How Joe Biden used the book “Never Search Alone” to define his next career move

My White House contacts tell me that Joe utilized “Never Search Alone” to….

Ok, I cannot confirm whether the President utilized this book or not and this article is not about him or politics. That said, the diversity of this book’s framework is written to serve everyone from college students to mid-career to executive. Thank you if you are still reading…I will let you thank me after you have utilized this book to land your “Dream Job.”

In today’s competitive job market, finding the right position is no easy feat. The most important take-away from the book/process of “Never Search Alone” is to resist the temptation to start applying to every relevant job and take a step back. You must define your profile, refine it to be digestible, and ensure it relevant to the current market. Just like any life relationship, you are going to be most successful when you have put in the work to know yourself first.

With my record of depth and success in leading FP&A, I seek to not only find a new role but to secure a position where I can truly make an impact. That is where the book “Never Search Alone” by Phyl Terry (no relation to me!) came into play, providing a robust framework that has significantly influenced my job search strategy.

With this experience in my back pocket, I am clear-eyed and excited to prove myself as a Director/VP of FP&A within a fast-paced, tech company, ideally driving innovation in the education, travel, fintech, outdoors or another product I can get excited to deliver to customers.

Here is a summary of how I am applying this book to secure my “Dream Job.”

1. Everything is Awesome, When You Are Part of a Team!

The first step is to form a Job Search Council (JSC) of 3-8 trusted professionals in a similar job situation to you. The participants do not need to be in the same industry or function; however, it is advisable that they are at similar levels in their career and status of employment. This team will provide camaraderie, feedback, and accountability. As a team, you will form a charter to ensure alignment and break down the process into manageable steps, ensuring that no critical element is overlooked. For me, this is the most valuable part of the process. I have been able to reconnect with former colleagues and get to know new friends. As with any part of life, it usually comes back to the people we are with and the relationships we form.

I have been blessed to partner on this journey with 3 amazing colleagues. The group included a CFO, VP Product Marketing/CMO, VP Data Engineering/CDO. This provided me with the privilege of working with a diverse group of successful professionals each willing to put in the work to find a job they can get excited about.

2. Are you ready for honest self-reflection?

The journey begins with a thorough self-assessment, evaluating strengths, weaknesses, and career aspirations. Through this process, you will create a 2-pager (the book calls it a Mnookin) that highlights your Strengths, Opportunities, Must Have’s, Have Not’s, and overall career aspirations. This has narrowed the types of organizations and roles that align with my skills and values. It is also enabling me to more effectively share a “story” which other advocates can understand and share on my behalf.

3. Embrace Unique, Avoid Jack of All Trades

Stop trying to be everything to everyone! It is a mind shift but if you think of anyone you would recommend for a role, you often hold them as more memorable for a specific reason. This contrasts with someone who is marketing themselves as a “jack of all trades” and you struggle to think of them in any specific role.

For me, I pivoted from being a FP&A AND BI Leader to focus my profile more direct as a FP&A Leader, highlighting my expertise in budgeting, business partnership, and innovation. I can still talk to my experience in BI as a value-add in FP&A, yet a recruiter or hiring manager will better see me fulfilling the core needs of my target role as a FP&A Director/VP.

4. Is Your Profile Fit for the Market?

The “Candidate Market Fit” (CMF) intent is to ensure you are reflecting your profile in a way that lands clearly AND that it meets the needs of the market. After creating a “Gratitude House” of a 100+ former colleagues and friends who have supported me over the years, I reconnected with dozens of former colleagues, industry contacts, and recruiters. This requires a layer of humility and vulnerability but most importantly an openness to learning and growing. This process further refined my self-understanding of who I am as a professional, including my superpowers and my opportunities for growth, but most importantly how to present myself to my target opportunities.

5. Tailored Applications, Yet True to Your Core

Though you can tailor your profile to certain opportunities, it is even more important to know what you bring and speak to the “right” opportunity for you. For some roles, I may highlight different aspects of my background, e.g. if applying to a start-up company, I will emphasize my time at Tango, a high-growth FinTech start-up or if a larger public company, I might highlight my time at Expedia leading Corporate FP&A. That said, I will always lead with my profile as a FP&A leader who brings expertise in budgeting, business partnership, and innovation. I can then add in layers of other skills and experience to fine-tune my story during the interview process.

6. Continuous Learning and Adaptability

The world is evolving fast, and it will only accelerate via AI and other innovations. To ensure you are ready, you need to commit to continuous learning and agility. To stay current, I am taking online courses, attending webinars, and continuing to network with industry minds. FP&A is at the center of a company’s budget and strategy and is poised to transform its impact on a business’ growth and profitability. I see FP&A as the central nervous system of an organization requiring knowledge of all parts of the body of a business. It is essential that this function leverages innovation within its own operations but also understand how it can be utilized throughout the organization and its products.

7. Interview Prep by Knowing You

The book emphasizes the need to focus your interview prep on how you can uniquely contribute to their success by understanding their industry, products, and challenges. The book has reinforced to always double-down on being true to you and what you bring versus trying to fit a particular job description. That said, research, mock interviews, and a good night’s sleep before interviews is always a winning strategy.

Summary

Applying the "Never Search Alone" framework has transformed my job search experience. It has provided a clear roadmap and instilled confidence in my ability to find a role that matches my profile. The goal is not to land “a job,” the goal is to land the “Dream Job” where I can succeed in transforming the FP&A function at a dynamic, growth-oriented tech company.

If you would like to network with me and/or learn more about this book, please reach out to me!