It’s Easier to Get a Job When You Don't Need To

I can't count the times I have reached out to someone to gauge their interest in speaking with me.  Only to be politely told that they are very happy where they are at.  My mind immediately thinks “Well this is the best time to talk with me!”  It’s like the old saying “It’s easier to get a loan when you don’t need one”  Well it’s easier to get a job when you don’t need to and here is why:

• There is no immediate need to move. I really don’t need to say more…right?  Choices are a man’s best friend (please don’t tell my dog I said that).  Once we are placed in position with limited choices, we lose control of the situation.  Last time I lost control of a situation, it caused me 20 months with the wrong company and a heavy loss of income.  Think about it, if there is no urgency to move, there can now be careful and thoughtful comparison of both companies.  If the right choice is in fact to move to the other company, there can be a planned transition to cause minimal disturbance at multiple levels.       
•  No need to explain why you are unemployed. As simple as that sounds, this topic can cause much awkwardness and stress.  See #1 above.
•  Networking is more than posting on LinkedIn. When we make
  
  contact with our peers, we are now laying the groundwork to build our own personnel network. I once had lunch with a candidate I had been after for months.  But on this day we both agreed that we would both be possible recruits for one another.  Whoever had the best value proposition would get the free lunch!  We both exchanged a ton of information about our companies, ourselves and what we were looking for if we were to move....but what I remember most is that it was a fun and new experience.  I also recall splitting the check that day. Bottom line is we never know when and who will be able to assist us, or vice versa. 
•  Know what’s available. This is the most uncomfortable reason to bring up (kind of feel like Ashley Madison of the mortgage industry here), but
  having said that, you have to stay in the loop and know what's out there.  Is it possible that the grass really is greener on the other side?  Could you increase your market share with another company?  Could you bring in a new program to your local realtor community?
  
   If you want new results, you need to do something different.  Especially as much as the mortgage industry has and is changing.  New programs are being introduced more rapidly and guidelines are loosening with certain investors.  Every mortgage professional owes it not only to themselves but more importantly to their referral base to ensure that they are offering a full array of programs to support them.  

•  Peace of Mind.  If in fact you have done all of the above and you discover something really fantastic...that you are with the right company! You can now have total peace of mind that you are doing the very best for yourself and your customers.