Light at the End of the Tunnel?

This is another post in a series of monthly advice in association with the Career Collective, a group of professionals who collaborate to provide guidance for job seekers and careerists. The questions this month are: What do you do when you're really, really, really discouraged about your unsuccessful job search? How do you overcome the negative aspects of job search?

A pessimistic view says the light at the end of the tunnel is probably an oncoming train. I think there’s something to that, especially when you consider job search. Let’s face it, with a real unemployment rate between 16 – 18%, as of the start of February 2010, the likelihood is that looking for a job will take a very long time. Indeed, as the deterioration of the economy has unfolded, since late 2007, the average lengths of job searches have increased dramatically. Today, it is not uncommon to see folks take 12 to 18 months to find new jobs.

This is clearly discouraging! Yet, when you ask these folks why it took so long, many will frankly own up to their over reliance on traditional job search approaches; namely resumes, cover letters, and job boards.  While the occasional job seeker may find a job the “old-fashioned” way, by applying for it, the majority achieved success when they stepped up their efforts to network. So, the lesson seems to be to make networking a key part of your overall search strategy. Well, make that effective networking. Frankly, pushing resumes and asking for job leads is common, but not the best way to network. It keeps you in the tunnel, wondering about the oncoming light, and becoming increasingly fearful.

So, what to do?

In a recent, Reach Interview, Pam Slim, author of Escape From Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur, made the point that even if you’re planning to continue working in an organization, it’s critical to develop the mindset and skills of an entrepreneur. Essentially, running your career is like running a business, and requires taking a much more strategic view. As well, it means taking the time to figure out how your offering fits the needs of your target audience, understanding how you are differentiated from your competitors, and determining how best to communicate your value. 

Conceptually, it makes sense. Yet, it doesn’t mean you won’t face fear and uncertainty as you proceed. It’s a journey and it requires support, which brings up probably the next best part of Pam’s advice: start hanging out with “your people.” Use your networking efforts to find and connect with people who know the space you’re attempting to move into, including customers/employers and competitors. Take a genuine interest in these folks. Be prepared to listen and learn, as well as to help and share. Over time, three important things can happen: (1) you form a developmental network that supports your forward progress; (2) you gain visibility and credibility among people who you need to know and who need to know about you; (3) you set the stage for connecting with relevant opportunities for productive work.

Clearly, this is not your Father’s job search; but then, this is not your Father’s economy. It's time to get out of the narrow confines and dispiriting mechanics of traditional job search. Getting out of the tunnel probably means taking the mountain path. But you don’t need to worry about the oncoming light, and you get a better look at the horizon!

Read other great advice posted by Career Collective members.

How did members of the Career Collective respond? Follow us on Twitter with our hashtag #careercollective and read these posts:

@MartinBuckland, Job Search Made Positive

@GayleHoward, Job Search: When It All Turns Sour

@chandlee, Strategy for Getting “Unstuck” and Feeling Better: Watch Lemonade

@heathermundell, Help for the Job Search Blues

@heatherhuhman, 10 Ways to Turn You Job Search Frown Upside-Down 

@KCCareerCoach, You Can Beat the Job Search Blues: 5 + 3 Tips to Get Re-Energized

@WalterAkana, Light at the End of the Tunnel

@LaurieBerenson, Ways to Keep Your Glass Half Full

@resumeservice, Don’t Sweat the Job Search 

@careersherpa, Mind Over Matter: Moving Your Stalled Search Forward

@WorkWithIllness, Finding Opportunity in Quicksand

@KatCareerGal, Job-Hunting in a Weak Job Market: 5 Strategies for Staying Upbeat (and Improving Your Chances of Success)

@ErinKennedyCPRW, Dancing in the Rain–Kicking the Job Search Blues

@keppie_careers, What do do when you are discouraged with your job search

@DawnBugni, It’s the little things

@ValueIntoWords, Restoring Your Joy in Job Search

@jobhuntorg, Just SO VERY Discouraged

@barbarasafani Making Job Search Fun (Yeah, That’s Right!)

