Stop Chasing Wild Geese: A Guide to Finding a Job in a Bad Economy

So you need a job. Maybe you are trying to move up or maybe you are not working now. Either way there is only one sure fire way to get the job you want. I spent 20 years in the Navy and 3 plus years with another company and when the economy hit the toilet and there had to be cutbacks I became a victim. I have been called a lot of things through 20 years on the Navy but this is the first time I was called a “cutback”. The next few paragraphs will either inspire you or it will depress you so sit back, relax and hold on for the ride.

When I was growing up as a child, my mother was the one who was always home. Dad of course wanted to be there but he had to sacrifice so that we could have what we wanted and needed. It is funny how little most kids realize the sacrifices of the parents who raise them. I always knew. My mother would give us advice all of the time like “don’t let your alligator mouth override your canary behind” or “don’t put all of your eggs in one basket”. These pieces of advice meant little to me then but have paid off huge in my later years. One in particular comes to mind and it is the prerequisite to a brighter future. She used to say “don’t burn your bridges”. Of course when I was younger I saw things a lot more literally than I do today and I figured as long as I don’t have a bridge I couldn’t burn it. So I imagined setting fire to a bridge over a body of water and thought that it will be easy to avoid. I was so literal when I was a kid that I was once asked what a pharmacist does during an I.Q. test and I said that he sold farm equipment. My teacher asked us as a group “what is the smartest animal in the world next to man?” I raised my hand and when called upon I responded with complete confidence (and innocence) “woman”. The teacher (a woman by the way) said ‘no, it is a monkey”. I was a little offended because my mother was very intelligent as far as I knew so I raised my hand again “well, a woman has got to be third”.

The big secret I and going to share with you is no secret at all. The operative word here is networking. Networking does not refer to something you do in the office to make all of your computers work together. It means that you are on a job interview every day of your life and in every setting both professional and personal. If you always do a good job and you are always courteous and responsible around people who may one day be able to help you, then you have set the groundwork for success. Almost everyone at some point has left a job on what could be categorized as not perfect terms. The most important thing for your future success is how you react to that situation. Hence, “do not burn your bridges”. Someone you worked for before or even a very dynamic person that you worked with may someday lead you to the “promised land”. If you constantly complain about the company or brag about how you “stuck it to them” you may be stunting your growth later in life. But if you treat them right and are considered someone that they can count on they may just be your ticket to that dream job.

The next thing you do is make sure you always keep in touch. Send a friendly card or e-mail once in a while and keep them on your radar. This also keeps you on their radar and on the” list”. This list is much more important than the one that will get you one night in that fancy dance club. This one might help you to fulfill your financial goals or just get a hand up when the chips are down. Any time you see an opportunity that might fit them you send it their way and follow up on their success. You build upon this relationship and if they are in position to bring someone along for the ride to success you will be in a good place. The most important thing to remember here is that if he is to vouch for you he puts his own reputation on the line. So even if the opportunity he introduces you to isn’t for you, bow out gracefully. This keeps you on the list and keeps his reputation intact.

I was recently in this situation. I had a job that was adequate and was invited to speak with some people based on the recommendation of a former colleague. It was not necessarily something I was looking for but I put on my best face and made both of us proud. When later I was laid off, I contacted my network buddy (and friend) and let him know my situation. Based on his prodding and my strong performance in the interview several months earlier, I got the job without another interview. Even in an economy where nobody is hiring, this tried and true method worked for me. So I will leave you with one more cliché and add my own “It’s not who you are, it’s who you know”. More importantly “It’s who you are to who you know”.