Looking busy

Years ago, I was laid off from a company I had been with for 9 years. For the first time in my life, I was out on the street unexpectedly without a plan.

So I did what everyone else did:

I started every morning by searching all the job openings on the job boards and submitting my resume to every single one.

I then checked my email hoping to find an interview invitation or an offer letter.

To make matters more interesting, I scheduled interviews with recruiters - often for job openings with 500 other applicants.

One day I had a meeting with an executive. As we sat in his office, he asked me to describe my typical day now that I had been out of work for the past few months.

I ran through the above schedule and he laughed. "You spend all day long clicking on jobs and sending in your resume. I guess that makes you feel like you're working or something, huh?".

It opened my eyes.

I thanked the man for his time and went home. I opened up my email and pulled the contact information for every person I had ever done business with or worked for in the past 10 years. Customers, vendors, former bosses, friends and antagonists alike.

I wrote each one and asked for their advice. "You know me, where should I look? What is a good industry right now? What companies need someone like me?"

The result was amazing. I had a new job in 1 week.

If you are looking for work or looking for a change, quit poking on job ads and spitting your resume down the drain. Contact your network and start asking questions.

And for goodness sake, quit trying to look busy!