The HIAPy Guide to Finding Work in a Tough Job Market

8/13/2019 The HIAPy Guide to Finding Work in a Tough Job Market

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It ’s Not You, It ’s Your Strategy:

he HIAPy Guide to Finding Work in a ough o! "arket!y Hi##ary $ettig%%%&hi##aryrettig&'o(hi##aryrettig)yahoo&'o(

*E$SI+N INF+$"A I+N *ersion -&- re#eased -./.01

A2 H+$SHIP

This !ook is !y Hi##ary $ettig, %hose other !ooks in'#ude The Lifelong Activist: How to Change

the World Without Losing Your Way 3Lantern 4ooks, 50067 and The Little Guide To BeatingProcrastination, Perfectionis, !ears and Bloc"s: A Guide for Artists, Acadeics, Activists,#ntre$reneurs and %ther A&itious 'reaers 3do%n#oada!#e 8or 8ree at %%%&hi##aryrettig&'o(7& Ia( a 4oston9!ased 'oa'h %ho has he#ed hundreds o8 eo#e around the 'ountry use theirti(e !etter; o<er'o(e ro'rastination, er8e'tionis( and !#o'ks; and 'reate (ore satis8ying'areers& For (ore in8or(ation on (e and (y %ork, #ease <isit (y We!site or e(ai# (e athi##aryrettig)yahoo&'o(&

P$EFA=E I ’S N+ Y+2, I ’S Y+2$ S $A EGY

$e'ent#y, a 'o88ee date %ith a 8riend took a serious turn as he desondent#y narrated the sagao8 his #atest 8ai#ure to get hired, and then the %ho#e story o8 his ast t%o years o8une(#oy(ent& It %as a 8a(i#iar story o8 resu(es not a'kno%#edged, te#ehone 'a##s notreturned, and so(e e>'ru'iating near (isses %here he had gotten to the 8ina# round o8inter<ie%s !ut %asn’t hired&

?I need you to te## (e %hat’s %rong %ith (e,@ he 8ina##y said, his 8a'e strained& ?Why I’( notgetting hired&@

It %as a !ra<e reuest& Not (any o8 us are %i##ing to #ay our 8ai#ures out on the ta!#e 8orso(eone e#se to inse't and 'ritiue&

So I gri##ed hi( on the detai#s: %hat Bo!s he had a#ied 8or, ho% he had 8ound out a!outthe(, %hat ro'ess he had used to a#y, %ho( he had he used as re8eren'es, et'&

And this is %hat I 'on'#uded: there %as nothing %rong %ith (y 8riend& Nothing& There %as,in 8a't, a #ot right %ith hi(& He %as a resenta!#e, ersona!#e indi<idua# %ith so#id




'redentia#s and a #ot o8 interesting %ork e>erien'e&

What %as %rong %as his strategy& He %asn’t a#ying 8or Bo!s e88e'ti<e#y&

He %as (aking, in 8a't, a #ot o8 the (istakes I dis'uss in this e!ook& I8 he 'orre'ts those, and8o##o%s the strategy I out#ine in Part II, he shou#d ha<e a (u'h !etter 'han'e o8 getting hired(o<ing 8or%ard&

The odds are that, i8 you’<e !een une(#oyed a %hi#e, you’re a#so %a#king around %ondering%hat’s %rong %ith you !ut there’s a good 'han'e that, the sa(e as %ith (y 8riend, thero!#e( isn’t %ith you, !ut your strategy& Strategies 'an !e 'hanged, so take heart and keereading&

This e!ook 8o'uses on the 8oundationa# a'ti<ities and strategies under#ying a su''ess8u# Bo!

sear'h, !ut does not in'#ude in8or(ation on ta'ti's 3e&g&, ho% to inter<ie% or %rite a resu(e7,art#y !e'ause that in8or(ation is %ide#y a<ai#a!#e e#se%here& I8 there’s su88i'ient interest,ho%e<er, I’## %rite the ta'ti's !ook #ater on&

4e'ause a #ot o8 this !ook 8o'uses on (istakes you yourse#8 (ight !e (aking on the re(isethat that is the (ost 8ruit8u# area o8 dis'ussion, sin'e your o%n er8or(an'e is so(ething you 'an 'ontro# and i(ro<e I %ant to !e <ery '#ear that I do understand that the 2&S&e'ono(y is in a <ery !ad state and good Bo!s 'an !e hard to 8ind& And yet, the good Bo!s areo8ten out there, !ut eo#e sa!otage their e88orts to %in the(& That is the ro!#e( I 8o'us onin this !ook, and that I hoe to he# you so#<e, !ut #ease do not think I underesti(ate the

di88i'u#ties and ain o8 8inding %ork in a %eak e'ono(y&

I %rote this e!ook to he# eo#e, and a#so to ro(ote (y 'oa'hing and %orksho !usiness&I8, a8ter reading it, you !e#ie<e you or so(eone e#se 'ou#d !ene8it 8ro( (y 'oa'hing, or youkno% o8 an organiCation that 'ou#d host one o8 (y %orkshos on, 3-7 8inding %ork, 357 ti(e(anage(ent, 3D7 o<er'o(ing ro'rastination, or 37 entrereneurshi, #ease e(ai# (e athi##aryrettig)yahoo&'o( and I’## send you (ore in8or(ation& And thanks

