How a morning ‘power hour’ can help you find your next job 

Whether you’re in full search mode or simply keeping your options open, finding your next role can be a job in and of itself. If you’re busy in your current position, it’s easy to put outreach efforts on the back burner. But in today’s changing job market, it’s smart to carve out time to look for opportunities and network.

“The average person who’s doing a job search is updating their résumé and looking on all the job boards, trying to see when companies have openings,” says career coach Mary Olson-Menzel, author of What Lights You Up? Illuminate Your Path and Take the Next Big Step in Your Career. “I challenge people to become much more deliberate in their search.”

Olson-Menzel recommends being more intentional by implementing a morning power hour before you get lost in emails and potentially become distracted. Here’s how to fill the time.

Create a Target List

Before you start your daily morning power hour habit, lay the groundwork. Olson-Menzel recommends “flipping your job search inside out” by creating a target list of companies.

“You’re not just sending résumés to open positions and keeping your fingers crossed that in the black hole of a résumé database, somebody’s going to find you and reach out,” she says.

Build your list with buckets that fall into what Olson-Menzel calls the three Ps: your usual prospects, your pivots, and your passions. For example, if you’re in sales for a media company, a usual prospect could be another media outlet. A pivot would be taking your existing skill set and putting it to use in a different industry, such as looking for sales positions at a tech company. For your passion list, consider what you’re passionate about, and determine if you take your existing skill set to a company that has a mission that aligns with your passions. Once you have your list, follow the companies on LinkedIn.

Stay On Top of the News

Start your morning power hour by reviewing your LinkedIn newsfeed. Become a student of the industries in which you want to work. Look for posts from and about the companies on your target list. For example, search for information that might indicate future hiring opportunities, such as if a company announces an expansion. You can also look for employee announcements that might hint at upcoming vacancies.

Your newsfeed can also provide you with an opportunity to spotlight your own expertise. Post relevant industry news on your LinkedIn feed, adding your own thoughts about trends and events.

“Nothing controversial,” Olson-Menzel says. “Share things that are educational, and that people might care about. You can become a little bit of an influencer in the space.”

Connect with Others

Your power hour is also time for connection. Olson-Menzel calls your network the superhighway that helps you get your next job. Follow and, when possible, connect with people you find inspiring who work in the industry and at your target companies. It helps to set a daily goal, such as connecting with three people who work at your target companies or who are in the industry.

“For people who are less ambitious about it, I would say connect to at least one person per day,” says Olson-Menzel.

Warm connections can produce better results, and Olson-Menzel suggests looking look for people inside your network who are connected to employees at your target companies. New grads and people who are early in their careers can lean into their university network, professors, classmates, sorority sisters or fraternity brothers, parents’ network, and friends.

“There’s no starting from scratch anymore, and the days of having to make a list of people to cold call are over,” she says. “So much information is at our fingertips, and there’s usually six degrees of separation with almost everybody. Referrals are so important. That added ounce of trust makes it easier.”

You can also ask your network for connection suggestions. Reach out by saying, “Is there anybody else you think I should meet?” Or “Do you have three people that you could connect me with that you think might be meaningful connections?” They may know people who aren’t yet on your radar.

Make sure your outreach is reciprocal. In addition to requesting LinkedIn connections, comment on other people’s posts, suggests Olson-Menzel. “How can you help and support them?” she asks. “Networking is about people helping each other.”

Small Steps Add Up

The morning power hour can be a great tool for finding your next job. When you make it a habit, you’re more prone to do it.

“You have to be super intentional about networking and connecting,” says Olson-Menzel. “We all have to-do lists a mile long. Dedicate time, otherwise it’s not going to get done. It’s one of those activities you should make a regular part of your day, like working out or meditating. Once you’re done, you can go into your day feeling like a sense of accomplishment.”

And, just like working out or meditating, it’s the consistent steps we take that make all the difference.