This blog talks about my frustrations with starting job searches and the 3 steps I learned to nail my dream job: creativity, networking and self-assessment.
I have worked in sales, marketing, research, etc. in:
- Money Management
- Investment Banking
- Solar
- Career Coaching
My unbelievably frustrating job search history
Money Management
I graduated undergrad in 1988 and started my job search around October 19, 1987, Black Monday when the stock market dropped about 30%.
I could blame my parents for my birth year, but let’s not go there!
Where do I even start searching for jobs in equities when the market drop was about 3x worse than the crash of 1929?
Investment Banking
I was looking for a job after business school in 1993 but did not have a 1992 summer job for my resume.
How do I get a job coming out of MBA with no prior year summer job?
Solar
I was let go from Credit Suisse in October 2007 when the world crashed-think Lehman, Bear Stearns, Merrill Lynch, the evaporating equity in your home.
How does a mortgage guy get a job when his product caused the crisis?
I felt so frustrated, anxious, angry and confused
Career Coaching
I left my solar job to start a career coaching business, something I had always done on the side anyway
Ever finally get to do what you want?
Besides luck, how did I do it?
Ever finally get to do what you want?
Lessons Learned
How to start your job search:
Be Creative
Get your foot in the door any way you can
- Get to know the hiring manager’s admin for something like learning the hiring manager’s schedule-maybe bump into the hiring manager in the parking lot on the way home
- Volunteer to do a project for a company which demonstrates why the employer needs you
- Hand write a note to the hiring manager and explain why he/she needs you
Network
See and be seen
- Attend as many in person networking events as you can
- Link in with 10 people per day and ask for job advice- check out my 3 part blog on this topic
- Call up those ex colleagues from years back-no shame in reconnecting for career advice
Self-Assess
Introduce yourself to yourself
- What are your real skills that employers need in today’s job force?
- What are you passionate about in your personal and professional life
- What careers intersect your skills and passions-for you Venn diagram folks, go crazy!
Summary
If you really take the time to understand who you are and what value you bring to the table, you are half way there. Get to the finish line by serial networking and thinking outside the box.