Jason Alba is the job seeker's advocate (and aren't we all job seekers?). He was laid off in January 2006, just a few weeks after Christmas. Even though he had great credentials and it was a job-seeker’s market, Jason could hardly get a job interview. Finally he decided to step back and figure out the job search process, including trying to understand all of the available resources. Within a few months he had designed a personal job search tool, JibberJobber.com, which helps professionals manage career and job search activities the same way a salesman manages prospects and customer data. Get a free account and begin managing your career right now. Jason blogs and recently finished his book "I'm on LinkedIn -- Now What??"
When I started my job search I knew one of the first people I needed to call was my good friend Ces. Ces worked in HR while I was a programmer, and I worked on a few of his projects. We spent hours together designing, testing, and developing specs for HR web applications. Ces is a senior level HR professional and if anyone could point me in the right direction, it would be him.
Shortly after I got laid off I called to ask for advice. I’m didn’t even know what I was asking - maybe I was looking for sympathy, or to see if he knew anyone in my area that might be able to help me out. I wasn’t interested in moving to where his company might have a job, so I know wasn’t asking him for a job. I assumed that he would have some great advice for me, and tell me what I needed to know to land my next job.
Towards the end of the call he said something that really struck me, and made me think about how I communicate with people. He said: "Jason, you have to remember one thing. HR can smell blood from a mile away."
I immediately realized that in our conversation, I must have sounded beaten down. It was as if I were a wounded animal, and it was obvious to this seasoned HR veteran. No one wants to hire a wounded animal - they want to hire a competent, capable person! Even though I considered this to be a conversation between buddies I realized that anytime I talked with anyone during my job search I could not let them “smell blood.”
I’ve been networking a lot since that phone call, and I’ve met a lot of folks that are in-between jobs. And you know what? I’m not HR, and I’m not a recruiter, but I can sure smell the blood. There are folks who have allowed themselves to get so depressed about their situation that they reek of this “blood.”
Admittedly, I don’t know all the ins-and-outs of depression - maybe it is a lot more complex than what I’m saying here (i.e., maybe you don’t have as much control over it as I think). But in your NEW JOB (which is finding a job), make sure that you maintain your dignity and have a proper attitude. You don’t have to be a Pollyanna but don’t come across as Eeyore either.
I KNOW it is hard - there are no two ways around it. You have been working your tail off and then you get the proverbial pink slip...and now what do you do?? There are bills to pay, mouths to feed. You aren’t Mr. or Mrs. so-and-so with the corner office anymore. Your cheese has been moved. And it isn’t fun. But please, please take one thing away from this article: They (everyone) can smell blood from a mile away. Do what you can or need to do to not be hurt, pick up the pieces, and move forward with a strong and successful job search campaign. Your job IS out there!
Jason Alba is the job seeker's advocate (and aren't we all job seekers?). He was laid off in January 2006, just a few weeks after Christmas. Even though he had great credentials and it was a job-seeker’s market, Jason could hardly get a job interview. Finally he decided to step back and figure out the job search process, including trying to understand all of the available resources. Within a few months he had designed a personal job search tool, JibberJobber.com, which helps professionals manage career and job search activities the same way a salesman manages prospects and customer data.