I %e#'o(e a## 'o((ents on this !ook, and ese'ia##y suggestions 8or i(ro<ing the ne>tedition& P#ease e(ai# the( to (e at hi##aryrettig)yahoo&'o( &

Hi##ary

E N+ ES

I use the %ords ?'andidate,@ ?a#i'ant@ and ?Bo! sear'her@ inter'hangea!#y to re8er to theerson #ooking 8or %ork&

I use the %ord ?hirer@ (ain#y to re8er to the erson (aking the i((ediate de'ision on the

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mailto:[email protected]




'andidate’s a#i'ation i&e&, the erson s'reening resu(es, inter<ie%ing, or (aking the 8ina#hiring de'ision& And I use the %ord ?e(#oyer@ (ain#y to re8er to the organiCation doing thehiring& So(eti(es, ho%e<er, I use the %ords ?'o(any@ or ?organiCation@ to re8er to theorganiCation& P#ease note that, e<en %hen I use the %ord ?'o(any,@ I a( a#%ays re8erring to

a## tyes o8 e(#oyers, in'#uding s(a## !usinesses, #arge !usinesses, nonro8it organiCationsand go<ern(ent agen'ies, un#ess I se'i8y other%ise&

I use the %ord ?a#i'ation@ so(eti(es to re8er to the 8or( the hirer %ants 8i##ed out, !ut(ore o8ten to re8er to the entire Bo!9a#i'ation ro'ess&

I use the gender ronouns inter'hangea!#y and rando(#y&

Footnotes and 'itations %i## !e 8ound at the end o8 ea'h 'hater&

A## ersona# and 'o(any na(es used in this !ook are 8i'titious, and I ha<e 'hangedidenti8ying detai#s on so(e 'ase studies&

WA$$AN Y

The in8or(ation in this !ook is resented %ithout %arranty o8 any kind& It has he#ed (anyeo#e, and it is (y sin'ere %ish that it he# you, !ut I o!<ious#y 'an’t a''et resonsi!i#ity8or any negati<e resu#t you 8ee# you (ay ha<e o!tained 8ro( using it& I8 you are su88ering8ro( an>iety, deression, addi'tion or any other sy'ho#ogi'a# or hysi'a# 'ondition, #easeseek ro8essiona# he# !e8ore 8o##o%ing the ad<i'e herein&

LI=ENSE

This !ook is #i'ensed under the =reati<e =o((ons Attri!ution9Non'o((er'ia#9Share A#ikeD&0 #i'ense htt:..'reati<e'o((ons&org.#i'enses.!y9n'9sa.D&0.us., %hi'h (eans you arein<ited to 'oy, a#ter and distri!ute it non'o((er'ia##y so #ong as you reser<e the a!o<eTit#e, *ersion, Authorshi, Pre8a'e, Te>t, and Warranty in8or(ation, as %e## as this Li'ensestate(ent& 3I hoe so(eone de'ides to trans#ate it into other #anguages7 I8 you 'hoose todistri!ute your a#tered <ersion to others, you (ust er(it the( the sa(e 8reedo( to 'oy,a#ter and distri!ute non'o((er'ia##y, and they (ust reser<e the sa(e reuired

in8or(ation& For (ore detai#s see htt:..'reati<e'o((ons&org.#i'enses.!y9n'9sa.D&0.us.&

A4LE +F =+N EN S

PA$ I & F+2NJA I+NAL A= I*I IES-& Ho% 2ne(#oy(ent Stinks: Let "e =ount the Ways&&&5& I8 You Need He#, Get He#D& Pra'ti'e +ti(is(

http://www.hillaryrettig.com/





& Yes, There are Good 3or, at #east, +kay7 o!s +ut ThereK& Negotia!#e and +tiona# o! ?$euire(ents@6& +n Pi'kiness and 4iases/& +n Fear, Pro'rastination, and Not Getting Stu'k

1& When You Jont Like Your +tionsM& Yes, You’re E(#oya!#e-0& In<est in La<ish Se#89=are--& =reate a Suorti<e =o((unity-5& =reate Ti(e-D& 4e Fruga#

