You’ve shoehorned hours of job search time into your already busy day. And you’ve been fielding calls with recruiters and network contacts all day long. Now it’s time to check out and leave the job search alone for another day—maybe a couple of days—while you redirect your focus to other responsibilities. Nothing can go off the rails while your attention is diverted for a little while, right?

Wrong. Once you start your job search, you flip a switch that stays on all day, every day, until you land your next position. Even when you’re asleep, your online profiles are still visible, and your voicemail message, email address, and public persona are still awake and active. The job search process is an adventure, and as with any adventure, from the moment you sign on, anything can happen at any time. Here are a few ways to make sure you’re ready.

Keep your messages tight.

You can’t control when potential leads, employers, recruiters and network contacts will reach out to you. So record a professional, friendly voice message that tells callers who you are and what you’re about, no matter why they’re calling. While you’re at it, adjust your phone habits. Instead of ignoring numbers you don’t recognize, train yourself to answer. And never answer the phone with a rude, sleepy, inarticulate single syllable. Practice these words: “Hello, (insert your name) speaking.”

Check your email.

Make sure your email address looks professional and serious, and if it doesn’t, get a new one. Check your messages at least two or three times per day during your search, and review your spam folder as well. If you check your spam folder very rarely—or not at all—don’t be surprised to discover that your dream employer tried to contact you six months ago.

Keep your schedule flexible.

Prioritize your job search, even if it means putting some other aspects of your busy life on a temporary hold. If an employer can only meet with you during a time slot in which you’ve scheduled a dental cleaning, a date with your spouse, or a casual get together with friends, don’t hem and haw. Just reschedule your date. Your spouse, friends and dentist will still be there later. Your potential employer probably won’t.

Keep your resume updated and on hand.

Once you’ve edited and polished your resume, be ready to send it off at a moment’s notice. This may mean buying an app that can help you send documents on the go, or it may mean creating business cards that direct readers to the blog or website where your resume is posted and available.
For more on how to keep your job search active, even when you’re not, reach out to the Charlotte career management team at PSU.