Here’s the best one I’ve heard this year: It happened to a someone who landed a great job in very short time — three weeks — during the recession. She also got an increase in compensation when there was nothing but bad employment news all around her.
What made this one so memorable was that she landed it without a resume, through her contacts and supported by strong references. The power of who you know is always significant, and although a resume plays a role in your search, it’s not necessarily why you get hired.
Here’s her background: She had been in one job for several years, but things started to be unstable after a series of company reorganizations. The first wave of layoffs eliminated several positions, and got her attention and she started thinking ahead.
She kept her job through several months of organizational change, but earlier this year, her position finally was eliminated. So, how did she land her next job so quickly?
There are several factors that contributed to her successful, and quick, job search.
• She accepted the idea that she might need to find another job, even though she still was working full time. That gave her time to plan.
• While she was under no pressure to look for a job, she started reaching out to her contacts.
• Researching the trends in her field helped her develop good questions she used when networking.
• She made it a priority to attend professional and social events.
• While she was still working, she stayed in touch with her references.
What makes a job search memorable? When it confirms that who you know is often all you need to land a great job in record-breaking time. Most job seekers tend to overlook the power of contacts and spend an enormous amount of time on the formalities of a search.
You do need a strong resume, but never discount the importance of who you know.
Use the comments below to share some of your memorable job-search stories.
