Is It Ever Too Early To Look For A Job? How To Know The Best Time To Start A Job Search.

In my 20+ years of recruiting and career coaching, a more common problem is that job seekers don’t spend enough time on their job search – not too little time! Too many job seekers wait till they’re burned out or have even left their current jobs before they start looking and then have to launch a job search under duress. (It is still possible to land a job when you are under pressure, but this is not ideal.)

Tom asks a valid question since his ideal transition date is one year away, and companies rarely hire that far in advance. However, interviewing for specific jobs and getting job offers are just two steps in the multi-step job search. Interviewing and closing come towards the end of a job search and should be timed for closer to when you are available (several weeks or months depending on the role). In the meantime, there are other job search activities you can start now, even one year out.

Once you know you want to leave your job, it is never too early to start looking. The best time to look for a job is when you have one — and you don’t have the urgency of needing to land something quickly. Being able to take your time to look for a job is a big advantage. Here are 10 job search activities you can focus on now, well before you start interviewing for jobs:

1 – Confirming your ideal next job

Do you want to do the same job you have done before? Do you want a promotion to management? Do you want a different industry or a new role altogether? Your job search will vary greatly depending on what you want for your next job. Taking the time to get clear on the industry, function and location of your next job ensures you know where to focus your research, networking and marketing. Confirming if you want an established v. new company, small v. big and other work environment factors will help you narrow down the universe of potential employers. Your career exploration may take you further afield than you initially expected.

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2 – Researching possible job search targets

Once you have some definition around the job you want and potential dream companies, you need to do your research. Research takes time, and you don’t want to get to the interview stage and hurry through it.

3 – Refining your marketing material for your ideal job

Your resume, cover letter, online profile and networking pitch need to be tailored to your job search targets. This takes time – to get to know your targets, to make the necessary revisions – especially if you are looking for a job in a different area than you worked before. Even if you are targeting your same industry and function, you need to update your material for your latest accomplishments and level of expertise.

4 – Filling in any skills or expertise gaps

As you learn more about your target companies and roles and update your marketing accordingly, you may find that there are skills or expertise that you are missing. Now would be a perfect time to fill in those gaps, so that when you do go on the market, you are confident in being able to compete with other candidates.

5 – Building genuine and supportive connections in your ideal area

We all know people who only reach out when they need something – many times something job search-related. Now that you have a long time to look, invest that time in building genuine relationships with people that will support you. If you’re targeting a new area, you may need to meet new people – you’ll be glad you have a long runway for your job search.

6 – Strengthening your professional references

While you’re working on your job search, you don’t want your current employer to feel like you have checked out. You want a strong professional reference from your last job. You also want strong references from other employers and colleagues, vendors, customers. Take the time now to identify what references you have, who you need to track down and any problem relationships you need to smooth over. Employer references can be a deal-breaker in a job search, and too many job seekers overlook this.

7 – Confirming the hiring process for the roles you want

Some job search processes take longer than others. Executive-level searches can take over a year when you look at how much vetting is involved, getting sign off from the Board and the transition time for both the outgoing and the incoming executives. Confirm what the typical process is for the level and role you are targeting, and pace your job search accordingly. One year out may not be too early to apply to jobs or let your network know that you are open to opportunities.

8 – Practicing your interview technique

Depending on how long it has been since you have looked for a job, you may be out of practice with interviewing. In addition, you need to be comfortable with phone and video interviews, as well as talking to recruiters. Practice now, not the night before an interview.

9 – Maximizing your energy level – physically and emotionally

People hire people, and people respond to your energy level. If you are tired or anxious, you are not an attractive candidate. Yet, the job search is physically exhausting and emotionally draining. Start taking great care of yourself now, while you still have the runway to make any changes in your sleep, nutrition, exercise routine or other habits that will help you operate at your best.

10 – Getting organized

Just like you want to appear in control physically and emotionally, you also want to control external resources, like your time and workspace. When your job search is in the interviewing stage, you can easily spend 10+ hours on meetings. This time needs to come from somewhere – start planning now to get autonomy over your work schedule. Similarly, you will need to be more responsive to email, LinkedIn notifications and phone calls – get your workspace in order so you can juggle both your current job and your job search.

It is never too early to start a job search

One year out is not too early to start, especially as you view the long list of activities you start right now. There is a lot to do in your job search to be a competitive candidate, well before you even apply for jobs, much less interview and negotiate. Even if you end up not changing jobs, confirming what you want, knowing your market and taking great care of yourself are all essential for ongoing career success.

Forbes.com | January 31, 2020 | Caroline Ceniza-Levine