Published on: Tuesday, September 27, 2011

This is Getting to be a Drag

Posted By: Dave Opton
Filed Under: executive job search, networking, dave opton, executive coach, resume

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Ever since I can remember, there has been a factoid making its way around the career management world about how long someone should anticipate their job search will take. It goes something like: You should plan your search to take about one month for every $10,000 you seek in salary.

In talking with ExecuNet members, this is a subject that comes up with great frequency. Certainly not surprising, as most executives tend to be type A and focus on objectives to be reached within a specific timeframe and get pretty impatient if/when it doesn't look like that's happening.

In truth, I believe this is one of the major reason why we all find the search process so frustrating.

There is only so much of it we really can control. When one is "action-oriented" and in a situation where you can't "make things happen," to say it is frustrating doesn't do it justice.

Also, how much time a job search is going to take is also one of those questions where I am not sure that an actuary could really give anyone a meaningful answer. There are so many variables involved: geography, age, function, industry segment, compensation needs, and the economy just to name a few.

Part of trying to manage your way through a process as frustrating as a job search is to set realistic expectations. Without them, people tend to set goals that reality will make it very hard to attain, and when they are not attained, they feel it is somehow a sign that there is something seriously lacking in themselves — of course, that is not the case at all. Easy to say but much harder to internalize and believe.

I talk with members almost daily whose searches have been going for several months or more, and aside from looking for ideas on handling the frustration, they also want some ideas on what they can do to try and re-energize the quest.

Here are a couple of thoughts for those who might be in this situation:

Keep in mind that this is essentially a sales process, and as such, do what companies do if a product they have introduced to the market is not producing the results they expected — repackage it. As a candidate, that could mean a r�sum� makeover, tuning up your phone and/or in-person interviewing skills, making sure you are doing really thorough research in terms of target companies, and certainly working harder to expand your personal and professional networks.
Make sure that because things have gone much longer than you wanted them to that you don't fall into the trap of locking yourself in your home office and spending your days "clicking and praying." It is counterproductive both strategically and emotionally.
Get out, about and involved, both online and especially offline. Relationships can start online, but trust, which is the tipping point in personal referrals, comes much more often from face-to-face relationships built over time. If you are not already actively involved in at least one professional organization and one civic organization, do so. Keeping yourself intellectually "tuned in" is really important in terms of both attitude and energy, both of which are critical in terms of how others react to you, not to mention how you feel about yourself!
Since most people get jobs as the result of networking, everything you can do to give yourself the opportunity to create those links is very much worth the time and effort. If you are a member of ExecuNet, you have long heard us write about effective networking being built on a foundation and attitude of "giving not getting." Approaching both people and/or events with the idea that you're there as a resource to others does a lot to get your focus on the right stuff.
If you are someone who has trouble doing some or all of this revamping yourself, you might consider getting an executive coach to help. It is certainly nothing to be ashamed of and from an accountability and structure perspective can be very helpful in getting things back on track. At ExecuNet, members frequently ask our help in finding such a resource, and we are happy to refer them.

And don't ever forget what every salesperson will tell you: Every "no" is simply one step closer to "yes."

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Dave Opton's avatar Dave Opton
Dave Opton founded ExecuNet in 1988 to provide a trusted environment where senior-level executives could build career opportunities by facilitating connections to other executives, experts and key market insights. Dave has drawn upon his 35 years of experience in human resources to develop and grow what has become the leading business and career membership network for executives and senior managers. A widely recognized executive career management expert, Dave is regularly quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Business Week, Fortune, Fast Company, and other leading business publications. Mr. Opton received his BA from Indiana University. Dave blogs at Six Figure Learnings