Plan Your Week

Targeted job searching isn't just about the big job goals. It's also about making a plan for the week – with concrete sub-goals and activities. Good structure makes you more focused and effective.

Many job seekers have a feeling that they should be doing more. But without structure, it's hard to know if you're doing enough – or the right things.

By planning your week, you get:

• Better overview of your activities
• More focus on what counts
• Room to also take time off – without feeling guilty

See job searching as your temporary job

A good perspective is to see your job search as your temporary job. This means:

• You have "working hours" – and you have time off
• You have goals for the week – not just "search for jobs"
• You evaluate your effort – and adjust continuously

This provides structure and calm in everyday life.

Use a weekly schedule

We recommend that you put your activities into a schedule. It makes planning easier and visualizes all the activities you actually do.

Example of a weekly plan

• Monday: Research and create company lists
• Tuesday: Contact the companies
• Wednesday: Write applications
• Thursday: Contact your network
• Friday: Evaluate the week and prepare for next week

You can also distribute activities in smaller portions throughout the day if you prefer variation.

Set weekly goals

Concrete goals for the week make it easier to measure progress. Examples:

• Contact 10 companies
• Apply for 2-4 advertised positions
• Expand network with 10-20 people on LinkedIn
• Update CV for a new job target
• Call 5 contact persons

Remember: Applying for a couple of jobs per week is rarely enough. Job searching consists of many activities.

Job search activities

A week can contain many different types of activities:

• Apply for advertised positions
• Send unsolicited applications
• Research on companies
• Contact companies by phone
• Follow up on previous contacts
• Expand your network
• Attend job fairs or events
• Update CV or LinkedIn profile
• Practice personal presentation

Start the day right

When you plan, remember to start the day with the right mindset. This can be:

• A walk in nature
• Listening to good music
• A cup of coffee in peace
• 10 minutes of exercise

It's about creating a good framework for yourself. Put it into the plan so it becomes part of everyday life.

Evaluate your week

Every Friday (or the day that suits you), you should evaluate:

• What went well? What did you accomplish?
• What would you do differently? What didn't work?
• What should you remember going forward? New insights?

Use the evaluation to plan next week.

Typical mistakes to avoid

• Not having a plan – the day disappears without you accomplishing the important things
• Only applying for advertised positions – there are many other activities
• Working all the time – you need breaks and time off
• Not evaluating – you don't learn from your experiences
• Setting too many goals – be realistic

Practical tips

• Use a weekly schedule – either on paper or digitally
• Set 3-5 concrete weekly goals
• Block time for specific activities
• Remember breaks and time off
• Evaluate every week
• Show the plan to your counsellor if you have one – it creates commitment

Try it yourself

Create your weekly plan for next week:

1. Write 3-5 concrete weekly goals
2. Distribute activities across the days of the week
3. Set aside time for breaks and time off
4. Plan an evaluation for Friday

Frequently asked questions

Next step

Now you have the tools to plan your week. But would you like help creating an even more detailed plan? In the next guide, you'll learn how you can use AI to create your weekly plan.