I’ve been hearing from readers who took the 90-day job-search challenge with the goal to be employed by June 20. The challenge appeared in back-to-back columns I wrote last month, and now it’s time for a checkup to see how things are going.
But first I’ll review the process, in case you’re just jumping in on this. Since the goal is to get a job quickly, the rules are fairly straightforward: 1) Don’t think too much or you’ll delay action; 2) Create a schedule emphasizing daily productivity; and 3) Search five days a week.
The steps include confirming your job goal, writing a resume showcasing your strengths for that work and building an action plan. And the plan? Simplicity itself: Make a list of 50 employers who could potentially use someone in your position and contact them directly (mostly by phone) to ask for meetings and jobs.
Now that I’ve caught you up, I’ll summarize the feedback I have received. For the most part, people like the simplicity of this process and appreciate having “permission” to stop focusing on Internet postings. But some also feel stuck, having run out of steam in building their list of companies or not seeing any success yet in getting meetings.
As you may have your own list of successes and potholes from trying this, I’ll offer some ideas for troubleshooting and rebuilding your momentum.
1. Evaluate your productivity. Are you reaching minimum objectives? In the earlier columns, I suggested making six calls to department managers each day to ask for a meeting to discuss potential jobs in that person's area. With that many calls going out, you should net at least one meeting a week and likely more.
If you're not being productive, consider these possibilities: You don't have enough employers on your list, or you don't have the names of department managers, so you're stymied about whom to call. Or, if you're making the calls but not getting the meetings, you may need to polish your pitch.
One other possibility? You may be stalling out from fear of making the calls or from a lack of conviction that this works. If it's the latter, I can agree that it won't work -- if you don't try it. So that's one you'll have to decide for yourself. But if fear is holding you back, I can offer perspective.
First, imagine the worst outcome from making the call -- perhaps someone hangs up on you or yells at you for calling. Now ask yourself: Are you willing to forgo success for fear of running into this person? And have you ever before withstood the trauma of someone being rude to you on the phone? If those questions sound silly, you know you're letting fear override common sense.
2. Improve your productivity. If you're not hitting your numbers because you don't have a big list or don't have names to call, you can solve this by asking for help.
Let’s suppose your goal job is program manager for a social service agency. You need a list of at least 50 places and the department manager at each who would be your supervisor. Why not ask everyone you know to help you think of places? Although this would normally be a better task for research, when you’re stuck you’re stuck -- the power of groupthink can help you get unstuck.
Once you've jump-started your list, ask your network for help finding names. Remember: You're not asking for an introduction or a favor -- just the name. Since you'll be making the call yourself, networking contacts shouldn't mind sharing what you would eventually find in a directory anyway.
3. Consider new options. If you've mastered the calls, you could probably add limited response to Internet postings to your overall process, as long as you don't stop making the calls. You also might find that you generate more meetings or even offers if you include part-time work in the conversation when you call managers.
On the other hand, if things really aren't working, a Plan B job may be in your future. This would be a lesser-skilled position, perhaps in retail or a call center, to help you meet the goal of being employed in 90 days.
I'll describe the Plan B strategy in May, in the final checkup for this process. To prepare for this possibility, start thinking about what your Plan B job would be. But don't allocate time to this yet -- you need to focus on the Plan A search, and you're only 30 days into a 90-day challenge. You're just getting started!
Amy Lindgren owns Prototype Career Service, a career consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecareerservice.com or at 626 Armstrong Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102.
About the Author
