April,

Thank you for your thoughts on this! I especially like your idea about contacting my references again, face-to-face over coffee. Not only can I convey a status of my own efforts this past year, but I can hear about their's, as well. That should then allow an easy transition into your suggestion for a request for new leads and/or introductions.

Great idea! Thanks!

Mark

Mark Cummuta
CIO Job Search: A Real Life Chronicle

"Wayne John",

Thank you for taking the time to add your thoughts. While an unusual piece of advice, a respectful contrarian perspective is still a point worth considering.

To start, let's clear up your misconception of my "seemingly fruitless" job search. From this same post above, I've already noted that I've had six job offers across this year-long search. In addition, I've had several paid contracts during this same time period. When I discussed this with my wife yesterday she summed it up rather nicely as, "That means you've had a 'Yes' on average every 4-5 weeks!". (See? That's why I'll never win lottery - because I already won my life's jackpot 20 years ago!) So, from our family's opinion, it is a fruitful job search when an individual can consistently and successfully produce so many opportunities to choose from!

Her response is also my answer for your last point - "For your own sake if nothing else". My search started on behalf of my wife, when she asked me to give up my own successful strategic management consulting business to find a full-time job with a stable company (you can read that discussion here). She has supported me for more than 20 years, so finding a new position closer to her comfort zone and that still excites me every day is a great goal! And one that has her supporting me through this entire year's ups and downs.

In fact, my family is exactly why I will and can never give up! I've made the point about how dear my family is to me and how I work so hard on their behalf several times in my posts and articles. They depend on me, and I will not let them down.

Further, the US Marine in me is not about to give ground, either! I am constantly assessing my targets, adjusting my strategies, and applying new learned tactics. But failure is not an option for me!

From your pseudonym or namesake, I hope you can see that all of the above points are the same as I've seen The Duke apply time after time, as well.

Times are tough, but I am still finding that there are many, many positions still open and being created at the CIO/CTO, VP, Director and Practice Leader levels where I have the skills and experience to deliver. So why would I quit when reaching my goals are so close at hand?!

In sharing my personal job search, one of my goals was to share my real life ups and downs throughout this process so that others will not feel so overwhelmed as they go through these same trials.

But in the end, this is still my search for the next step in my career. I stand resolved to find the best possible opportunity I can for me and for my family, and to make the best of each and all the successes I find along the way.

Thank you again for your thoughts and advice! You gave me an opportunity to reflect again on that which is so very important to me, my driving force - my family.

Mark

Mark Cummuta
CIO Job Search: A Real Life Chronicle

Mark:

Firstly, you are still without a job after 55 weeks - therefore your job search has indeed been fruitless.

Secondly, this must be taking a toll on your mental health is it not ? Seriously dude, stop whatever it is that you're doing, go and have a brewski and start planning your exit from what seems to me to be a very toxic situation.

Thirdly, start thinking about what else you can do. Go back to school ? Are you good at making stuff ? Anything will do at this point but I think that you're disappearing into a toxic whirlpool here man.