First 3 Things To Do Before Looking for a Job

This is part of a special series sharing insights, tips, and actions you can implement when searching for a job — whether leaving your current one or due to a recent layoff.

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After being laid off, your gut reaction is to take action as fast as possible.

But as we discussed before, that is probably not the best thing to do.

Just as it’s important to do the right thing… it’s equally important how you do them.

When I started my first job out of college, I remember my colleague telling me this one important thing:

“There are those that can do the work, and there are those that can strategize the order of what work needs to be done. The best know how to do both.”

Diving right into applying for your next job is the work that needs to be done… but is it the work that should be done?

By zooming out, there were three actions that I found helpful before focusing on applying for jobs that helped me better position myself for success.

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Action 1: Take Advantage of the Benefits That Are Already There — Unemployment Income

This is one of the fastest ways to start making some sort of income, with the least amount of work.

In my experience it’ll only take 15 minutes to file.

This one sounds like a no-brainer… but I have found time and time again people in my network delay completing this one.

But let’s zoom out for what this really is:

The unemployment benefit is there to help fill the gap as you transition from one job to another.

Why People Don’t File (and Why They Should)

Reason 1: Ego 😤

They were too proud to file for unemployment as they had associated it with an identity that couldn’t be their own.

This has nothing to do with ego.

When you were employed, you paid taxes… for the ability to have benefits like this in situations just like this!

Another way of looking at it: You already pre-paid for unemployment benefits.

Reason 2: “It’s not a lot anyways” 🙄

Something is better than nothing.

The first time I was laid off, I received $450 from the State of California.

The second time I was laid off, I received $999 from the State of Washington.

Did I mention this was each week?

Now keep in mind, unemployment benefits do vary state-to-state… but it’s important to do this immediately as it might take days to a few weeks for the state to actually process the application.

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Action 2: Have Time Work for You, Not Against You — Budgeting Your Runway

I already had a personal budget that I review at the beginning of every month. It’s the same budgeting process that helped me get out of debt and start investing.

But even with having a strong pulse on my personal expenses… it was time to go through them again with a fine-tooth comb.

The main question you want to be able to answer is this:

How many months do I have before I run out of money?

Another way of positioning this: If I divide the amount I have in savings with how much my monthly expenses are, how many months will I have until I am really in trouble?

For some, they will be able to lean on their parents or other family members for assistance.

But for me — asking my parents for help was not an option.

So I needed to be very intentional about what I was doing with the money I had saved.

Where to Cut Back

Cutting back on the amount that I needed to pay for my mortgage wasn’t an option… expenses like that are fixed.

The same goes for minimum payments on any credit cards, insurance, or utilities to keep the lights on.

Where I was able to cut back were in areas like:

• Reducing the number of times I went out to eat by cooking more at home
• Instead of planning spontaneous vacation trips, I had a staycation or did something local

The goal wasn’t to make my life miserable — it was to be more intentional with the money I did spend.

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Action 3: Work with Precision, Not Haste — Finding Your Balance

Doing as much as you can in the shortest amount of time is a waste of energy if you are doing the wrong thing.

Even if you are doing the right thing, doing it in an unsustainable way can be equally as harmful.

The first time I was laid off… I was scared.

I knew I had to produce results and I was willing to do anything to get those results.

• Long nights.
• Early mornings.
• Pure devotion to applying with everything that I had and sacrificing anything else.

Working out? Nope.
Hanging out with friends? Nope.
Eating healthy? Nope.

There was only one result: burnout. 😩

Sure it was sustainable for a week or so… but then it became a slog.

The emotional pressure of needing to get this done was compounded with the physical fatigue that was starting to set in.

This is exactly what NOT to do.

What to Do Instead

I learned that I needed to develop a routine that enabled me to show up as my best self each and every day.

You need to prioritize the little things:

• Get good sleep
• Some sort of physical movement
• Eat consistent healthy meals
• Have a little fun to decompress

The last thing you want is to lack the focus needed to apply to jobs with a high quality application… or to have the energy to amaze an interviewer.

Focus on developing a system that will allow you to focus on the activities that really matter so that you can avoid burning out and finding a job that doesn’t require you to take a step backwards in your career.

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💡 Action Steps

📝 File for unemployment (15 minutes) Get the process started by filing for unemployment on your state website. Ideally, this is completed at the same time as your last day. If you wait too long, you may not be able to file for past weeks that you were unemployed, leaving hundreds of dollars behind.

⏳ Calculate how much time you have (30 minutes) Create a quick budget so you know how many weeks or months you have to find a job. Knowing what your deadline will help keep you focused as you begin your search.

🥱 Avoid burnout by finding balance (5 minutes) Grab a notepad and answer the following questions:

• How many hours of sleep do you typically need per night?
• What activities are important to you? (working out, photography, video games, etc.)
• Are you most refreshed to work in the morning, afternoon, or evenings?

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This article is for educational purposes and not career advice.