@GLHoffman, How to Overcome the Job Search Negativity

@ExpatCoachMegan, Dealing With Job Search Stress: Getting to the Source of the Problem

Comments

[career sherpa]

Walter,
Wonderful post! You've shown how important it is to use the lessons we've learned from today's job search to keep the competitive and pro-active posture necessary for MANAGING OUR CAREER!

[Walter Akana]

Thanks for your comment, Hannah! I think it’s all about career management, and I think that’s a lot like managing a business. So, it’s especially validating to hear high visibility and talented people like Pam Slim point that out! Her book is great – and has much to teach entrepreneurs and intrepreneurs alike!

[Miriam Salpeter, Keppie Careers]

Walter - Thanks for outlining the reality of the situation and providing some great suggestions to help people overcome it. I love the concept of thinking like an entrepreneur. Taking responsibility and a role in the process is so important!

[Chandlee Bryan]

Walter,
Many years ago, I read a future trend that called for employees and jobseekers to think like "inde-preneurs" (to approach work from the entrepreneur's perspective, and to think "what can I learn from this" at each step along the way). Your post is a great reminder of that--it easier to climb the mountain when we've learned how!

All the Best,
Chandlee

[Gayle Howard]

Walter, great post. You're right; it's sure not our dad's job search! The key is not spending inordinate amounts of time in a dark room with a computer but engaging with people. It's all about communicating, networking, and thinking strategically. Listening is very important; those "coffees with old friends" aren't just "networking" sessions in a theoretical sense. They're opportunities to listen to what is being said. Hearing complaints about projects not working, poor leadership allows jobseekers to capitalize on what has been said. It's about being smart, adapting, listening and taking action. Job search needs to be listed as a full-time occupation due to the amount of time that needs to be devoted to it and the diversity of skills one needs to do it!

[Laurie Berenson]

Great post, Walter. I really like the analogy of managing your career to running a business. It's true in so many ways - including knowing how to define and differentiate your brand and value vs. that of your competition.

[Walter Akana]

@Miriam: Great comment! Taking responsibility and approaching one’s career as an entrepreneur running a business is more critical today than ever. The only job security today, is the security that you gain from knowing how to secure new opportunities.

@Chandlee: Interesting! I’ve never heard of "inde-preneurs" – but surely that writer was a visionary! There was a time, during the 1990s, when being an intrepreneur (inside a company) was the big idea. Central, I think is the ability to manage risk being productive. Today, learning the mountain trail is critical. Navigating risk is the new safety!

@Gayle: Wow, you sure extended the range of images: “spending inordinate amounts of time in a dark room with a computer” is like looking at the oncoming train! And beyond that, Gayle, you’ve really hit other keys: engaging with people and thinking strategically. In fact, I see these as woven together; only by listening and learning to we get the kind of knowledge and skills we need to enhance our productivity and value – and to take targeted action. I agree that job search is a full time occupation; after all, it’s about moving from project to project…just like a (serial) entrepreneur!

@Laurie: Yes, it’s interesting that the idea of your career as a business is so tied to defining and differentiating your brand and value vs. that of your competition. And while a growing trend for more than 10 years, it has never been more critical than it is today!

Thanks for your terrific comments, ladies! Enjoyed “chatting” with you :-)

[Dawn Bugni]

Walter -

Today's job search is certainly not your not "father's" job search. Daily, I educate job seekers, who haven't thought about their career in years, about the effort and network it takes to land a position. They're astounded 70+% of jobs are never advertised, but filled through referrals.

You network is truly your net worth in today's career environment.

Spot on post. Great info. Thanks!

[Walter Akana]

Hi Dawn! Thanks for your comment, and your kind words! I love your point: your network = your net worth! I think that solid connections with people in your community, coupled with the value you add, is a great way to build “social capital” – and that’s the currency of the “hidden” job market!