You know the usual advice for people who just lost their job:

“Begin your job search as soon as possible. Don’t delay. Update your resume, start networking, and keep searching.”

This is conventional wisdom and most people follow it. On the face, there is nothing wrong with it. It’s what everyone does. It usually works. You will find a job. You had one before, right? There is another great advantage to looking for the next job immediately; offers you a mental safety net. You are following the convention; you don’t have to explain yourself. However, there are some problems with blindly following common rules and expectations. Both personal and surrounding financial circumstances may indicate that there may be a “best way” that best suits your overall situation.

In fact, there are 7 questions you might want to ask yourself if it would be better to delay your job search and use your time differently for a while:

1. What is the economic status of the industry and the city in which it is located?

Looking at an industry going downhill in your city, what good would it do you to start looking for work there? In which company if everyone stopped hiring? Isn’t it better that you spend your time looking for a different location to work and live?

2. What is your personal financial situation?

Does it make a difference if you’re 50 vs. 30; if you have compensation vs. without compensation; not having money in the bank vs. a big savings account? Doesn’t money give you more freedom and time to enjoy life a bit? Or does it make you lazy and too relaxed to look for a new job later?

3. What is your personal family situation?

Is there a difference between being single or spouse? Can you take more risks as a single person? Or does a family provide more emotional stability and potentially the security of a second salary, so that you find it easier to delay your job search than any other colleague?

4. What are your individual personal and professional needs?

What if you’re not sure what to do next professionally? What is your level of “brain damage” from an intense run? Time to make the “once in a lifetime” vacation? Should you take a little time to think about a career change? How long would it take before diving again?

5. Could you have a better career with additional education?

How about investing in education and increasing your chances of finding a better job later? How much would education help you find a job? How long would you “buy” him on the job market?

6. Is there a risk of accepting the next available job?

In good times, it’s easy to find a new job with the same salary or more. What happens in recessions with falling wages? If you accept a 20% cut on the first job offered, will you ever return to your previous salary level? Couldn’t there be a better strategy … wait and re-enter the job market once conditions have improved?

7. How much is time worth to you?

Given that the total years of work can add up to between 30 and 40, why the rush? Thirty to forty years of work equals 360-480 months. Can it really be that bad to take three months off and enjoy life, think and adjust your priorities? Shouldn’t working 99% of your working life be enough? Shouldn’t that be enough to pay for living expenses and retirement savings? All of these questions could lead you to the conclusion that perhaps applying for the next job right away might not be the best course of action for you. Spending your time on other activities for a few months before starting your job search might be the right strategy.