I’m trying to shed a few pounds that seem to have made their way to my hips over the past several months and I recently visited the Weight Watchers website for some tips and inspiration. I’ve come to realize that many of the same strategies that are used to lose weight are applicable to job search. Here are a few of my favorites.
Record your daily progress. Weight Watchers has a plan where you record everything you eat over the course of a day. Each food has a point value and the goal is to stay within the recommended points in order to lose weight. The system makes you think twice before you down that third chocolate chip cookie and it forces you to examine everything you eat and be held accountable for it. In a job search, you also need to hold yourself accountable for your activities. Keep a diary of what you do each day. Are you spending hours on the job boards which tend to have a low rate of return or are you practicing more productive strategies like networking? Set daily productivity goals for yourself and monitor your progress frequently.
Set realistic expectations. Everyone wants a quick fix to weight loss and diets often fail because people don’t see the results they want as quickly as they want them. Too often the same thing happens in a job search. People use the boards and recruiters as the “quick fix” and can’t understand why their search is not moving along as quickly as they would like it too. Even a recruiter will tell you that you are more likely to get a job through your network than through them. Networking tends to be the most effective method of job search, but it takes time to build a robust network. Not everyone you connect with will be able to help you or at least not right away. You need to connect with a lot of people to find those who can make critical introductions and that takes time.
Find a buddy. A good weight loss program includes a strong support network. Weight Watchers offers in-person support groups and online boards so members can meet and support others going through the same thing. While friends and family may be supportive, they may not give you the same motivation to stay on your weight loss plan. The same is true during a job search. Try to find a support group of other job seekers who you can confide in and bounce ideas off of.
Reward yourself for reaching small goals. Weight Watchers suggests rewarding yourself with things (other than food) when you meet a certain goal. Job seekers should do the same. If you have been working hard on your search, find some time during the day to reward yourself with something you enjoy…perhaps a trip to the gym or an hour reading a great book.
Understand this is a process, not an event. Weight Watchers teaches members how to create healthy habits that stay with them over their lifetime. The same is true of your career. Ideally you should always be managing your career and not only thinking about it when you are in a job search mode.