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&lt;p&gt;When you&#39;re unemployed, no matter how desperate you are to find a job, it is very easy to become distracted from your ultimate goal.&#160; Sometimes, the very computer you are using to find a job can pull you away from your job search.&#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;You&#39;re trying to find a job, but you need to harvest your crops on Farmville; you have to regain the top score in Bejeweled Blitz; and you’re singing to songs from Glee (and you don&#39;t even like Glee) while trying to figure out just who Ted Mosby is going to marry on HIMYM.&#160; You haven&#39;t found a job yet and your goals suddenly feel so far out of reach.&#160; How do you stay focused?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Get the Job Done.&#160; &lt;/strong&gt;Procrastination leads you nowhere.&#160; The best way to stay focused on your goals is to just dive in and get started.&#160; One thing leads to another and before you know it, you&#39;ve edited your resume, wrote out cover letters, filled in job applications and applied for various positions.&#160; To help you stay focused, it might be important to put together a checklist covering the tasks you need to accomplish that day.&#160; Nothing will give you greater pleasure than crossing something off your list and feeling like you accomplished something.&#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Set Realistic Goals.&#160; &lt;/strong&gt;When you set unrealistic goals for yourself, you experience failure very quickly.&#160; This is not a healthy process.&#160; It can lead to poor self-esteem and the propensity to just give up.&#160; When you set realistic goals and achieve them, you build up momentum that can carry you throughout the job search.&#160; Little wins along the way lead to big wins in the end.&#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Think Outside the Box.&#160; &lt;/strong&gt;You are not reaching your goal of full-time employment, but&#160;rather than give up, set up some shorter term goals that can boost your resume.&#160; A job seeker could work part-time or volunteer for a non-profit organization in need of your expertise.&#160; &#160;It allows you to continue working in your desired profession, build your resume and develop new contacts – all providing you with fresh new ideas and perspectives for your job search.&#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Stay Organized.&#160; &lt;/strong&gt;It is so easy to fall into disarray when applying to multiple jobs and maintaining a number of contacts.&#160; I know this.&#160; When I was searching for a job, I kept a notebook where I entered every job I applied to, including who I contacted, when I followed-up, and notes on whether I thought it was a job I should pursue vigorously or if it was a position I would accept just to have a job.&#160; Before I knew it, the notebook just sat in the corner next to my workout log and collected dust.&#160; The lack of organization led me to apply to positions I had already applied to; follow-up with the wrong people...and in some cases, apply to a job at the wrong company.&#160; Staying organized leads to less mistakes, which means less stress and more focus.&#160; &#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ask for help.&#160; &lt;/strong&gt;It&#39;s ok to ask for help.&#160; The more people, the more ideas and the more creative your job search can be.&#160; I reached out to a contact and asked her to offer me suggestions on my resume.&#160; I didn&#39;t agree with everything she suggested, but the few things I did agree with, helped me better pinpoint my job search.&#160; She also provided me with several confidence boosts that were appreciated and needed at the time.&#160; Help can also be provided by reaching out to contacts and asking them about jobs within their company.&#160; According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many jobs are actually not advertised, so these contacts can be a valuable tool in a job search.&#160; You never know until you ask.&#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Evaluate.&#160; &lt;/strong&gt;At some point, you need to assess how good the job search is going.&#160; You should go over what you have done, what you&#39;ve accomplished and how your efforts panned out.&#160; If you&#39;re not going anywhere with the job search, it might be time to create a new plan of action.&#160; If your plan isn’t working and you don’t take to review what you have done, you will only end up getting depressed, confused and aggravated.&#160; There&#39;s always more than one way to accomplish your goal.&#160; Take the time to determine what is right for you.&#160; Never give up and eventually, you will reach your goals. &#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;--Jon Minners, Vault.com&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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