Calendars
are critical for a well-organized job search. One of the big
challenges for many job seekers is getting into a work rhythm following
a lay-off because the familiar structure to their days has changed so
radically. They don't have to be at work at a certain time, nor do they
need to work on specific work projects, which can leave many people
feeling uncertain about how to structure their daily routine. They say
that when you're unemployed, your new full-time job is finding another
one, and your calendar can be a valuable ally in that process.
Google Calendar is a great option for creating a job search calendar (For a sample daily/weekly calendar check out this one). Some key features include:
- A very intuitive quick add feature--I can type in "Interview next Tuesday at 3 p.m." and Google will put the item on my calendar on the appropriate date.
- A description and comment section for each item--Use this to include any key information related to the content of an appointment. For example, if you have to do a call, put the number
into the description, along with the names of any other people you'll be
talking to in the call. If it's an appointment at an unfamiliar
location, run a Google Maps search for directions and then cut and
paste the URL into the description so that it's there when you're ready to
go. You could also put in the names of the people with whom you'll be interviewing or a link to the job opening.
- An option to have your agenda automatically emailed to you each morning. You can access it from the Settings tab--just go to Settings and then "Notifications." You can also integrate Google calendar with your cell phone so that you'll receive text appointment reminders, which is great if you're out and about.
- The ability to share calendars. Calendars can be public or private and you can set up a sharing option so that other key people in your life (like a spouse and children) can see and add to the calendar, which is an excellent way to manage family time too.
- Integration with Google Tasks. Google Tasks is an application that lets you create your To-Do lists, which can then be integrated with the Google Calendar application.
For more ideas on how to use Google Calendar, check out:
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