I frequently visit sites like Lifehacker, which collate great tips of life productivity from around the web. It's a great time saver. Quite often they post job tips (applying for, dealing with colleagues, etc.), and on one occasion I perused the comments of one such about how to apply for a job. One of the comments posted a common idea: applying for a job should be treated as a full-time job.
I understand the sentiment, and there is certainly a lot of effort involved, but time is a precious commodity.
Ask any teacher, and he or she will tell you that teaching is a full-time job, no matter if they spend a full day actually teaching or not.
Being a writer is likewise a full-time job, one I do not get paid for . . . yet.
Staying up on the publishing world by reading news, blogs, and social media is a full-time job.
When exactly would I have time to apply for yet another full-time job of applying for a job?
I don't think applying for a job should be a full-time job. It should be regarded seriously, but not necessarily requiring that much time. If someone is unemployed, obviously circumstances are different, but for those employed, life keeps going on.
I guess I am just prioritizing differently. Finding a new job is important, but it's not as high up on the list as other things. Plus, I think working smarter is key here. New techniques, new resources. New inspiration.