Lessons from a Lengthy Job Hunt

275 days.?

That’s how long I was recently out of work. For the mathematically challenged, that’s a little over 39 weeks, about the same as a typical pregnancy.?

Fortunately my career hiatus ended last week when I started a new chapter as media relations lead at Takeda Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge. It’s an exciting role at a dynamic time for the company – the largest life sciences employer in Massachusetts – and the folks there have already made me feel completely welcome and at home.?

I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have landed at a successful company that employs great people. Because at times over the last nine months, things felt pretty bleak.?

Many of you have been through this before and know being out of work is a grind. It wasn’t my first time in this situation, unfortunately, but it was by far the longest I have ever been out of work and looking for a job.?

The reality is that at 56 years old, I began to have doubts about whether I’d be able to continue on in my current track as a strategic communications professional. I couldn’t help but think that if I was competing for a job against some 35-year-old whiz kid schmoozer who could talk a big game and include all the hot buzzwords, I’d be toast. I’m glad the people at Takeda were able to look beyond the gray goatee and see the value that I can bring to the company.??

All told, I applied to 96 positions and interviewed with 12 different companies. Some of those were one-and-done phone screenings with HR, others featured multiple rounds of interviews. I don’t know if those numbers are good or bad, I'm just tossing them out there. I know I’m not the Ted Williams of job hunting, otherwise I would have had multiple companies fighting over me and been back to work within a couple of months. But I don’t think I’m the Bill Bergen either.??

I’m not exactly sure why, but I didn’t do a lot of networking during my job search. I think pride had something to do with it. It’s not easy shouting from the rooftops that you’re out of work. But career experts will tell you that it is vital, and it was surely a factor in my lengthy quest for a new position.??

Nonetheless, a number of friends and former colleagues offered guidance and assistance after learning I was out of work, and I’m thankful for all of them. A few people went above and beyond, however, either through direct help, shrewd advice or moral support. So my special thanks to Jeff Hinkle , Kevin DeFosse , Kate McEvoy , Kirsten Forrest , Ed Hayward and, most of all, Jose Juves .?

Finally some advice for anyone going through the same “unemployment journey.”

• When applying to jobs on LinkedIn or elsewhere, don’t leave your fate up to a company’s applicant tracking system. Figure out who the hiring manager is – it’s often listed in the job posting but if not you can often figure it out with some common sense – and send them an email with a cover letter and resume. That way if the bots don’t flag your resume – and let’s face it, the odds are against you – someone with a brain will see your background and say “Hey, this person looks like a good fit” and let HR know to add you into the mix.?
• Get yourself a copy of Martin Yates' “Knock ‘em Dead: The Ultimate Job Search Guide” which is, quite simply, a brilliant blueprint for every stage of the job hunt. It has detailed plans for everything, from breathing new life into your resume to negotiating salary and benefits with a prospective employer.?
• Don’t delay wading into the job search. After I lost my job I decided to take a breather and get some stuff done around the house. While tactically not a bad idea to step back a bit for a few weeks, I took too much time off. By the time I really got the job search ramped up, it was June. And I quickly learned that summer is an awful time to be job hunting. (Who knew? Probably everyone but me, it turns out.) So things got off to a real slow start for me, which dinged my confidence early on. Fortunately in September things really picked up, providing a much-needed confidence boost. Way more positions were being posted, I was landing more interviews and I was doing a better job telling my story and conveying my value and experience.??
• Embrace the suck as best as you can and maintain a sense of humor about your situation, even if it’s gallows humor. No matter what, the job search is going to be an emotional rollercoaster with little rhyme or reason. I applied to jobs that seemed like a perfect fit and I got nowhere with them. I applied to other jobs that were kinda/sorta in my wheelhouse but not really and quickly landed interviews. It’s a crapshoot at every turn and you never know what the next day holds. Learn to roll with the punches and stay positive.?
• Above all else, keep in mind that this could all be for the best. Losing a job is disheartening and discouraging, but it often turns out to be a blessing in disguise. There’s a good chance that you’ll end up in a better place eventually. Sometimes it just takes time. ??