PA$ II & A +49SEA$=H S $A EGY HA W+$S-& 1KO-K& =o(eting %ith the ?Fa! -KO@

-6& HIAP <s& Wi##y9Ni##y-/& Jo it Like Jud#ey-1& HIAP Enthusias( Q Sa8ety-M& HIAP Enthusias( Q a Fe% Good LAFS50& HIAP Enthusias( Q the "agi' Wand5-& Jo it Like Jud#ey 3Part II755& Jetai#s =ount In'redi!#y5D& Ri to It5& S'anners 3and E(ai#ers and Fa>ers7 Li<e in *ain: Why Te'hno#ogy Isn’t Ne'essari#y YourFriend

5K& ?Te'hni'a# Ski##s@ Q ?So8t Ski##s@ 4usiness Sa<<y56& Jon’t =o((oditiCe Yourse#8 5/& The =ru'ia# I(ortan'e o8 Fra(ingEi#ogue

APPENJI I& Arti'#e on =oing %ith $eBe'tionAPPENJI II& Arti'#e on Finding, and Working With, "entorsAPPENJI III& Arti'#e on So#<ing Pro!#e(s <s& Jithering

And a%ay %e go&&&

PA$ I& F+2NJA I+NAL A= I*I IES

-& Ho% 2ne(#oy(ent Stinks: Let "e =ount the Ways&& &

2ne(#oy(ent is a#(ost a#%ays a horri!#e e>erien'e: de(ora#iCing, deressing anddisorienting& We tend to unish ourse#<es harsh#y 8or our ?8ai#ure,@ 8ee#ing #ots o8 sha(e and




gui#t, and so(eti(es others e<en 8a(i#y and 8riends unish us as %e##&G&& "eyer’s 8antasti' !ook #(ecutive Blues: 'own and %ut in Cor$orate Aerica 3Frank#in

Suare Press, -MMK7 o88ers the !est narrati<e I’<e read o8 %hat it’s #ike to !e une(#oyed andstrugg#ing to 8ind %ork& He says he e>erien'ed sho'k, resent(ent, 8ear, en<y, se#89ity and

sha(e during a se<era#9year san o8 inter(ittent une(#oy(ent: a dread8u# #ist& Here’s %hathe says a!out the sho'k, en<y and sha(e:

Sho'k& ?4one9ratt#ing sho'k at 8inding (yse#8, 8or the 8irst ti(e sin'e the %eek Igraduated 8ro( grade s'hoo#, %ithout a #a'e in the %or#d o8 %orkI %a#ked the streets in ana#(ost tran'e#ike state, 8ee#ing #ike I %as %a#king on the !otto( o8 the sea, 'ut o88 8ro(e<erything around (e and not #ike other eo#e any (ore&@

En<y& ?I8 en<y 'aused 'an'er I’d !e dead !y Sunday&@Sha(e& ?I’( asha(ed in t%o %ays& +n a si(#e #e<e# I’( asha(ed o8 (yse#8 8or !eing

out o8 %ork, 8or getting (y 8a(i#y into su'h a 8i>I’( asha(ed o8 (yse#8 8or #osing& When Ihear the guy ne>t door start his 'ar in the (orning and dri<e a%ay, I’( asha(ed to sti## !e in

!ed& I’( asha(ed to rake #ea<es on %eekday a8ternoons !e'ause e<eryone in theneigh!orhood %i## see as i8 they didn’t a#ready kno% that I don’t ha<e an o88i'e to go toany(ore&

?The other sha(e is deeer, and, I think, (ore i(ortantIn so(e %ays this se'ondsha(e 'o(es eri#ous#y '#ose to se#89#oathing& Ask yourse#8: ho% are %e suosed to rea't%hen !ad things haenU E<ery!ody kno%s the ans%er& The good and the strong rea't'a#(#y, 'heer8u##y, 'on8ident#y, !ra<e#yso, %hat’s %rong %ith (eU@

Adding to the !urden o8 "eyer and other une(#oyed eo#e is the 8a't that due too<er%ork, or #ain o#d un'aring or in'i<i#ity #ots o8 hirers treat une(#oyed eo#e !ad#y&"eyer des'ri!es the garden9<ariety snu!s, #ike not getting 'a##s returned or resu(es

a'kno%#edged, %hi'h indi<idua##y (ay not !e so signi8i'ant !ut %hi'h rea##y %ear you do%na8ter doCens or hundreds o8 reetitions& And he a#so des'ri!es so(e tru#y 'a##ous and hurt8u#!eha<ior, su'h as the ti(e a hirer had hi( 8#y out to Ne% York 8or a Bo! inter<ie%, then stoodhi( u& Writes "eyer: ?In Ed<ard "un'h’s ainting The S'rea(, a so#itary, e(ty9eyed8igure stands in a road%ay '#ut'hing its head, (outh oen %ide& I hoe that’s not %hat I #ook#ike as I %a#k the streets o8 "anhattan during the ne>t se<era# hours, seeing and hearingnothing, %aiting 8or it to !e ti(e to return to LaGuardia& 4ut it’s ho% I 8ee#& Without (aking asound I s'rea( a## the %ay !a'k to Wis'onsin&@

