20days2getajob

Week 1

I have sentenced myself to 20 days to get a job (20days2getajob).  You can be the judge if I am being reasonable or not but I thought I would have had a job already after 4 months.  I have been solidly looking and I have a clear strategy to connect with personal colleagues, friends, identify target technology sectors, update my business social profile status (LinkedIn) and APPLY, APPLY, APPLY.   A “warm” application is better but sometimes I go for the “cold” application in hopes that I will be the resume picked out of the 546 applications on the one job site (BTW- there are multiple job sites).    So basically, I am trying to win the lottery. 

To provide a quick rewind, I have had solid sales career contributing and managing teams in the communications field for over 20 years.  Basically, you know the deal, multiple Presidents clubs and other awards for over achieving.  For those of you who wonder what I mean by communications, the translation is that I have been selling network services to large international company’s, things like fiber (in the ground) that can deliver internet, data and voice connections to connect you to other offices, clients and applications.  Bottom-line, the companies I have worked for are the foundation for all your calls, internet and email, etc.

Since January, I have looked to re-invent my career and sell something different then where I have been.  It could be research services, conferencing services, data centers, software, consulting…the list keeps going.  TBH- I think the odds would be better if I decided to run for President.  (Kidding, you can keep that job:))  A career pivot, is definitely the hardest dance move I have ever tried to do for those of you contemplating one.  Oh, for the record I can tap dance so I do speak from experience here.

At the close of Week 1, the good news is that I had (4) Interviews, (1) Meet Up for RPA (Robotic Process Automation) and (1) network meeting.  It sounds good, right?  The interviews are all over the map with questions and assessment of my candidacy.  My favorite interview during last week was specific to a software role where I explained that I have never sold that specific software to those type of decision makers. Just like that I was informed that they would pay me significantly less and they would need to inform their management of my Achilles’ Heal in my candidacy.  So, I was thinking, oh crap, if I keep talking I might owe them money by the end of the call!  Ugh. 

Well, I am positive as I enter Week Two, because I have some good things on the horizon…

• (4) Companies…currently engaged in the interview cycle- talking to the in-house recruiter and now speaking to the business teams
• (3) Companies… submitted resume (warm leads) and pending interview
• (2) Consultants… discussions scheduled to provide guidance (warm leads)
• (1) Virtual career day… interviews via video conferencing with 6 companies!  (No clue what this will be like but it will be a good story for my Blog!

INSPIRATIONAL TIP…

I have no idea where the week will take me but I wanted to share my weekly strategy to inspire those of you who are in this process or thinking about jumping in the overcrowded water with me.  

Below is my GINORMOUS Post It Board in my office that I put up every week to keep me going…

Promote your WEEKLY SUCCESS and INVEST in self training, 

upgrade yourself SOCIALLY, CONNECT and POST content! 

And APPLY, APPLY, APPLY!  

If you are out there and like me, give it whirl, hey, you never know.