Making The Systematic Job Search Work

        The people who succeed with the Systematic Job Search strategies become detectives. Successful detectives never get discouraged. They follow up on each lead until the case is solved. Dozens of leads may dead end, but eventually one pays off. Remember, it only takes one good job offer, and you’ll never be able to predict where the lead will come from.

        The number‑one cause of failure in job hunting is inaction, and the number‑one cause of inaction is fear of rejection. Many people are not technically inactive; in fact they may be very busy. But they’re inefficient, spinning their wheels, and making no headway. Such ineffective tactics can lead to a vicious cycle. It usually starts like this: when people lose their jobs, they start looking at the want ads. They throw their slightly revised resume around with very little success, but finally an invitation for an interview is offered. Since most people “wing it” in interviews with no research, practice, or forethought, the first few interviews go very poorly, leading to a string of rejections. Eventually, many people reach what Richard Bolles calls “Desperation Gulch,” that feeling of hopelessness and depression that can lead to giving up.

        By all means, avoid the vicious cycle. You will do that by: 1) following the strategy as it has been described; 2) keeping busy and using good time management; and 3) enjoying several low‑stress appointments each week.

A New Definition Of Success

        I have one more thought to offer you. I’d like to give you a new definition of success. For most job seekers the only success is getting the right job offer. That’s all wrong. You can experience success each day and should reward yourself for it by feeling good about yourself. I believe success is having one or more pleasant experiences every day. Success is talking to someone who opens up to you and tells you everything about a field you’re interested in. Success is completing your employer list. Success is getting in to see an employer and having an interesting conversation. Success is getting a good lead from a friend. Success is being a finalist among 50 applicants.

        If you have at least one success each day, that ultimate success—a job—will come about as a matter of course. Start your day as if you had a full‑time job. If you’re used to getting up at 6:30 a.m., continue that habit. Put in a solid six‑hour work day. You’re different from the rest of your competition. While they’re complaining about their rotten luck, you’re doing your employer research. While they’re sitting next to the telephone waiting for interviews to be arranged for them, you’re on the telephone setting up your own appointments. While they’re watching soap operas and game shows, you’re meeting hiring authorities and getting job leads. While they’re hoping for a lucky break, you’re creating your own breaks.

        Relaxing is one of the most difficult things for an unemployed job seeker to do. Turning your job search into a full‑time job is the best medicine. If you’re busy with research and appointments, you won’t have time for negative thoughts. If you spend six full hours each day on your job search, you’ve done your job for the day. When you were employed, you didn’t try to finish big projects in a single day. You knew you would get part of it done each day. In a job search you can’t do it all in one day. That’s what tomorrow is for. Monday through Friday stay busy between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., then call it a day. You’ve done all you can do. Relax. Enjoy your family. Read a book. Go to the health club.

Real Experiences

        The following examples demonstrate some of the many ways people find out about their new jobs. These weren’t just lucky breaks, the people created these situations.

I had spoken to someone in each of my top‑ten companies, but there were no openings. I then developed a new list and was starting to talk to key people. One of the firms had no openings but suggested that I talk to someone in a very young but growing firm that I had never heard of. Sure enough, this firm was expanding and I got there at just the right time. The training I’m getting is excellent, and the income potential is excellent, too.

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I was just calling people to get information. I spoke to one person who thought his company was looking for a person with my background. The next day I went in for an interview and got the job.

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After I clarified what I really wanted to do, I contacted a former co-worker who had moved into the field I was interested in. We talked by phone and later had several meetings. He needed someone to assist him and he knew I had the ability and the background. We’re now working together.

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A former supervisor went to work for a new company, and when an opening occurred he recommended me to his boss. I was hired after several interviews.

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I developed a list of consultants I might like to work for. I was contacting them pretty much alphabetically. With several, I just used a cold‑call approach. I had talked to people in most of my top‑twenty companies and had only a few left to contact. One day, I was in the vicinity of one of the firms I had yet to contact. I didn’t know anything about the firm. I just walked in. One of the principals of the firm was there. We talked for over an hour. We really clicked. I started helping with some small projects and within two months I was working full-time.

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A friend in the building where I live wanted me to help her teach a training course. I interviewed with her boss who said I’d be perfect for another job in her husband’s company. I interviewed there and my experience was exactly what they wanted. I became his assistant and got a 35% pay increase.

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In 1990 I moved from Madison, Wisconsin to Salem, Oregon without a job. My intention was to look for work and complete my master’s thesis. When I arrived, I did quite a bit of informational interviewing. I’m not quite sure how I got in to see people, but I somehow did. My main focus was state government.

I met with no success; instead, I took a temporary job as a census enumerator with the federal government. I also finished my thesis, went back to Madison to take my oral exams and returned to Salem intending to pack and move to Washington, D.C. I made my plane reservations and said my farewells to the Oregon beaches and my boyfriend. But just one week before I was to fly off, I received a call from the director of the Oregon Legislative Research Office. He was looking for a research analyst. He had received my name and resume from one of the people I had talked to nearly a year before. I got the job. It changed my whole life.