Not much. But the Department of Labor reports that the average number of minutes unemployed Americans are spending looking for a job each day is 18 minutes. What can those 18 minutes possibly translate into? Checking one job board, making one phone call, connecting to a few friends and colleagues online, or maybe zapping out three or four resumes to potential employers? If we dedicated just 18 minutes to our paid jobs each day we would surely be on performance counseling or shown the door right away. Why would anyone think that 18 minutes a day translates into an efficient job search?

Perhaps the 18 minute statistic is the result of not knowing how to search for a job rather than just plain laziness. Here are some activities you should be doing regularly each day during your search.

1. Network, network, network. Most people find their jobs through people they know. Think about all the ways you build relationships and affinities with others…family, friends, professional colleagues, your accountant, your doctor, your dentist…they are all part of your network and they may be the link to others that can help you in your search.

2. Build an online presence. Hiring managers and recruiters are searching for top talent online on a regular basis. But they can only find you if you have created a professional online identity for yourself. Take the time to create a robust profile on LinkedIn .

3. Create a list of target companies. Rather than only looking at companies that have immediate openings, create a list of companies in your field or geography or those you admire. Try to secure introductions to decision makers at these companies before the need to hire arises.

4. Research companies.There may be dozens of companies you are not currently familiar with that could be a good fit for you and your skills.

5. Set up job alerts. Since the job boards can be somewhat overwhelming, a great strategy is to set up alerts on the different job boards so you are notified when openings that are relevant to you become available.

6. Tweak your resume. Each time you send out your resume make sure it is addressing the needs of the hiring manager. For analysis your resume then please send tohttp://tinyurl.com/yas8qjk. You will get an analyzed and correct resume of yours. Try it…

7. Customize your cover letters. Spend the time to create cover letters that address as many of the requirements from the job posting as you can.

8. Send thank you letters. Yes, this is still expected. And the thank you letter gives you the opportunity to make a second impression on the people you meet.

9. Eat lunch. Lunch meetings and coffees are a great way to reconnect with people you know and secure future introductions. Schedule several such meetings each week.

10. Join a professional association. Being part of a community of like-minded professionals is a great way to gain introductions to important decision makers in your field. Better yet, take on a leadership role in the organization as a way to become better known by the members.

11. Attend industry conferences. This is another great way to be “in-the-know” on what’s going on in your industry and to be seen by people who may be able to help you in your search.

12. Track your job search movements. In a job search you compile a lot of information…business cards, resumes, articles, etc. Create a system for and monitor your job search activity to keep information fresh and eliminate redundancies and errors.

13. Do a favor for someone. A favor goes a long way. Help someone with a computer issue, watch a friend’s child for the afternoon, help someone move, or just do something thoughtful for a friend in need. These small acts of good will go a long way and will be remembered when you need help from the other person.

In 18 minutes you can take a shower, deposit a check at the bank, or walk your dog. But you can’t search for a job in 18 minutes. You need to put in the time…a lot of it…each and every day.

written by : Alok Sahu