, especially when I spend any time on it during working hours. Many of my clients wrestle with that, too. But here’s how I managed those conflicting feelings.

First, I’m guessing that you’ve had a lot of days when you’ve given 110% to your job. You worked a weekend, you put in time in the evenings, you pushed a personal obligation to put work first. In the grand scheme of things, it’s ok to have an occasional 90% day where you take time to manage your career and well-being.

Second, if you’re actively disengaged, you’re not doing your company or your colleagues any favors by sticking around. They deserve to have someone in the job who wants to be there, who is excited about the role, and who is inspired to do their best. If that’s no longer you, you owe it to them to move on.

Fit it in your flow.

This is what worked for me, based on my constraints. The key is to know yourself and figure out how to break your job search process into manageable, achievable phases that keep you motivated. This is very much a mental game, so figure out what works for you to keep chipping away at your goal.

For many of my clients, they recognize the value of having a partner by their side to keep them accountable, help them create a structured process for their career exploration, and overcome their doubts and fears so they can design a career they love.

If that sounds like something you could benefit from as well, let’s chat.