project managing your job search.

Planning a career move can feel overwhelming. In a competitive market, your approach to your job search will impact both the outcome and the experience itself. A question I’m often asked is, “How do I best approach my job search, Craig?”

As a recruiter, a major part of my role is providing meaningful guidance to job seekers. Coaching and supporting candidates through their job search or interview process is central to that experience.

Here’s some of the advice I give on managing a successful job search:

treat your job search as a project.

Approach your job search as you would any project; with strategy and structure. Instead of letting it take over your life, schedule focused time for it. Setting aside regular moments helps maintain momentum while preventing overwhelm from constantly scrolling LinkedIn or job boards and checking messages.

go beyond applications.

Job seeking is more than applying to job ads. It’s about building visibility and relationships. Think of it as a campaign.

Spend regular (scheduled) time increasing your professional presence by updating your LinkedIn profile, engaging with relevant content, contributing to discussions, and attending industry events. Many opportunities come through conversations and referrals. Making connections can mean you’re front-of-mind when a role opens up.

stay organised & track progress.

Research your target industry thoroughly. Identify sectors, companies, and individuals you want to connect with.

Create a tracker (Excel works well) to log links, contacts, and companies of interest. Once you start applying for jobs, this tracker will help monitor your outreach, follow-ups, and overall progress. This will help reduce overwhelm while revealing patterns in your job search that help you refine and improve your approach.

build genuine connections.

A successful job search is built on relationships, not transactions. The people you connect with can open doors and support your career journey. Don’t go it alone.

Start by reaching out to mentors, colleagues, and former managers. Let them know that you're exploring opportunities and ask their advice.

Then, expand outward. Research recruiters aligned with your field and values, and who seem most likely to be in a position to support you and boost your success.

Connect with professionals whose career paths inspire you or those working in teams you’d love to join. A thoughtful message can lead to valuable conversations.

communicate thoughtfully.

Following up is essential after job applications, introductions, or interviews. A simple thank-you message shows appreciation and professionalism while keeping the conversation going. However, balance is important. Be respectful of others’ time, whether they are hiring managers, business leaders, or recruiters. Everyone is busy.

keep going & build resilience.

Rejection is part of job seeking. It’s often unrelated to your ability, because roles get filled internally, budgets shift, or timing isn’t right. What matters is how you respond.

Resilience isn’t about ignoring disappointment; it’s about acknowledging setbacks and pressing forward. Your goal isn’t to receive multiple offers, it’s to secure the right opportunity for you!

Stay patient, keep showing up, and lean on your support network when needed.

can I help you?

While the job seeking journey may have ups and downs, each connection you make, each experience you have, and each lesson you learn brings you closer to the right opportunity for you. Stay proactive, keep refining your approach, and trust that with persistence and focus, you’ll land a role that truly aligns with your skills, ambitions, and values.

If you’d like support in managing your job-search more effectively, I’d love to say hello.