Extended Job Search--Take Charge!

If you have been out of work more than a few weeks, ask yourself this question: "Who is in emotional control of my job search today--others or me?" Like so many, are you riding a roller coaster of emotions from a wondrous high when a prime job prospect surfaces to an extreme low when that prospect falls through?  You will never eliminate all job-search peaks and valleys but no one can rob you of the unbending faith in an ultimate favorable outcome. Your challenge is to restore positive momentum in the face of inevitable short-term disappointments.   I've been there and done that. After losing my CFO position in 1986, I spent 15 months in a frustrating job search. During that period I was first or second runner-up for no less than five CFO positions--you can imagine how deflating it was when these jobs went to someone else! Following each set-back, I took several weeks to recover positive emotions and recharge my campaign. In hindsight, throughout my campaign I let advertised job postings dictate my job targets, lingered over lost opportunities and consistently failed to seek out and identify viable back-up possibilities.   There is a better way! First, you need to hire yourself as CEO of your own job search or career transition. As I suggested in last week's blog, you begin the process by preparing a detailed description of the position of your dreams. (Subsequently, you may need to modify the this target to fit reality.) Next, you will need a comprehensive job search or career transition strategy, the same as you would had you been hired as PR Agent or Career Counselor for someone else. If you need help, speak with qualified friends or colleagues or hire an outside service.   Once target position and strategy both have been defined, your ongoing task is to execute. This means daily searching out new opportunities, measuring potential jobs against your ideal and marketing yourself to prospects. At any point in the search process, I recommend you have at least three primary targets:   "Up to the plate"--your immediate target employer (preparing for interview, exhaustive research, follow-up, etc.) "On-deck"--your very next in line (scheduling interview, preliminary research, etc.) "In-the-hole"--identify and make contact (screening, networking within company, sending resume, etc.)    At all times visualize yourself performing your dream job functions. Before each interview, modify your dream to imagine working for your specific "up to the plate" employment prospect. Pre-interview, think and behave like an incumbent. In your mind, confront the challenges you and your prospective employer will face as you perform on the job. Once the interview is over and you've done all you can do, move on to imagine yourself working for the next, "on- deck" employer. Exept for identifying mistakes you made, refuse to linger over lost opportunities.   Under the universal law of attraction, so long as you genuinely expect to accomplish cherished carrer objectives you will remain on track and positively engaged.  The universe will provide; ultimately you will succeed! Next week, I will discuss upfront "financing" of career transition to buy peace of mind and the time needed to locate your dream career.   Tell me about your own mid-career job search experience. Please respond to this blog or send your comments to my e-mail address: roy@middleagerenewal.com. For more on the multitude of challenges of middle age, please visit our MART web site, www.middleagerenewal.com.