The hourglass is so last decade to illustrate the passing of time (I’m looking at you, Days of Our Lives).

Time is on a stopwatch for working parents. From 32 minutes to 4.2 hours, reports range on how much free time is at the disposal of working parents.

No matter the minute mark, it can feel like a personal and professional tug-of-war. Not to mention when a job search is added to your already crowded calendar. Short work bursts are the name of the game when you're on the market (and on the clock). 

Try these 15 quick tasks that take 3 minutes or less to accelerate your job search in your in-between moments.

The ONE. It’s the age-old dating question: Is there one person we are destined to love? It’s Valentines’ week and no matter where you stand on the matter, the Hallmark holiday is about celebrating love: From your affection at the moment to your ride-or-die for life.

But in a job search, multiple partners at the same time are a must. There isn’t just ONE person who will mobilize your career advancement. It takes a village. From mentors and coaches to sponsors and resume writers, to company insiders and decision-makers - It takes a network. And this Valentine’s holiday, let’s show our love to one beloved job search partner: The recruiter.

So if you are behind your screen fumbling over your words in a reach out, unsure on how to keep contact or maintain a connection, I got you. I took my burning relational questions to nine recruiters to uncover what works to cultivate a real connection with a recruiter.

Networking is conversing.

We chat every day without thinking about it. It’s like breathing. But when you mention this method to job seekers, most panic, their stomachs knot and the sudden urge to run and hide overtakes them.

Don’t sprint to your hiding spot just yet. Networking is just engaging in a meaningful conversation and exchanging information. That’s it. With that said, Preparedness can go a long way.

The hourglass is so last decade to illustrate the transience of time (I’m looking at you, Days of Our Lives).

Time is on a stopwatch for working parents in the age of Coronavirus. You have three minutes and 24 seconds to get things done.

At least that's how long working-parents clocked uninterruptible professional time before their personal commitments (ahem children) interrupted their work, according to a Washington Post article explaining their experiment.

The parent duo was interrupted 45 times within three-hours, averaging about 15 interruptions every 60 minutes.

Are you experiencing the same personal and professional tug-of-war, too?

Working (or job searching) in short bursts is the name of the game with young or home learning kids in the house. Better yet (if possible), in-home childcare or assistance at the very least, to block chunks of extended work time.

So how can you use your few-minute work bursts to level up your career or job search?