VVVYour 8irst Bo! as a n une(#oyed erson is not to #ook 8or %ork, !ut to#earn to 'oe %ith une(#oy(ent&VVV That’s !e'ause: 3-7 you deser<e to 8ee# ea'e andse#89rese't e<en %hen une(#oyed; and 357 deression, dis'ourage(ent, anger, an>iety,8ear, sha(e, gui#t and other negati<e e(otions 'an under(ine your Bo! sear'h& I8une(#oy(ent is !ringing you do%n, e<en %ay do%n, don’t %aste ti(e 8ee#ing !ad a!outthat su'h 8ee#ings are entire#y understanda!#e !ut 8o##o% the ad<i'e o88ered in =haters 5 -D a!out seeking he# and taking 'are o8 yourse#8&

It’s a#so i(ortant to understand Va##V the 'auses o8 your une(#oy(ent so you don’t8ee# undeser<ed sha(e or gui#t& In (y e>erien'e, 8e% eo#e get #aid o88 or 8ired entire#y, ore<en #arge#y, due to their o%n 8au#t& As I %rite this, the go<ern(ent has 8ina##y a'kno%#edged at #east a year #ate that the 2&S& e'ono(y is in a re'ession&- In su'h an e'ono(y you 'ou#d




!e a 8a!u#ous %orker and sti## #ose your Bo!&E<en assu(ing you %ere #aid o88 or 8ired 8or (ore ersona# reasons, ho%e<er, you sti##

need to go easy on yourse#8& Sure, you (ay ha<e s're%ed u: that’s art o8 !eing hu(an and8a##i!#e& I8 you’re #ike (any good eo#e, ho%e<er, you’re ro!a!#y taking %ay too (u'h o8

the !#a(e on yourse#8& =han'es are, there %ere e#e(ents in your %ork situation that %ere!eyond your 'ontro# and (ade su''ess di88i'u#t, i8 not i(ossi!#e& =hater 5 dis'usses those,and the roer 'ourse o8 a'tion&

N+TE-& htt:..%%%&ei&org.'ontent&'8(.%e!8eaturese'onindi'atorsBo!si't5001-50K

5& I8 You Need He#, Get He#

As G&& "eyer e#ouent#y e>resses, une(#oy(ent is a huge#y stress8u# andde(ora#iCing e>erien'e that 'an under(ine e<en strong and 'on8ident eo#e& I8 you’ree>erien'ing deression or serious dis'ourage(ent, anger, 8ear or another de!i#itatinge(otion, or i8 your une(#oy(ent is da(aging your re#ationshis or en'ouraging anaddi'tion, #ease seek ro(t he# 8ro( a theraist, 'ounse#or or other trained (enta#hea#th ro8essiona#& It is not a sign o8 %eakness to do so, !ut a sign o8 strength and %isdo(&

I8 you need he#, get he# as ui'k#y as ossi!#e& 3Why ut o88 8ee#ing !etterU7 And i8 you’re ?on the 8en'e@ a!out %hether to go to theray, you ro!a!#y need it& Go out and get a8e% sessions&

I8 the 8irst 3or se'ond or third&&&7 theraist you 'onsu#t is a dud, kee #ooking unti# you

8ind one %ho’s a good 8it& A good theraist 'an (ake a## the di88eren'e not Bust in your (ood,!ut in your a!i#ity to 8ind %ork, so it’s %orth %orking to 8ind one&I8 you 'an’t a88ord a theraist, ask a!out a s#iding s'a#e dis'ount or 'heaer grou

sessions& 3I8 you ha<e hea#th insuran'e, re(e(!er that (any o#i'ies do no% 'o<er so(etheray&7 I8 not, 'a## so(e nonro8it agen'ies and see i8 they o88er 8ree or 'hea 'ounse#ing&

Genera##y seaking, ho%e<er, I %ou#d suggest 'utting !a'k on other things i8 at a##ossi!#e and seeing the !est theraist you 'an&

A!out A!usi<e Work#a'es

A#so seek ro(t he# i8 your #ast %ork situation ended !ad#y& +ne thing I’<e #earned8ro( years o8 'oa'hing is that e<en (any ordinary9#ooking %ork en<iron(ents aresy'ho#ogi'a##y da(aging, and e<en trau(atiCing& Ha<ing to to#erate stress, ressure, 'haos,dise(o%er(ent, or harsh or un8air treat(ent 8or 0 hours 3or e<en D0 or 50 or -07 ea'h%eek 'an rea##y under(ine you, arti'u#ar#y i8 the situation goes on 8or years& Jitto 8orroutine#y ha<ing your i(ortant needs ignored: ?Sorry your kid is si'k, !ut %e sti## need youto 'o(e in today&@ We tend to dis'ount these stressors !e'ause they are so 'o((on andsee( intrinsi' to %ork#i8e, !ut %e shou#dn’t& 3And, !y the %ay, there are #enty o8 %ork#a'esthat aren’t stress8u#, ressured, 'haoti', un'aring, et'&7




