I don’t think anyone is disagreeing about the work it takes to be successful in a job search. However, after months of fruitless labor, whether a job search or a work project, the intensity and optimism toward a clear result is lessened. There is a reason very few entrepreneurs succeed. Not everyone is an entrepreneur. Job searching for an extended period is like being an entrepreneur. I am not denying that job search takes preparation and intense work, but without the entrepreneurial spirit, the workload is stressful, depressing and often unbearable for some (note recent suicides in California and Ohio).

In a time when our out-of-work labor force is extremely stressed and when traditional media is saying that reaching out to contacts and networking is becoming “nutworking” (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-talk_kyles_nutworkfeb02,0,7416436.story), any negative or pejorative or, I dare say, overly helpful, repetitive and without result comment toward a job seeker is unfortunate and has no place in a discussion for job seekers (or from one that helps job seekers).

I completely agree with Sophie that in addition to standard job searching, professional and personal development is key to staying abreast of current trends, to learn and practice new ideas and to develop new skills before you find a new permanent position. In addition, as every day passes, the ability to use “standard techniques” lessens and new ideas must be developed to break through the clutter and earn a seat at the table of choice.

I sent this in an e-mail to Jason but I will share it here as well. For all those that are career advisers, counselors, recruiters, friends, networking contacts, etc., treat those that are out of work with care and as the intelligent, motivated and well-educated individuals we are. Do not insult our intelligence. Do not think we haven’t tried the standard options. We have. Unlike those in a payrolled position, those without jobs are focused on doing the best they can to stay positive, somehow survive and work to develop increased employable skills — all without compensation, leadership or external motivation.

Coaches, advisers and the like must be in a difficult position. However, to profit off of a time like this by negating the emotion attached to it is harmful to those very people you are trying to help.

Robert, please support your fellow professionals. I can only hope you are not in the same position in the near future.

My point is that a job search should be conducted as you would your job–the same dedication, the same professionalism. I can’t see how that perspective might be “harmful”. It’s good practice–possibly a best practice for job-seekers.

Does how one practices/searches reflect how one performs when it counts? I think so. I think most coaches would agree that better practice yields better performance, too.

There are some people who, upon encountering good advice (here I mean Jason’s provocative discussions, for instance), learns and adopts what they find to be valuable. Then there are people who find good examples unbearable, threatening, and damaging to their self-esteem.

Which would you rather hire? Which would you want to work with?

Luck, hope, and faith are fine–unless they’re a substitute for doing the best you can while you’re waiting for them. Put another way–and if you like, you can refute Seneca and Thomas Jefferson here, too–”Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

I hope this comment isn’t harmful.

Robert

(1) Unemployed and looking for work: Yes, you should be working on job search-related activities full-time. But some of this may include training, self-directed learning, contract or part-time work (to make ends meet, make contacts and improve your skills), etc.

(2) Employed and looking for work: Ten hours a week may well be all you can assign to your search. That means it’s important to be as efficient as possible, and to take advantage of opportunities for efficiency. For example, early in the year many people have to set goals and identify training opportunities for the year as part of their employer’s annual review process. If you can pick goals or training that pull double duty, i.e., are portable to your job search, you’re ahead of the game.

To answer Abby’s question, I was laid off from my job of nine years last May; I spent three months in intensive job search, easily spending 60 hours or more a week — and it paid off. I improved my skills and presentation, I got multiple job interviews, and I had the chance to pick between good offers. But looking for work sucked, it was terrifying, it was demoralizing, and it ate through my savings. I was determined to get more than just a new desk for that three months of effort and anxiety, so I have been trying to bring the lessons learned into my work methods and habits.

I am a bit of an enigma with a varied skill set that doesn’t fit into the “package” that most HR professionals, recruiters and hiring managers enjoy “translating” for a new position. Because of that, I am constantly reorganizing my “brand” and my Googleability and working to connect to as many warm and cold contacts as possible. I went back to school in January 2006 and took time off as a full-time student in hopes that I would be effectively repositioned come the conferral of my dual-focused master’s degrees in public relations and journalism. In the twist of fate that was the economy, that didn’t happen and have been out of full-time work since May of last year. I had to move home and began teaching at a college level and soon found out that I was busier with a part-time teaching load that paid less than working at a coffee shop, which made it very difficult to job search.

