Job Search Series: A Job Search is Entrepreneurial

If you are, or ever have been, self-employed, you will instantly recognize the truth in this statement: A job search is entrepreneurial.

If you are not, and never have been, self-employed and you are currently involved in a job search - or expect be be soon - then this is your opportunity to experience the world of the self-employed and see how it fits for you.

How is the job search comparable to entrepreneurship? Here are the top three ways:

1. Visualization. An entrepreneur is a Visionary. He/she must pull together a long-term vision and plan in order to define what is wanted and how it will be achieved. A job seeker must do the same. The first step in a job search is to decide what type of job you are seeking - to identify a field, or fields, of interest, experience, or expertise; to determine the geographical area for the search; and identify the company - or type of company - you wish to work for.

2. Organization. An entrepreneur organizes and manages his/her time and tasks. A job seeker must do the same. There is no boss structuring the hours for the job seeker. You are the boss. And a rule of thumb is that you need to put in as many hours finding a job as you would in working that job. Job-hunting is really a 40+ hour/week job. You need to structure your work, put your schedule into a calendar or day-timer. Block out time for these various tasks: research, resume writing, informational interviewing (part of the research process, networking, applying, and job interviewing. Keep the same hours for job-hunting as you kept in your job (unless you've been working nights or weekends. You really need the traditional workweek hours for the job search.).

3. Multi-tasking. An entrepreneur wears many hats in his/her business, especially in the start-up phase. Self-employed workers, especially solo entrepreneurs, do everything in their businesses, though they may hire consultants with particular expertise from time to time. Job seekers, too, do it all, though they might sub-contract expert help from others, such as job coaches, recruiters, resume writers, placement agencies, and the like. A job-seeker is involved in administrative tasks, research, marketing and promotion, selling, bookkeeping, financial management, and other related tasks.

What does a job search require of a job-seeker? The same skills and qualities required of an entrepreneur: discipline, focus, vision, clarity, organization, project management, time management, productivity, multi-tasking.

A job search can become much more efficient, productive, and satisfying when you view yourself as a self-employed solo entrepreneur and view your business as marketing yourself and landing a job!

Good luck!!!