"any eo#e 'arry around a huge !urden o8 sha(e a!out so(e in'ident in their %orkhistory& "ay!e they didn’t 8inish a roBe't, didn’t hand#e a 'on8#i't %e##, (issed anoortunity, or %ere 8ired& +8ten the sha(e and gui#t ersist years and e<en de'ades a8terthe in'ident itse#8, eroding the erson’s se#89'on8iden'e and 'o(ro(ising his a!i#ity to !ui#d

a strong 'areer& When I re<ie% and ana#yCe su'h negati<e e>erien'es %ith eo#e, ho%e<er,it a#(ost a#%ays !e'o(es '#ear that they strugg#ed heroi'a##y to su''eed in a situation %heresu''ess %as i(ossi!#e& "ay!e they %eren’t gi<en the resour'es they needed, or there %ere'on8#i'ting goa#s, or there %as 'haos, or their %ork and ho(e resonsi!i#ities %erein'o(ati!#e& 4ut the 8ai#ure %as ine<ita!#y !#a(ed on the(: ?ine<ita!#y@ !e'ause a!usi<e%ork#a'es a#(ost a#%ays !#a(e the <i'ti(&

I8 su'h a !ad eisode is haunting your %ork history and eroding your se#89'on8iden'e,#ease %ork to ana#yCe it o!Be'ti<e#y and 'o(assionate#y& Possi!#y you didn’t do your <ery!est, !ut are you e>aggerating your ro#e in the 8ai#ureU 3And erhas the s'oe andseriousness o8 the 8ai#ure itse#8U7 Jid others assign you (ore !#a(e than you rea##y deser<eU

You (ay !e a!#e to do this ana#ysis yourse#8 <ia Bourna#ing, !ut it is !etter to do it %ith ano!Be'ti<e and 'o(assionate theraist, (entor or 8riend&+8 'ourse, i8 you’<e !een in a rea##y a!usi<e %ork#a'e, %ith e(otiona# a!use, <er!a#

a!use, se>ua# harass(ent, dis'ri(ination, et'&, then you rea##y need to seek theray as soonas ossi!#e& 3And (ay!e #ega# he#&7

I’( not saying a## %ork#a'es are har(8u# or a!usi<e on#y that (any (ore are thaneo#e think& VVVAnd it’s o8ten the !est eo#e those %ho 'are (ost, tryhardest to (aintain an ethi'a# standard, and %ork hardest to !a#an'e their%ork and ho(e resonsi!i#ities %ho %ind u su88ering and !#a(ingthe(se#<es (ost&VVV

So, #ease: i8 you think you need to see a theraist or 'ounse#or, do so&This ad<i'e a#so a#ies to other re#e<ant ro8essiona#s& I8 you need a 'areer 'oa'h orresu(e %riter or e<en i8 you think you do then #ease see one& I8 you 'an’t a88ord one, seei8 you ua#i8y 8or 8ree or 'hea ser<i'es <ia a #o'a# nonro8it, or try !artering& 3I8 you don’tha<e anyone to !arter %ith, try ad<ertising on 'raigs#ist&org or ti(e!anks&org&7

Whether you ay, !arter or re'ei<e 8ree ser<i'es, #ease %ork to 8ind the !est he# you'an& As I (entioned in Pre8a'e 5, there’s a #ot o8 !ad ad<i'e out there, and that !ad ad<i'e 'anrea##y s're% you u& To ua#ity ad<i'e and suort, in 'ontrast, 'an o8ten he# you get agood Bo! 8aster and (ore easi#y than you (ight ha<e !e#ie<ed ossi!#e&

D& Pra'ti'e +ti(is(

I kno% I’( asking a #ot, ese'ia##y i8 you’<e !een a ?g#ass ha#8 e(ty@ erson your%ho#e #i8e& 4ut essi(is( is going to hurt your 'han'es o8 getting a Bo!&

A essi(ist en'ounters an o!sta'#e during his Bo! sear'h and i((ediate#y thinks:?This 'an’t !e so#<ed&@

An oti(ist en'ounters an o!sta'#e and i((ediate#y thinks, ?There (ust !e aso#ution& Let’s #ook 8or it&@