During my continuous search, I have elicited opinions, ideas and suggestions from friends, colleagues and career advisers. There has been many a day when I have felt like Abby. I don’t think any job seeker wants to spend less time on job searching than a 40-hour-plus career but it happens and here’s why:
– Networking is great but in today’s world of higher workloads and less time on those you’re networking with, scheduling coffee time, lunch, etc., is very difficult and frustrating for both parties. Because I am the job seeker, my flexibility has to be open, which in turn causes my time management to be turned on its head. I’ve had full days scheduled and everyone has canceled and I’ve had empty days that have ended up being packed by the end. The job-seekers flexibility is both a benefit and a hindrance. I often don’t know what the day will become.
– As a job seeker, I am inundated with suggestions from friends about my search. I have stopped talking to these friends until I find a job because I am often at a point where if one more person suggests “Have you signed up on Monster/CareerBuilder/etc?” trying to be helpful, it sends me into a bit of a tizzy.
– As a job seeker with advanced degrees and varied experiences, I am always looking for ways to reposition my skills for the best possible position. Because of that, colleagues and career counselors are quick to offer professional opinions, many of which are conflicting. In fact, the comments I’ve received have been very blunt telling me that I shouldn’t have this there, or list this here or mention this there. Then I turn around and am told the exact opposite. Everyone looks for different things in the hiring process. I think professional career counselors and college career services departments do a wonderful job for some but cause frustration for others.
– I have paid for career counseling only to be handed a packet of “resources” that were, in no way personalized to my situation. It appeared the counselor didn’t even look at my resume and experiences prior to the meeting. This brought my frustration level up.
– Networking provides a great opportunity to meet people and connect to others and build on the community, however in order for it to work, the “contact” has to be willing. I have met with a few people that just don’t seem to be helpful. However, I have met with many that have provided some wonderful contacts and great conversations as well. I just want to help people understand why job seekers have feelings like Abby expressed earlier.
– The grass is always greener when you have a job. Being unemployed is not motivating. As much as I have tried to stay motivated day after day after day, it takes a person with great self-esteem to go through an open job searching process. A recent episode of “How I met your mother” showed one of the characters over a period of time looking for a job – so positive at the beginning, motivated and ready to negotiate salary and benefits and being very excited about interviews. By the end of the episode his motivation was down, his esteem had deflated and his willingness to take what he was worth had diminished to “I’ll take anything.” I connected with that segment.
– I also relocated upon my own to be able to “pound the pavement” more (as that was a continuous and constant suggestion). Well, I’m finding as warm contacts run out, the ability to find cold contacts (even with LinkedIn and other tools) is difficult. When hiring managers and HR departments, understandably inundated with requests, make themselves unreachable, it makes the personal contact much more difficult. I present myself in person much better than on paper, others are opposite. I had more phone calls and meetings when I didn’t live in the city I wanted to work than I do now.
– I completely agree with Abby about the desire to really know someone that has been able to sustain hours and hours of searching and, in turn, get a great job. I want to talk to that person, learn their techniques, grow from their experiences. Unfortunately the words of those with jobs and those that are experts in the field lose their luster (and sometimes credibility).

So, I hope those statements help to put my situation (and Abby’s) in perspective. If she’s anything like me, she read the post during one of those times when I feel I’ve hit rock bottom. Every day is different and every day I have to stay positive. I don’t know if 40+ hours of job searching is really the way to do that though. I do want to refute Robert’s comment about how you do a job search is probably how you work on the job. I think a blanket statement like that is harmful to those searching. I know I am a worker that is able to put 150+ percent to a job when I have deadlines, clear goals, understanding of how to reach those goals and the desire for the end product. In a job search, these items (although theoretically clear) are not easily achievable, let alone clearly attained through specific steps. As Jason has mentioned in previous posts, there is no silver bullet. Honestly I think luck, being in the right place at the right time and, as always, knowing the right people has a lot to do with job seeking success.

And of course, if anyone is in the Chicago area and is looking for a PR/marketing/writing/design/photographer mix with tons of entertainment experience, please contact me. If someone has clear suggestions on my branding and personal development on my Web site (an ever-evolving thing), please let me know — http://www.dougblemker.com.

Thanks for the thought provoking posts Jason and Abby.