| You've been laid off, and it's summer. Your thoughts | | | | mommy or daddy. Love your kids. And put them into |
| turn to road trips, sandy white beaches, or spending | | | | day care or otherwise out of the way during the job |
| some time with the kids or grandkids really getting to | | | | hunting week. They are a major hindrance to your |
| know them. | | | | future employment. And don't even think of bringing |
| If you're job hunting, you're out of your mind. You must | | | | your brat on an interview. That is definitely the kiss of |
| not take a summer vacation or time off to "enjoy the | | | | death. Remember...probably you're the only one who |
| kids" if you value your career. Here's why. | | | | thinks your kid is the most lovable thing on the face of |
| 1) Other people aren't taking the summer off. Taking a | | | | the earth. |
| vacation might be fine if everyone was taking one. But | | | | 8) Taking time off for vacations or child-care shows a |
| your competition is still hard at work, networking, | | | | lack of commitment to the work world. Sad to say |
| interviewing, and doing the other things necessary to | | | | that most employers in corporate America want you |
| find a job in this economy. | | | | to be totally focused on your job. If you're taking time |
| 2) Jobs pop up and get nabbed quickly. Even a two | | | | off to do child-care, visit family, or spend time with your |
| week vacation can cost you an opportunity. In today's | | | | family on vacation, you're clearly demonstrating that |
| economy, applications for some of the top jobs are | | | | your focus is elsewhere. This is a mistake. |
| closed off very rapidly. By the time you get back from | | | | It is also a mistake to take time off until you've been at |
| travelling to see family or some attraction, the | | | | your new job for close to a year. Here are a few |
| application period may well be closed. | | | | reasons. |
| 3) You are back at square one. If you take a vacation | | | | 1) Your job may not be there when you get back. Until |
| or time off while job hunting, you are starting from | | | | you're settled in your new job and everyone can count |
| scratch again when you return to your job search. | | | | on you, taking time off might remind them that they |
| Take however long you were on vacation. Double that | | | | didn't really need you in the first place. Stay put until |
| time. That is how long it will take you to get back to | | | | you're indispensable. |
| where you were before you went on vacation. | | | | 2) You need unbroken time to find your way around |
| 4) Your networking will suffer dramatically. Guess | | | | your new job. Taking time off will slow down your |
| what. If you're not around, you can't network. People | | | | productivity. This may mean that you're the last to |
| go out of the minds of other people very quickly. Any | | | | know and the first to go in any RIF or lay-off. |
| momentum you've built with networking will die when | | | | 3) It makes you look lazy! So, you've just started a job |
| people can't reach you, or when you don't call back. | | | | and you want time off? What are your priorities? |
| 5) You'll lose your edge. There's nothing like a vacation | | | | 4) You'll have to negotiate it up-front. Most employees |
| to relax and soothe you. And that is the last thing you | | | | don't get time off for the first year. If you want to take |
| need right now. People who are trying to find jobs | | | | that cruise, you'll have to negotiate it up-front, which |
| need to be energized and focused on finding a job. | | | | can mean that the employer will search elsewhere. |
| 6) Employers will move on. Let's say that you're called | | | | The bottom line is: don't take time off until you've been |
| in for an interview that you can't make because you're | | | | at least six months, and, preferably, one year, at your |
| 1,500 miles away on a sandy beach. There are plenty | | | | new company. Don't take time off at all (other than a |
| of other candidates waiting. Most employers will move | | | | long weekend) when you're job hunting or starting a |
| on to someone else. | | | | new job. Let child-care take care of your children |
| 7) You may not be as flexible on times. If you're doing | | | | during the job hunting week so you can be free to |
| child care, your ability to make an interview or | | | | actually search. Ignore these suggestions at extreme |
| networking meeting is just plain not going to be as | | | | peril to your job hunting and on-boarding. |
| flexible as your competitors who aren't playing | | | | |