The ro!#e( %ith the essi(ist’s attitude is that there are usua##y #ots o8 o!sta'#es #ots o8 'on8usion, 8a#se #eads, dis'ourage(ent, reBe'tion, et'& in a Bo! sear'h& I8 youo<errea't to the(, you rea##y di(inish your odds o8 su''ess&

Another %ay to ut it is that essi(ists turns (o#ehi##s into (ountains, %hi#e

oti(ists turn (o#ehi##s into anthi##s& And, guess %hat: the oti(ist is a#(ost a#%ays right, ina Bo!9sear'h 'onte>t and (any others& I8 you 'an a<oid ani'king, the (o#ehi##s o8ten dore<ea# the(se#<es to !e s(a## and easi#y o<er'o(e& As (y tea'her erry Wein!erg says, ?Thero!#e( isn’t the ro!#e(& The ro!#e( is your rea'tion to the ro!#e(&@

Pessi(is( and oti(is( tend to !e se#898u#8i##ing rohe'ies& Pessi(ists not on#yassu(e ro!#e(s are unso#<a!#e; they tend to see the %or#d as a harsh #a'e de<oid o8 he#,and thus they don’t seek he#& +ti(ists, on the other hand, kno% that ro!#e(s are so#<a!#eand that eo#e genera##y %ant to he#& And so they go out #ooking 8or he# on We!sites, at(eetings, through re#ati<es, or %hi#e on #ine at the suer(arket and o8ten 8ind it&

The essi(ist #earns o8 so(eone %ho (ight he# hi( in his Bo! sear'h and thinks,

?Why %ou#d that erson ta#k to (eU What do I ha<e to o88er herU@ And, ?She ro!a!#y doesn’tha<e the in8or(ation I need, any%ay: it %ou#d !e a %aste o8 ti(e to 'onta't her&@The oti(ist assu(es that, not on#y is there a good 'han'e that the erson %i## he#

hi(, !ut that she a#so has at #east so(e use8u# in8or(ation to share %hi'h, again, is usua##ythe 'ase&

In the #ast 'hater, I ad<ised you to get theray i8 you need it to 'oe %ith the stresseso8 une(#oy(ent& A essi(ist (ight read that 'hater and say, ?I ha<e no (oney, andtheray is Bust a %aste o8 ti(e, any%ay&@ An oti(ist, in 'ontrast, (ight say, ?We##, I ha<e no(oney, and I’( a !it sketi'a#, !ut %hat do I ha<e to #oseU 4esides, (y 8riend To( said thattheray rea##y he#ed hi( %hen he %as une(#oyed& +kay, I guess I’## 'a## u To(’s theraist

and see i8 he o88ers a s#iding s'a#e or 'an re'o((end so(eone %ho does&@E<en i8 you’re not !y nature an oti(isti' erson, at #east try to a't oti(isti'a##yduring your Bo! sear'h& 4y doing so, you (ight e<en start to 8ee# oti(isti', ese'ia##y on'e you #earn that (any eo#e rea##y are %i##ing to he#&

Here, 8ro( a 8antasti' )ew Yor" Ties arti'#e entit#ed The Language o8 Loss 8or the o!#ess5, is oti(is( in ra'ti'e:

?XI understand you’re sorry, so a( I, !ut that doesn’t do (e any good,’ "r& Ad#er, %ho startsaying 'o##ege tuition this 8a##, is te##ing those o88ering 'ondo#en'es& XI8 you rea##y %ant tohe#, te## (e %hat you think I do %e##, %ho you kno%, and %here you think (y ski##s 8it !est&And they %ere grate8u# 8or !eing gi<en that otion and I %as g#ad I 'ou#d redire't the natureo8 the 'on<ersation retty (u'h on a di(e&’@

Pessi(ists o8ten think they are !eing rea#isti' and grounded in their %or#d <ie%, !utthey’re not: they’re !eing too negati<e& "any are a#so un'ons'ious#y a'ting out their o%n8ears and inse'urities: they’re a8raid to ask 8or he#, and so they don’t, using the e>'use thatasking is 8uti#e& So(e think it’s a sign o8 %eakness to ask 8or he#, !ut oti(ists kno% it’s asign o8 strength and %isdo(, and they a#so kno% that (any eo#e in the !usiness %or#d ande#se%here su!s'ri!e to the #a%s o8 re'iro'ity and kar(a: I he# you today; you 3or so(eone




e#se7 he#s (e to(orro%&So, #ease 'u#ti<ate an oti(isti' attitude, or at #east so(e oti(isti' !eha<iors& And

#ease try to hang around (ain#y, or entire#y, %ith oti(isti' eo#e, sin'e doing so %i##'ata#yCe your o%n oti(is( and (ake your Bo! sear'h easier and #easanter& You shou#d a#so

se<ere#y #i(it your intera'tions %ith essi(ists, e<en i8 they haen to !e re#ated to you&Pessi(ists 'an drag you do%n and rein8or'e your essi(isti' attitudes&

