Setting Up a Place in Your Home to Conduct a Job Search - Nancy J. Collamer

Nancy Collamer M.S. is a career counselor and founder of Jobsandmoms.com, a website for professional-level women who are looking for flexible jobs, work-at-home opportunities and innovative work/life resources.
She is the Author of the book, "The Layoff Survival Guide."

For the duration of your job search, your home will be your office. Setting up your office can be a cathartic experience, providing you with a sense of purpose and structure as you begin the job search process. Ideally, you’ll be able to easily convert your existing home office into your temporary headquarters. But, if that is unrealistic, you can set up shop in a bedroom, basement or any other relatively quiet area of your home.

Not all offices are created equal however, so keep these tips in mind when deciding where to set up “job search central”:
• Opt for a room that can be sealed off when necessary. Having the ability to shut a door when you need to concentrate or handle important telephone conversations is critical.
• Find a space with good light and a pleasant décor - you’ll be spending a lot of hours at your desk so make it as task-friendly as possible.
• Avoid high-traffic areas such as the kitchen or family room, where the level of activity and noise might prove to be a distraction.
• Let your family know that your office is off-limits. If you’ll be sharing a computer, set up ground-rules governing who gets to use the computer when.
• Consider posting your office hours on your door. This will serve as a gentle reminder to both you and your family that you have established working hours during which time you should not be disturbed.
• Invest in a good quality desk chair – your back will thank you!
• Keep all your job search materials in one room, organized with a file for each opportunity, so that you can easily find things when you need them.
• Decorate your office to give it the same feel as a “real” office - with framed family photos or personal mementos.

TIP: At the end of the day, rewind the tape on your answering machine, so you won’t miss any important phone calls!

In order to conduct your job search effectively, you’ll need to have access to some basic office equipment:
• Computer/ Printer
• Telephone and answering machine
• Fax
• Internet access/e-mail account (make sure screen names are appropriate for business!)
With the exception of the telephone and answering machine (and please be sure your answering message is professional - no giggling children or cutesy songs), it’s unnecessary to purchase new equipment if you don’t already own it. If you don’t have a computer, you can rent computer time at office centers like Kinkos. Many local libraries and community centers also offer access to computers and the internet. If you’re a poor typist, consider hiring a friend or college student to process your correspondence.

TIP: You can send and receive faxes through local office supply stores.

TIP: Consider using a cell phone as your main contact number. You’ll avoid the
problem of having your children answering your phone (and not taking down a message properly) and you’ll be able to speak with people while you’re away from your office. If you go this route, ensure that your cell phone has voice mail for incoming messages