I want to speak specifically to those who have lost businesses or jobs during this challenging time. I want to address those who have been unfortunate enough to find themselves without work and offer a suggestion that I've shared with many people over the years. I began giving this advice when I was delivering vocational training to unemployed young people, and friends and family would often ask for guidance on job hunting.

My single, most important piece of advice is this: Treat your job search like a full-time job.

This means organizing a schedule, whether it's electronic or, as it was when I first started giving this advice, a paper diary. I strongly recommend planning out your week, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (or whatever a ‘fulltime day’ looks like for you). Plan for all aspects of the job hunt, including self-care- mental well-being is crucial because if you're not in a good frame of mind, you won't perform at your best when searching for work.

Often, people would look at me with confusion and ask, "How can you fill 40 hours a week with job hunting?" (And yes, I'm showing my age here.) People would tell me, "There's only so much time I can spend looking at the job listings in the New Zealand Herald!"

I agree- 40 hours is a lot of time to dedicate to a job search. But here are some ideas on how to structure those 40 hours:

• Plan your lunch, afternoon tea, and morning tea breaks.

• Include time for physical exercise.

• Set aside time to actively search for job openings on platforms like Seek.co.nz.

• Schedule meetings with key contacts in your network who might help in your job hunt.

• Research effective job-hunting strategies, including reading material on, and practicing interviewing

You currently have a job, whether you realize it or not - and that job is to find your next opportunity. The more proficient you become at the job hunt, the faster you'll land the job you want. Typically, we are good at working, but not necessarily good at finding work. That’s why you should plan on, and schedule time to become a skilled job hunter.

When I first started giving this advice over 30 years ago, access to resources was limited. My go-to recommendation back then was the book “What Colour Is Your Parachute?,” but now, with the Internet—and particularly YouTube—you could easily fill 40 hours a week just learning to master the interview process alone.

Additionally, you should dedicate time to personal development beyond just job hunting. For example, you can work on improving your mental well-being, developing discipline, and cultivating a positive attitude. These self-development sessions will not only boost your mental health but will also set you up for success in the job hunt.

Discipline and planning make all the difference, both to your success in finding the job you are seeking, and to your overall sense of wellbeing

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