If you really really really want a job, you are going to have to pound the pavement and tell everyone about it.
“Perfect,” said the moderator. “When you get home, erase any digital copies, place the printed copy carefully under your bedroom mattress, and keep it there forever. This is your 100-percent guarantee your idea will not be stolen by anyone in Hollywood. Unfortunately, this is also the only 100-percent guarantee that your script will never be made into a movie.”
OK, perhaps the moderator was being overly dramatic, but you get the point. If you want someone to buy your script, you have to let them know it’s available.
How does this translate to your job search? Well, that’s pretty simple: If you’re interested in finding a new opportunity, you have to be place yourself in the best position to learn about those vacancies and go for it! Talk to the person who makes the hiring decision and tell them that you’re interested. This is particularly important if you’re out of work, or know that your current employment is coming to an end.
People who are already employed often hesitate to let others know they are looking for a job, for fear that their boss might find out. Or, if they’ve been laid off or terminated, they’re too embarrassed or depressed to talk about it with others. Unfortunately, unless you open up to others at some point, the odds of finding the job you want are about as good as Steven Spielberg discovering your screenplay when you’ve hidden it under your mattress. After all, that’s the entire point of networking. Unless you reach out to people, whether you’re employed or not, you won’t be in a position to receive any leads if and when they materialize.
The start of the holiday season is the perfect time to commit to letting people know that you are open to learning about new opportunities, especially because you will likely be seeing people you do not see on a regular basis. Who knows? You may receive an unexpected gift in the form of a new job with unprecedented opportunities for growth.
So, take the leap and tell others about your interest in learning about new opportunities.
Best of luck with your job search, I know you can do it!
Lori
P.S. To learn more about how to navigate the loyalty-free workplace, pick up a copy of my book The Perpetual Paycheck: 5 Secrets to Getting a Job, Keeping a Job, and Earning Income for Life in the Loyalty-Free Workplace. The Perpetual Paycheck has been an Amazon #1 best-seller in 3 job-search categories, awarded the Silver Medal by Readers’ Favorites in the nonfiction/business category, and featured on CNBC’s The Power Lunch, on nextavenue.org, Forbes.com, AARP.org and in many other prominent publications. The book is currently available in paperback and as an Ebook—and the audio book is coming soon.