Attacking the job market in a recession

Work, work, aw- work it out baby. Work, work, well you’re drivin’ me crazy. Work, work, just a little bit of soul now - Work!

The Contours

Networking on steroids

The job market is a scary place right now. Unemployment and uncertainty about the economy have us all feeling anxious, even if we’re among the lucky ones who are still working in well-paying jobs. Not an ideal time for changing lanes, you might say. At least not intentionally.

Certainly those who’ve been laid off or whose paychecks have been seriously cut back are facing a daunting challenge in this market. At the same time, many who are grateful to have a paycheck at all are squelching any thoughts they may have been harboring about exploring new opportunities. Gurus whose mantra was “follow your bliss” are losing their following to resume coaches and career guidance counselors.

Since Susan and I are evangelists for changing lanes  we have to ask ourselves whether our message has relevance for these tough times. The essence of our message is this:

Give yourself the time, energy and permission to realign who you are with what you do.

Does this resonate with you given today’s economic environment?

I would argue that our message is even more relevant today and here’s why.

Well before this economic downturn, we cautioned against making the mistake of sitting back passively, waiting for opportunities to come to you. Yes you need to be open to the forces of serendipity putting new options in your path, but you must attack the process of discovery with an active mindset. Back then, we reported that professional recruiters and counselors advise that you spend at least 20% of your time meeting with people and exploring ideas for the future. Now, you may need to devote more of your time to this process.

Whether your goal is to find employment to pay the bills or you’re determined to find a more meaningful path in life, this is the time to work your contact list with all the energy you can muster. Pull out all those names – friends, family, colleagues – and ask them for their help in making the connections that will fuel your search. It’s worth the risk of contracting carpal tunnel from banging away on your cell phone and computer keyboard.

This is no time to be high-minded or shy about using connections. It has always been the case that connections make the world go round. Merit unnoticed tends to be underutilized. In today’s climate, your network is your greatest asset.

This point came into stark focus for me when my husband, Bill, and I made the pilgrimage to Washington to be part of the Obama inauguration. It was an experience I will never forget, especially the uplifting spirit and sense of community shared by the millions of people who came to be part of history. Perfect strangers reached out to one another to express their pride and good will.

As a retired federal appellate judge, Bill is blessed to enjoy an extended family of his former law clerks who are now academics, lawyers, and professionals. Many found their way to our hotel bar in D.C. for an impromptu reunion. I was lucky to have a front-row seat to witness the networking feeding frenzy that was taking place all around me.     

The lure of participating in the new Administration was nearly irresistible to these talented men and women, regardless of their current circumstances. Each was actively pulling out all the stops to find a role where he or she could make a meaningful contribution. Their peers reciprocated by suggesting new ways to highlight their talents and experience and new contacts that they hadn’t considered before.

Some admitted that they felt a little awkward being so forward and touting their qualifications so blatantly. But with a little prompting, they got into the swing of things and put themselves out there, often well outside of their comfort zones. These were acts of bravery that some never reached for earlier in their lives. Watching it all, I was both tickled by the spectacle and duly impressed by the guts it took.

Several are well on their way to plum assignments in the new administration. The pay may not be great, but as we voters learned, the benefits of government service jobs are pretty fantastic. The dislocation of family may present difficulties, but the once-in-a-life-time experience overrides those concerns. The important thing is that they are finding meaning by aligning who they are with what they do.

For more on giving yourself the time, energy and permission to find the right path, check out our book, Changing Lanes. If you are struggling with the requirement to “work” your friends and family, write us a comment so we can share your apprehension and see if others can encourage you to take the leap.

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