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Tue, Oct 14, 2008 19:03 EDT
Week 55: Personal Job Search Update
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Posted by: Mark Cummuta in Best Practices Topic: Personal ManagementBlog: CIO Job Search: A Real Life Chronicle
Current Rating: |
It’s been just over a year since I officially started my job search. Since then, I've been offered six jobs — three of which were cancelled due to the economy, just as the employer and I were in final negotiations. I've also come in 2nd for nearly a dozen other positions. Darn frustrating, let me tell you! So in one sense, I’ve been successful in my job search: I have received several job offers, landed several contracts, and directly assisted a number of my peers in finding employment. But I have not yet achieved my own final goal. I've analyzed why this is, and I’ve come up with four major issues that I need to address.
ISSUE ONE: THE US ECONOMY
My job search has mirrored the recent financial crisis. I started my search when my most recent employer, a midsize bank, sold the mortgage division I helped create. That was at the very start of the US mortgage industry’s meltdown. The bank itself was recently acquired — around the same time that several other major banks, like Washington Mutual, Merrill Lynch, and Bear Stearns were acquired, too. As the overall market has continued to decline, so too have my opportunities for comparable full-time employment in the financial industry.
I am hearing from a wide cross-section of the job market just how difficult this market really is, and not only for executives. Some recruiters tell me that significant percentages of their clients' positions have been put on hold or cancelled at all levels. Everyone seems to be taking a wait-and-see approach to the economy before committing to their hiring needs. I've also had more than one executive tell me that they believe the market is going to remain unsettled until after the 2008 US election. Together, these statements indicate a willingness of the general market to create a self-fulfilling prophecy, which certainly makes it extremely difficult for job seekers like me to help them find new opportunities to build their business!
I can only hope that I will see the same incredible improvement that the stock market saw yesterday !!!!
ISSUE TWO: DIFFICULTY ACCESSING MY TOP TARGET INDUSTRIES
In addition to finance, investments and banking, I am targeting other industries where I have significant experience. These include strategic management and technology consulting; commercial software; insurance; data warehousing, business intelligence and CRM; manufacturing; and related IT management positions within corporate enterprises.
I am also targeting the defense industry, based on my experience as a US Marine. Unfortunately, I underestimated how steep the barrier to entry would be since my security clearance expired. I continue to highlight my “clearable” status to my networking contacts in this industry.
ISSUE THREE: I NEED TO COMMUNICATE MY SUCCESS BETTER
I wrestled early in this job search with whether to stay independent as a strategic management consultant/Interim CIO or return to a full-time position. I am certain that my apparent indecision (I called it “openness”) for the first four to five months of my job search confused several employers and likely cost me some excellent opportunities.
However, since then, I continue to have an issue with hiring managers who assume that I prefer consulting roles and/or that I am a “job hopper.”
Herein lies the problem: For the past 15 years I have worked for firms undergoing major transitions – startups, spinoffs, acquisitions, firms attacking new markets or developing new technologies and services, turn-around opportunities, and firms needing major business or systems redesigns
Mark,
Resumes are flat and do not effectively convey your passion. Face to face meetings are best and telephone calls a distant second. Informational interviews are an effective way to keep current on you industry trends and expand your network.
Consider meeting with your references for coffee. Ask each of them for new contact who would be good for you to meet. Schedule informational interviews with these new contacts and ask them for referrals.
April M. Williams, "Networking Goddess" CyberLifeTutors.com
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
Rating:
Mark - I don't know you but after such a long and seemingly fruitless search isn't it time to admit to yourself that it's time to move on and turn your hand to something else other than IT? For your own sake if nothing else.
"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
Rating:
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.
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