Unfortunately, as one of the leading employment agencies in the Northwest, we know that many times unemployed individuals tend to go to one extreme or the other. On the one side, they’ll spend every waking minute on job boards or scouring the classifieds, searching relentlessly for Northwest jobs. On the other hand, they’ll procrastinate, and put off the job search, not wanting to deal with it or face reality. Neither approach is healthy and can cause a lot of stress in the process.

So how can you make the most of your search time, without driving yourself crazy? Here are some tips for spending your time wisely:

1. Create a “work” schedule.

Set a schedule similar to a schedule you’d have at work. Commit 30-40 hours each week to searching for new jobs. But when you’re done for the day, you’re done. Don’t keep going back to the computer every night to search for “just one more” job lead.

2. Set goals.

Set goals for yourself each day, such as the number of new leads to contact or the number of resumes you’re going to send out. That said, your goals shouldn’t be 100% focused on your job search. Now that you have the time, set a personal goal for yourself, as well. Always wanted to take a creative writing course? This is the perfect time to do it. Getting outside of your job search – and your comfort zone – can have a positive impact on your life overall and possibly even your job search directly.

3. Get moving.

Exercise not only benefits you physically, but emotionally and mentally, as well. One of the easiest ways to get moving is to find an activity that you like, whether it’s walking, biking, or basketball. You don’t have to join an expensive gym to reap the benefits of physical activity.

4. Get out there.

Don’t forget to make time for your family, friends, and social life. Now that you’ve got a more flexible schedule, meet up with friends for breakfast or lunch. Make plans to get together on the weekends. Not only will you boost your overall happiness, but you might hear about a new job lead in the process.

5. Keep perspective.

Whatever you do, try and do it with a sense of purpose, not out of stress and fear. This bad economy will eventually be behind us and soon enough you will find a job. And when that happens, you’ll probably be yearning for the days when you had more time on your hands!

If you’d like some assistance in finding a new job, give us a call. As one of the leading employment agencies in the Northwest, we can give you access to a variety of opportunities that may not be advertised elsewhere. Contact us today to learn more.

But if you make some relatively simple modifications, you’ll likely get better results in the form of more interviews. To help you, here are 5 easy ways you can customize your resume and make it stand out:

1. Speak the same language as the job posting.

For instance, if the job posting calls for a “team player that can contribute innovative ideas,” then your resume should state that you’re a team player that has contributed innovative ideas. Be sure to give a specific example of an idea and the results it achieved.

2. Think about the order.

One job opening might require strong organizational skills, while another job opening might require leadership abilities. For each, you’ll want those respective skills to be highlighted first under your various job titles. So you may need to move bullet points around when customizing your resume.

3. Think about relevancy.

Not every item on your original resume will be valuable for every job opening. So if an item has zero relevancy for a particular position, then take it out. If you held multiple positions at one company, try to condense them or just feature the most significant job. Keep in mind, you want hiring managers to be reading the highlights of your career that pertain to the specific job opening.

4. Add some new details.

For instance, if the position you’re applying for is at a non-profit, and you do volunteer work at a local non-profit, then include that information on your resume. Why? It will give you an edge over your competitors who don’t have any non-profit experience.

5. Be honest.

Sometimes job postings will list skills or qualifications that you don’t have, which is o.k. Just don’t lie about having those skills, thinking it will help your chances. Instead, work on focusing and playing up the similarities between the job’s requirements and your background.

If you have any questions about customizing your resume, or would like some help landing job interviews, Provisional can help. As an employment firm in Spokane, Washington, we can give you access to a variety of opportunities, from temporary jobs that offer a more flexible schedule, to full-time positions at some of the city’s leading companies.

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So why is that? There are a variety of reasons, including:

Being too nice can impact your ability to stand up for yourself.

Whether in salary negotiations or a project meeting, being too nice can cause you to keep your mouth shut so that you don’t “rock the boat.” As a result, you may not get recognized for jobs you’ve completed successfully, other people may not take you seriously, and they may even take advantage of your niceness.

Being too nice can impact your ability to make effective decisions.

People who are too nice at work can face career derailment because they have a “can’t we all just get along?” attitude. They generally don’t like confrontation and difficult work situations, and therefore tend to avoid them at all costs. This highly cooperative attitude may be fine when you’re just starting out or early on in your career, but as you’re moving up, it can impact your ability to make tough choices and be viewed as an effective leader.

Being too nice can impact your ability to manage employees.

This tendency to avoid confrontation isn’t just a problem in decision-making. It also becomes a problem when trying to manage employees. For instance, if one of your employees isn’t performing well, it’s your job to confront that person, offer constructive feedback, and work with them to develop a plan for improvement. This can be a challenging position to be in for someone who simply wants to be well-liked.

