You were laid off from you junior-level boardroom post. They said it was downsizing, the stock market, or the collapse of some international divisions—whatever the excuse you were “FIFOd” (first in, first out) with a lead parachute.
It’s been over 6 months since you got a paycheck. You’ve been sending out resumes, going on interviews and job fairs, in short, doing all the “right things” the job seeker books and job hunting gurus advise you to do—but still no job. You’re getting desperate, and have even thought of donning a sandwich board and walking the streets. (Hey, you read where it worked for one guy.)
The hard cold facts are that the old tried and true job hunting rules no longer apply. Too many things have changed in the world of business. Where to start? Some tips to get you back in the boardroom.
Uncovering the hidden jobs. Forget the recruiters and HR people. They’re buried in resumes. They can’t hire you. They can only recommend you. You’ve got to bypass these gatekeepers and find the decision makers.
Mine press releases. Make a list of companies you want to work for. Google them. Find out where each company is going, where the growth is. Not every business is doing poorly, some are simply reaching out to new markets. Do an advanced search and get the names of the top executives in those newly formed divisions. A great place to mine for this information is the company’s press release webpage. Read these releases and write letters to the executives in charge. Showcase your knowledge of the company’s specific activities in your letter. Include a summary of your most recent accomplishments along with your resume.
Reverse Network. Find the list of potential employers you interviewed with during your last job search. You may have turned down a few offers during the heydays before the recent economic downturn. If you were nice in turning them down—with a cordial letter, friendly phone call, or even an in-person meeting—you’ve got a solid lead. To them, you’re a proven entity, a known quantity. It’s worth a call or a letter to these contacts to see where they stand, what their current needs might be.
Explore niche job boards. These days, your resume will be buried in job boards like Monster.com. Forget these. Few employers have the time to wade through thousands of resumes on these boards. Instead, check out the job postings found on niche Web sites. They post jobs for very specific industries and associations and will be less populated.
Get back in the boardroom. Once you land a job, showcase your boardroom skills. Be first to volunteer for presentations. Learn about the company’s markets—both domestically and internationally. Find an area you’re particularly astute in and hone it until you are the “go-to” person. If all else fails, join the golf club, tennis club or sailing club that board members belong to—and schmooze.
It’s brutal out there, but with some guerilla job hunting techniques, you may never have to resort to a sandwich board to “get back in the game.”
Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.
Register or sign in today!