Your network is hurting your chances

A CFO I worked for opened a big door, a Fortune 500 CEO's office. They were about to displace their vice president of staffing, and I was told I was the only candidate submitted. I met the CEO. He was a pleasant and cool customer, unlike the CEOs I'd worked for before. He was inclusive and accommodating. He put you at ease. He told me, "I'm surprised we've never met. Your skill set at such a young age is incredibly impressive. You operate like a strategist out of the staffing org instead of an executor. I think you'll work well with our CHRO. She will like you. People will like you here. This is a place for you culturally." He asked me what I needed. I threw out a number. He said, "Oh, we can do better than that." And I'm thinking green lights. This is my job to have. A day later, I got sent to HR, which meant no thank you. You probably know this, too.

I called the CFO and asked what he said about me. And he said, "Oh, great things. Did you get the job?" No. He said, "I'm so surprised. I told the CEO that you were a fantastic staffing leader. If he needs a staffing leader, you're the guy. You work well with stakeholders, build excellent teams, and develop cross-functional players. I mean, all the stuff. We worked on a big project together." This CFO that I worked closely with had no idea what I did. I freaked out. I ran through my network, my references, my close leaders, the people who should know me the best, the people with whom I worked hand in glove, and I said, what would you say about me to a busy and agitated leader who wanted to know my value? And they basically said a version of the same thing. They didn't know my value.

The people you're expecting to open doors because you've been kind to them, helped them are not or not doing it well. They actually don't know your value. Check them. They don't know your value. It's your job to define your value as well as educate them on the things that you own that are different. Because of that differentiation, that different value presented to them will feel like you're making them an offer instead of an ask. And in a job search, that's gold. No, ask, only offers. And what I mean by that is that they will get excited. They will know something unique about you. So when they meet a leader, or they have a leader where your actions can solve their pain, they're gonna offer you up as the solution because it's gonna shine nicely on them. As we're moving through the end of the year and into the new year, you must check yourself. Understand your value, and then you must check them.

Share that value as an offer, and doors will open forcefully.

We have a new product offering:

After years of looking for a doppelg?nger I found mine. I have been developing my mini me for four years and I am giving her a program to manage. It’s a first-ever offering for earlier career candidates that want to blast off into the major leagues. It’s called the MGR program and we will be detailing it along with our regular program pricing for 2025 during Wednesday’s event (9 AM PT). Come join us for the action and job search traction.

EVENT LINK: https://livewebinar.com/gettingtotheoffer