With all that said, you don’t need to be mean and overly aggressive in order to get ahead at work. In fact, just like being overly nice, those traits too can also negatively impact your career.

Instead, it takes a balanced approach to move ahead in your job.

For instance, it’s a good thing to be cooperative, as long as that attitude is balanced with the ability to stand up for yourself and your opinions when necessary. It’s also good to be trusting of others, but when someone throws you under the bus, you need to confront them in order to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

And if you’re ready to advance your career with a new job in the Northwest, Provisional can help. As a one of the leading Northwest employment firms, we work with many of the region’s leading employers and can help you find a job that’s a great fit for you.

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1. Be discerning about where you send your resume.

Some job seekers take the approach of applying to every single opening under the sun. Not only is this not effective, it can also expose your job search much faster. So only apply to those Northwest jobs that you truly feel are the right fit for you, even if they are few and far between. Also, in your cover letter, let the employer know that your job search is confidential.

2. Keep your LinkedIn updates to a minimum.

If you’re regularly trying to polish your LinkedIn profile, and you’re connected to your boss or co-workers via the site, then they will be notified of those updates. Making a few edits is fine; everybody does it (or should be doing it) on an ongoing basis. But making numerous updates and getting recommendations week after week will most certainly shine a light on your job search.

3. Don’t use office equipment.

No matter how tempting it can be, don’t use any office equipment or systems, whether it’s the copier or the Internet, to conduct your job search. First, if those systems are monitored, then your job search will be exposed. Secondly, it’s just plain wrong to use resources belonging to your current employer for your job search. Instead, use your cell phone to check your email. And if you need to make a phone call, wait until your lunch break.

4. Dress carefully.

Warning bells will go off if your typical work outfit consists of jeans and a t-shirt and all of a sudden you start showing up wearing a suit and tie. So either build enough time into your schedule to go home and change, or bring a change of clothes with you.

5. Try not to disrupt your workday with job interviews.

If possible, try to schedule interviews after work or early in the morning. Hiring managers understand that you are currently employed and, as a result, some may be willing to schedule an interview at 7:30 a.m. or 5:30 p.m.

If that’s not possible, then try to use your lunch break for interviews. An interview may last longer than an hour, so you’ll need to let your current employer know that you will be using some personal time after lunch for an appointment.

Whatever you do, try to keep the disruption to your workday at a minimum. If you’re coming in late or leaving early regularly, without a good reason, your boss will begin to suspect you’re interviewing for jobs.

If you’re currently employed, and would like some help finding a new job, please contact Provisional. Not only can we uncover rewarding jobs in the Northwest that are a fit for your skills and personality, but all of our searches are conducted in a completely confidential manner. Contact us today if you’d like to get started.

Sound familiar? From Seattle to Spokane to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, it seems like we’re all busier than ever and, as a result, it’s becoming harder and harder to juggle personal and professional lives. But there is a better way. Here are some tips for achieving balance in your life:

Determine what really matters to you.

Figure out your priorities by asking yourself some questions:

• If you could focus on one thing in your life and one thing only, what would it be? (Think job, family, friends, faith, hobbies, community service, etc.)
• What would the second thing be?
• The third?

And so on until you have a list of your top five priorities.

Whenever you’re engaged in one of these priorities – whether it’s career, family or personal – focus totally on it. Don’t think about all the laundry that’s piling up at home while you’re trying to prepare for a meeting, or about next week’s performance review when you’re spending time with your kids.

Eliminate unnecessary activities.

Now that you have a concrete list of your priorities, you may realize that you’re spending too much time on unimportant activities – like watching TV or surfing the web. Drop or cut back on the activities that aren’t on your priorities list because they are keeping you away from what matters most.

Take some private time.

You probably wouldn’t skip work because you didn’t have time. Nor would you miss a parent-teacher conference because it got in the way of your schedule. Your private time should be just as protected. Making time for yourself can lead to greater satisfaction and productivity in both your personal life and your work life.

Accept help.

We all need to rely on others at one time or another. Don’t make yourself feel guilty for relying on your spouse, family, co-workers, or friends to help you succeed.

Plan time for fun.

Fun and relaxation are an important part of a well-balanced life. So make time for those hobbies that are important to you, whether it’s working out, going out with friends, or taking a guitar lesson.

Achieving a better work life balance isn’t rocket science. All it takes is some careful planning and focusing on what matters most.

What about you? Has there been anything you’ve done lately to achieve a more balanced life? Please share your thoughts below.