Organization is or should be under your control. Spend the time at first getting yourself organized from the start, and then get in the habit of using that organization. Organization is a start-up investment of time that should require little ongoing effort. Without it, your job search process will be not only inefficient from an effectiveness and time investment perspective, but can be an unnecessary source of stress. Without organized efforts, you can very easily wind up feeling like the process is controlling you instead of the other way around.

The Job Search process is built on the various steps laid out in the Main Menu. Commit yourself to accomplish certain of these steps in certain time frames. Reward yourself for meeting such deadlines and "withold" from yourself other more enjoyable activities when you miss your time targets.

The Preparation steps are one-time, startup activities. So here, you might target to finish all the steps over a few weeks time, or more, if you can afford the time. In the Opportunity Search mode, you'll want to set targets against the key activities involved, probably on a weekly basis. So, for instance, you might target to get X number of contact letters and e-mails out in a week. Perhaps do these during the first few days of the week, to leave the rest of the week to make Y number of phone calls or person-to-person networking contacts. Each week, summarize in a log of some sort to see how many of these goals you accomplished. If you find yourself not being a good motivator for yourself, try joining or forming a Job Search Work team (covered in the Preparation section here)).

…and probably a lot longer than you think it will. As such, set time expectations and plans only on those activities you directly control. Try to keep as many prospects and opportunities moving along as concurrently as possible. Don't stop everything else while you're waiting for responses, even if those may be related to interviewing.

Also, understand that the length of your search process will be influenced by the amount key activities you can consistently accomplish, week in and week out of the process. This is the reason that the Productivity Log (here) is provided as a tool to keep your efforts focused and moving forward.

It works, and has worked for many people. If it feels that the process isn't working, then periodically go back and review your career objectives to make sure they're realistic, and review elements of your preparation to make sure you are as properly prepared as you can be. As many have said: "Plan your work, and then work your plan"

Be it in person or online, consider and use whatever informed advice you can. However, don't be afraid to make adjustments to advice you may receive to make it more comfortable or appropriate for you, and/or to adjust it or even discount it in light of prevailing wisdom and data you may receive from other resources or research. And, as mentioned earlier, Job Search Work Teams can play a role in this area.