Joes it (ake sense to !e oti(isti' e<en in the 8a'e o8 the a%8u# e'ono(y %e’re inUA!so#ute#y as I dis'uss in the ne>t 'hater&

N+TE5& htt:..%%%&nyti(es&'o(.5001.0K.-1.8ashion.-1#ayo88&ht(#Us'Q-sQ#anguageO50o8 O50#ossstQ'se

& Yes, here are Good 3or, At Least, +kay7 o!s +ut here

I %ant to 'aution you against one 8or( o8 essi(is( in arti'u#ar: the idea that ?thereare no good Bo!s out there&@

Yes, I kno%: the e'ono(y is terri!#e& There are (any areas o8 the 'ountry %here the Bo! oo# has !een de<astated, and a#so (any industries that ha<e !een de<astated, in'#udingauto(o!i#es, (anu8a'turing, te>ti#es, air#ines, (edia and in8or(ation te'hno#ogy& I a#sokno% that (any o8 the Bo!s that ha<e !een 'reated in re'ent years are (u'h %orse thanthose that ha<e !een #ost, o88ering #o%er ay, #ess se'urity and 8e%er 3or no7 !ene8its&D

And so I kno% that there are eo#e out there %ho 'an #egiti(ate#y '#ai( that, ?there

are no good Bo!s out there&@I %ou#d !e <ery re(iss, ho%e<er, i8 I didn’t oint out that e<ery ti(e so(eone has e<ersaid that to (e, he or she %as %rong&

E<ery ti(e&This is ro!a!#y at #east art#y due to the 8a't that I #i<e in a !ig 'ity and ha<e (ain#y

'oa'hed other !ig9'ity residents& In a !ig 'ity, i8 one e(#oyer or industry dries u, there areusua##y others& That (ay not !e the 'ase in rura# areas, or to%ns %ith one do(inante(#oyer&

4ut I a#so think (any eo#e !e#ie<e that ?there are no good Bo!s out there@ %hen itsi(#y isn’t true& I8 you are one o8 the(, %e need to 'orre't that (iser'etion 8ast, !e'ausethere is no 8aster %ay to toredo a Bo! sear'h, or any other sear'h, than to say that the thing you’re #ooking 8or doesn’t e>ist& E<en i8 the di88i'u#t truth is that there are FEW good Bo!s outthere, that’s a 8ar 'ry 8ro( there !eing N+ good Bo!s&

In (y e>erien'e, there are three (ain reasons eo#e say ?there are no good Bo!s outthere@ %hen it isn’t true:

-7 They are using a 8#a%ed Bo!9sear'h strategy, so the Bo!s are out there, !ut they’renot 8inding the(&

57 They are !eing too i'ky or !iased& And,D7 They are dis'ouraged and.or de(ora#iCed, and %ant to take a !reak 8ro( Bo!




hunting, !ut 'an’t ad(it that to the(se#<es or others, so instead '#ai( it’s use#ess to #ook&I e>a(ine those reasons indi<idua##y in this and the 8o##o%ing 'haters& Let’s !egin

%ith ?8#a%ed strategy&@"any eo#e #ook 8or %ork ine88e'ti<e#y& As I dis'uss in =hater 5, 8or instan'e, i8

you’re o<er9re#ying on ostings on the !ig Bo! !oards, or e<en on 'o(any We!sites, that’san ine88e'ti<e strategy& "any eo#e su!(it doCens or hundreds or resu(es that %ay, %ith#itt#e resu#t and then, instead o8 uestioning their strategy, 'on'#ude that ?there are nogood Bo!s out there&@

$e#ying on ?he# %anted@ ads in #o'a# ne%saers 'an !e si(i#ar#y 8uti#e yourresu(e is #ike#y to sit, unread, in a sta'k& P#us, there’s an additiona# ro!#e(, as this arti'#eentit#ed ?The In<isi!#e o! "arket@ in The Ber"shire #agle dis'usses:

?+n#y D5O o8 the ou#ation o8 4erkshire =ounty has earned a ost se'ondary degree orhigher&&&The (ost re'ent o! *a'an'y $eort sho%s that o8 the near#y 5500 'urrent <a'ant

Bo!s, 1O reuire a ost se'ondary degree and ad<an'ed training& This (eans that (u'h o8the #o'a# ta#ent !ase does not ha<e the edu'ation #e<e# and.or training that (any e(#oyersseek& 4e'ause o8 this dis'onne't, e(#oyers are going outside the area to re'ruit& They usenationa# Bo! !oards, industry u!#i'ations or re'ruiters 3or a 'o(!ination thereo87 to 8indtheir ne% e(#oyees& o!s %ith #ess edu'ation and training reuire(ents tend to !ead<ertised #o'a##y, %hi#e those reuiring (ore edu'ation tend to not !e& So %hen a resident#ooks at the area %e!sites and '#assi8ied ads, they see on#y a art o8 the i'ture and the (ostro!ust ortion o8 the Bo! (arket is then 8air#y Xin<isi!#e&’@

