Job-Search Advice from a Senior Executive
Mark Merriman recently accepted a
position as General Manager of the Consumer Division at Cline Davis &
Mann, part of the Omnicom network of communication agencies. He began his
job search in April 2000, and landed his new position six weeks later.
Reflecting on this brief but intense job search, Mark reports, "I attended
The Five O'Clock Club meetings religiously for five straight weeks, and it
helped me focus my strategies and articulate my skills." Mark has
summarized what worked for him, based on his application of the Five
O'Clock Club methodology.
1. Be persistent and cast a wide net in pursuit of new job opportunities. Whether you have a job or not, maintain the network. Everyone you meet during your search can become part of your expanding database of industry contacts. There are 900 names in my database right now, and I contacted about 100 people during my search. Every day I made 10-15 telephone calls and sent 5-6 e-mails. The network can provide ideas and leads, and play a major role in advancing your career.
2. Keep organized! Maintain a card or computer file for all networking activity. Every time you contact a person or a company, make a note. A well-documented record of your activities will help you stay on top of things and keep you game-plan on track.
3. Do your homework before you interview-and the follow-up! Use the web, newspapers, trade journals and inside contacts to find out everything you can about the company and the people you'll be meeting. Also make sure you have a pretty good idea about the job they're looking to fill. Be ready with your Two-Minute Pitch-you'll want to be able to address their needs and outclass the competition. After each of my interviews I sent personalized e-mail follow-ups to everyone, addressing concerns or objections I had sensed during the meetings.
4. Coach your references! Pick the right people to recommend you to each prospective employer. Talk to your references, let them know what the employer is looking for, help them to understand your strategy-as well as the needs and "hot buttons" of the employer. Ask your references to call you if they receive inquires, and be appreciative of their willingness to speak on your behalf.
5. Be enthusiastic in your search. Even though job search can have its demoralizing moments, try to maintain a positive attitude at all times. Hiring managers look for optimism and passion in candidates. If you are self-absorbed, bland or morose, you will hurt your prospects.
6. Expect surprises, bad and good! Just when you think things might never work out, you'll get some great breaks. With practice you become better and better at job search and career management.
7. Use the Five O'Clock Club and don't skip any part of the methodology! If you rely on the Club as your career advisor, you avoid having to learn things the hard way-and your job search is likely to be telescoped. I relied on the books and the advice of my counselor, Jim Borland, to help me in the final stages of negotiation especially. If I had it to do over again, I would have devoted more time to the Seven Stories and the Forty-Year Vision. My job search advanced so quickly that I didn't have time to take care of these important first steps. I plan to do them now, however—as a foundation for keeping my career on track.