September 2002
Dear Friends,
People ask how I am progressing on my job search. I respond to all inquires but I have written a brief newsletter for everyone on the status of my search. I won’t go into all the tales of my adventure, but I will keep you informed. I’ll also encourage you to keep those ideas and leads coming. I won’t bother you often, just a brief update.
Ready – Getting organized, resume writing, volunteering (still involved), finishing up business on home construction projects (thankfully they are done). This took 6 weeks, but I had my resume in hand after 3 weeks
Set – Getting the word out to retained recruiters, initial calls to a few associates/friends etc. Started to post to Internet job boards. This took another month or so.
Go – Started to hear back, continued to get the word out, some leads closed unfavorably, and interviews have started. Lots of checking back (aka: Closing the Loop). find something most every day, or am found by someone.
I recently launched my website (I am indebted to M. Brownell for her work on getting this up and going. Thanks M.!!). An even more content rich and improved site is in the works. Please check it out or refer others to it. t helps me explain “wrist mounted computers” and “ruggedized palm devices”. I also feel that it give me a small edge over the intense completion for attention. Click on it! http://www.tommagill.com
Lessons learned – So far.
1) Networking - My number one lesson is: NETWORK. Every statistic that I read, and most every person that I talk to says networking (calling people you know or who are referred) is the highest percentage tactic, 50-70% of jobs landed at my level. Please provide me NEW ideas and leads. These aren’t always people with jobs, but people in the know. It’s my job to turn them into opportunities, even if they are not job leads, but simply career leads/referrals.
2) Plan on disappointment – I try not to get too excited about anything and there are a lot of disappointments along the way. Chin up! I have witnessed tension in some fellow job seekers. I avoid/ignore it.
3) This is work – I thought about all the free time I would have and what I would do to fill it – Wrong, Not, Nada. This takes all the time I have to give to it. OR, as others have done, plan on big time outs – which just doesn’t work for me.
4) It can be fun - Talking to people I have not seen in ages and finding about companies that I have never heard of, but do neat stuff, brightens my day. Finding a lead and passing it on to fellow job searcher provides a great sense of pleasure.
5) Support – Everyone really wants to help me in my search, they really do. This is a good thing, a great thing. It’s just that people don’t always have ideas or time. I really get a lot of support from Spherion (outplacement) and fellow job searcher.
It’s now Labor Day, four months into my quest. I have been told to expect 6 months by a number of people. Hopefully that does the trick
Thanks for all the help,
Until the next time
