How to Apply to a Job Over Your Lunch Break

There’s good news and bad news for today’s employees seeking a flexible working environment. First, the bad news: A Glassdoor survey revealed that seven in ten UK employees (70 percent) say that they take less than an hour for lunch, with the average lunch break across the UK lasting just 31 minutes. 25 percent of employees surveyed said this was due to a fear of falling behind in their work, whilst 18 percent said they simply feel they have to work through their lunch break because everyone else does. In total, only 31 percent said that their company is very flexible and happy for them to take a break when they need to.

So what’s the good news in all this? In a hot labour market, like the one we’re in today, there are plenty of flexible companies out there that are looking for candidates like you — all you have to do is apply to them. And what better time to do that than your lunch break?

Here are some of our best tips for applying to a job during lunch.

1. Avoid Using Your Work Computer

Many of us use our work-issued computers for personal use on occasion, whether for emailing a friend, scheduling an appointment or binge-watching a series on Netflix. But it’s important to remember that many times, the organisation you work for has the ability to monitor your online activity. That can make searching for a job on a company-issued computer a serious risk. Even if you’re not sure whether your IT team have the ability to see how you use your computer, it’s best to play it safe. When looking for a job during your lunch break, consider using a personal device like your mobile or personal laptop — bonus points for doing your search at a nearby coffee shop for extra privacy.

2. Create a Job Alert

With just about 31 minutes for your lunch break on average, you have to make sure you’re efficient with your time — and that means not wasting time scrolling through job after job, hoping to find the right fit. Creating a job alert will allow you to get a more carefully curated list of the positions you’re interested in. Just enter the job title you’re interested in and your target location, and you’ll get a list of the most recent, relevant jobs sent right to your email, allowing you work smarter — not harder!

3. Take Advantage of Easy Apply

Finding a new job is hard enough — the actual application itself shouldn’t make it any more difficult. Thankfully, many jobs on Glassdoor have an ‘Easy Apply’ option, which allows you to apply to jobs right on Glassdoor, no additional tabs or windows necessary. Sometimes, you can apply to the job in just a few clicks! Just upload your CV and you can begin applying to Easy Apply jobs. When searching for jobs on Glassdoor, you can even filter the results so that only Easy Apply jobs appear. After searching for jobs with a particular title or in a certain location, click More > Easy Apply > Easy Apply Only and then select ‘Apply Filters’.

4. Network, Network, Network

Sometimes, a personal connection is all you need to put your application at the top of the pile. Although networking is typically associated with in-person events like conferences or happy hours, there are plenty of ways to network right from the comfort of your mobile. One of the most effective strategies is to connect with other professionals on LinkedIn. Look up the companies you’re interested in applying to — if you know anyone there, message them and ask if they wouldn’t mind sharing a few insights about what it’s like to work there. If you’re close enough with them, you may even want to ask for a referral. You can also search for the hiring manager and send them a quick message letting them know you’re interested in the job and highlighting some of your most impressive qualities.

The job search can be long and frustrating, but if you consistently take advantage of the downtime during your lunch break, it can go by a lot quicker. So the next time you’re tempted to get a headstart on your work during the lunch hour, reach for your mobile instead and start looking!