Job search - a dark & scary place

The marketplace for new roles is a darker place than it was just a year ago.? How do I know this?? By the number (fewer) of open roles on Bay Street, by the number (much higher) of coaching clients I’ve taken on of late.

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People just not happy in their roles.? People just not happy with their companies.? People just not happy with their managers.? Lots of ‘unsettled’ people.? Add to that the companies that are downsizing, right-sizing or just plan letting people go (realizing the role isn’t required, looking to save some money, or for performance or fit to the team/culture).

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I’ve always said and still maintain that, even in a tight market, you only need ONE role.?

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I’ll tell you a story – it’s true.? When I resigned from a role in NYC many years ago, everyone was horrified. “But it was such a great job’ they said (it wasn’t all it seemed to be).? ‘It’s a tough market and there’s not a lot of jobs’ they said.? Well, I didn’t need a lot of jobs; I only needed one.? And I found it.

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I’m going back to the days before the internet (yes, they exist).? Before we had so much information at our fingertips.? Before we could search for roles on-line, upload our resumes, retype the exact same information into a portal, and then watch as it all disappeared into a great big black hole never to be seen again.? The days before we could simply hit ‘apply’ and apply to tens of roles hoping just one might ‘stick.’

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So how did I do it?? Well, it hasn’t changed all that much but for the fact that my research was all in books and on paper and not on-line (in that way you have it so much easier).? What did I do?

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1.????? I took the time (a couple of weeks in the sun in Florida) to reflect on what I wanted to do.? Where I wanted to work.? The type of company/firm, the size, the location.? I thought about what type of culture I wanted to work in.? Then I got to work on finding that job.

2.????? In those days, I couldn’t conduct research on-line so, knowing I wanted to go back to working in a law firm (vs. a Wall Street investment firm – Drexel Burham – remember them and Mike Milken? – I was there!), I went to the library (yes, the library!) and looked at the book that listed all of the NYC law firms by size.? I forget what it was called – Blue book? Black book?

3.????? Then I made a list of those firms I wanted to target including location and phone numbers.? My target was firms of fewer than 100 lawyers so that it wouldn’t be another big machine.?

4.????? I can’t recall if they listed the managing partners or I did that when I called.? Then I scripted what I wanted to say.

5.????? My next step was to cold call and I started alphabetically with A, asking for the managing partner.? My plan was to tell him or her (it was usually a him in those days) about the role I had held in one of the largest law firms in NYC and what I could do for their firm (because they likely didn’t have a role of that kind).

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Well, I got to C (Cole & Deitz) and the managing partner picked up (not surprising in those days but still lucky for me).? I discussed with him the role I had played in a large blue-chip mid-town law firm and asked if they had a role like that at his firm.? They did not and a lawyer spent an inordinate amount of billable hours (which couldn’t be billed) running the summer student program, overseeing the recruiting, scheduling the hiring events, etc.? Went in the next day, met some of the partners and started the following Monday.

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Why am I telling you this?? Because it’s important, when looking for a job, not to forget to:

• Have a plan.? Take the time for self-reflection and to develop a job search strategy. Know what you want, what you want to say, and practice it.
• Have a multi-pronged approach to job search.? While I used only networking/cold calling, today it might be looking for roles on LI, applying to company career sites, talking to headhunters (less successful these days) and NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK.? Picking up the phone is not unreasonable although harder these days with so many people using their cell phones, the number to which are not listed.? But connecting first through LI and then reaching out once connected is a good way to start.? Calling the firm and asking for the email address of the individual (or using RocketReach).? Lots of things you can do to be proactive and to advocate for yourself.

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And, you don’t have to do it alone.? There are a number of good career coaches like me who can help you define what you want to do and where, develop a job search strategy, hold your hand while you take those first tentative networking steps, and prepare you for your interviews and negotiation of job offers. Someone to pick you up and dust you off when the going gets tough.

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Please don’t get discouraged.? Devote some time each day to your job search but don’t forget to take care of your physical and mental well-being.? Recharge your batteries.? See family and friends.? Go for walks, runs, bike rides.? You never know where you will meet that one person who might make a connection for your next role.