We all know that job searching can eat up a lot of time. First, you have to find a job to apply to. Then, you have to complete those awful applications that make you include so much information that no one even reads.

I know firsthand that finding a career you love with a very busy schedule can work, you just have to use your time wisely and efficiently.

Here are three job search strategies to use if you are short on time:

#1: Target Your Ideal Career

Take out a piece of paper. Write down the name of 1-3 job titles that you would LOVE to have. Then, write down everyone you know that is already in the job title or industry and contact them for an informational interview.

I usually tell my clients that if you don’t know many people, it means you are underinvested and you need to add more people in those fields to your network. There are a few different ways you can find people in the career field you want:

• Search Twitter, Facebook, and blogs for people with the same interests as you and connect with them. Send them a message or email and see if you can ask them a few questions over the phone.

• Google the company or industry you want to work for and find someone who works there. Cold call them and see if you can ask them some questions over the phone. (This gets easier the more you do them. The first call is always the hardest!)

• Join a LinkedIn group in your career field and message someone with your dream job title. Ask them for 15 minutes for an informational interview over the phone.

#2: Go Back to School (Sort of!) 

Contact your college or university career center and obtain a list of alumni contacts in the career field you are interested in. If you are still living in the city where you went to school, drop in and meet with the career advisor. Most advisors are happy to help alumni so don’t feel like you are bothering them. Remember, no one can help you if you don’t ask.

Try to get a list of alumni and their contact information and go down the list asking for informational interviews. People always want to help people that they have something in common with.

Also, make sure that you have joined your university’s LinkedIn group for alumni. Start contacting people in the group and make sure all alumni events are on your calendar for next month.

#3: Map Out Your Network

This one’s my favorite tip – I personally use this to remind myself of the people I already have in my network. Take a sheet of paper and in the middle write “YOU ARE HERE.” Then draw three big circles around it. In the smallest circle, list strong ties you have with close friends, colleagues, and family. In the second circle, list weak ties such as former colleagues, previous classmates, professors and friends of friends. In the third circle, list even weaker ties such as industry leaders, distant relatives, and friends of friends of friends.

Spend at least 15 minutes mapping out your network and list ANYONE that comes to mind. When you are done, focus on networking with your weak ties first because they are the people who can usually help you the most. Your close family and friends may be less likely to introduce you to others because they who you are now really well, but they don’t know what you dream of becoming someday. Also, your weak ties are more likely to have new information and contacts for you.

Good stuff, right? Focus on the people in your network who already know and love you and you will get awesome results.