Career consultants advise job seekers to make the job search itself a full time job. That's eight hours a day, five days a week—a daunting task. When approached systematically, however, the full time job search is quite manageable. All it takes is organization and creative time management.

The first step to managing your job search is to maintain regular work habits. That means getting up at the same time every morning. Of course, there's no need to be a masochist about getting up too early. Since you are now "working" from home, you avoid the commute and can afford an extra half-hour or so in bed. With luck this period of unemployment won't last long, so you might as well get some advantage from it.

As tempting as it may be to plunge right in looking for work as soon as you get up, you will be better served if you spend a little time preparing yourself for the job ahead. Preparation is key to beginning any project and your job search is one of the most important projects you'll undertake.

Kick off your job search day with a morning workout to get the blood flowing and clear the brain. As an added benefit, a morning workout will force you to shower. Good hygiene is an important habit to maintain; it's too easy for job seekers to neglect good hygiene in their eagerness to look for work. Don't let slothful habits keep you from the job of your dreams.

Just as your body needs exercise to get going, so does your intellect. Do a little brain exercise, such as the crossword puzzle in the newspaper, or if you prefer, a quick video game. You'll need a sharp mind to stand out from all the other applicants for your next job.

Now that body and mind are warmed up for the day ahead, spend a little time on getting your surroundings in order. A messy house or apartment is distracting and dispiriting. Tidy up the place before settling in to look for work. Next, turn your attention to your workspace. A messy desk is an impediment to efficient work. Organize any loose papers and file away notes. Check your e-mail and deal with anything that requires your attention right away. You're not only making the job search easier on yourself, you're reinforcing good habits that will serve you well when you land your next job.

By this time it's about mid-morning. Don't despair because you haven't started your job search activities for the day yet. The time you've invested in preparation will enable you to focus on your job search without distractions. In fact, you're probably ready for a break. Your search for work will feel more like a full-time job if you maintain the rhythm of the office workday, including coffee breaks mid-morning and afternoon. This still leaves plenty of time to mail a resume or two before lunch.

When lunch-time rolls around, be sure to take a full one-hour lunch. You'll skimp on the lunch break plenty once you're back on the chain gang. You will need to keep up your strength for your job search with a nourishing lunch and a little rest.

If you do have household errands, it's better to run them either before or after the lunch hour rather than to compete with people who have no choice but to run errands during lunch. Potential employers will value your efficient management of time as well as your self-direction.

As you pursue your job search, don't neglect your existing job skills. Spend a little time each day on projects that use your skills, such as coding, writing or even web logging. Keep up with trade magazines and relevant web sites. You'll never have enough time once you get back to work, so catch up on your industry reading now. Even computer games can help you keep up critical job-related skills: pattern-recognition, problem solving, hand-eye coordination, reflex speed, stress management. Your future employer will be impressed with how well you stayed on top of your game during your period of unemployment.

Many employers would prefer to hire a slightly less qualified worker who will fit in with the team rather than a difficult genius. Sadly, many job seekers are isolated in their job search; they run the risk of social skills atrophying. You can prevent this from happening by meeting friends and former co-workers for coffee or other activities on a regular basis.

Networking is a great way to learn about job opportunities and to maintain your presence in the job marketplace. Call upon your employed friends for coffee dates. They'll appreciate the chance to get out of the office and you'll keep your name fresh in the minds of the people who hear about job openings first. You can also keep abreast of office politics, so you don't get rusty in that arena, either.

Since the job search is your full-time job, start wrapping things up around 4:30 or 5 PM. Potential employers will appreciate your consideration for their time if you don't besiege them with late afternoon calls. Besides, there's only so much job searching you can do in a day and be productive; save the late nights for when you have a real job.

With careful and creative time-management, the full-time job search is not only manageable, but even pleasurable. Good luck landing your next job!