This (is(at'h !et%een e(#oyer needs and the #o'a# #a!or oo# is a'tua##y retty

'o((on& The arti'#e’s author, Ty#er Fair!ank, re'o((ends that Bo! seekers in this situationget (ore edu'ation and I tota##y agree& 4ut edu'ation takes ti(e, and in the (eanti(e Isuggest you go a8ter so(e #ike#y9#ooking Bo!s e<en i8 you don’t haen to (eet e<ery sing#ereuire(ent #isted in the ad& +!<ious#y, this %on’t %ork i8 a reuire(ent is essentia#, !ut(any aren’t, and (any are (ore negotia!#e than you (ight think, as I dis'uss in the ne>t'hater&

N+TESD& htt:..%%%&nyti(es&'o(.5001.0/.D-.!usiness.e'ono(y.D-Bo!s&ht(#Us'Q-sQartO50ti(eO50e(#oy(entstQ'se& htt:..%%%&!erkshireeag#e&'o(.'iD/DK65

K& Negotia!#e and +tiona# o! ?$euire(ents@

A 'o((on, serious (istake (any Bo! sear'hers (ake is to assu(e that thereuire(ents osted in Bo! ads or Bo! des'ritions are set in stone& 4e#ie<ing that, they don’ta#y 8or Bo!s that aren’t a ?-00O 8it ,@ or a#y on#y ha#89hearted#y !e'ause they think theira#i'ation is doo(ed& Either %ay, they are se<ere#y #i(iting their otions %hi'h 'an, o8




'ourse, 'ontri!ute to the ?there are no good Bo!s out there@ (indset&As it turns out, ho%e<er, (any ?reuire(ents@ are negotia!#e or e<en entire#y

otiona#; and, i8 you #a'k the(, (any hirers %i## !e satis8ied i8 you 'an sho% eui<a#ente>erien'e or ski##s&

A 'o##ege degree is o8ten su'h an otiona# reuire(ent, 8or e>a(#e& E(#oyers ask 8orit !e'ause, in theory, it sho%s you ha<e a !readth o8 kno%#edge and 'an 8inish !ig roBe'ts& 3Isay ?in theory@ !e'ause, 3a7 %e a## kno% eo#e %hose 'o##ege (aBor %as !re%skies, and 3!7(any e(#oyers ask 8or it re8#e>i<e#y, %ithout rea##y kno%ing %hy&7 I8 you #a'k a degree,ho%e<er, you 'an a#%ays sho% ho% you o!tained eui<a#ent or e<en !etter kno%#edge ande>erien'e e#se%here say, through your %ork history or 8oreign tra<e#& For (anye(#oyers, that %i## !e Bust 8ine& In 8a't, i8 you’re a good ?8ra(er@ 3see =hater 5/7, you 'anro!a!#y e<en sho% ho% your ?rea#9%or#d@ e>erien'e !eats '#assroo( e>erien'e handsdo%n&

VVVAs I e>#ain in =hater /, the 'ore ro!#e( is o8ten not ho% hirers

see your ua#i8i'ations and 'redentia#s, !ut ho% you yourse#8 see the(& VVV Ikno% #enty o8 dyna(i', energeti' and a''o(#ished eo#e %hose #a'k o8 a 'o##ege degreehasn’t he#d the( !a'k one !it and I kno% #enty o8 others %ho are so asha(ed o8 their #a'ko8 a degree that it’s hard 8or the( to se## the(se#<es e88e'ti<e#y desite their (any othera''o(#ish(ents&

Another e>a(#e is ho% eo#e rea't to a 8iring or other 'areer ?8ai#ure&@ So(e eo#ekee it in erse'ti<e 3as dis'ussed in =hater 57 and don’t #et it de8ine the(, %hi#e otherssee it as a 8ata# !#ot& Either %ay, your erse'ti<e %i## ro!a!#y 'o#or the %ay you resent yourse#8, and the %ay hirers see you& That’s %hy, a#though it (ay not !e easy to 'hange yourerse'ti<e on su'h in'idents, you shou#d %ork hard, and seek out he#, to do so&

This kind o8 negati<ity is a se#89estee( issue, usua##y, and there’s usua##y a#so aer8e'tionist e#e(ent to it& Per8e'tionists tend to o<eresti(ate their 'ha##enges %hi#eunderesti(ating their a!i#ities to (eet those 'ha##enges: a erni'ious 'o(!ination&K Ta#k to your (entors to (ake sure you’re not doing this, and a#so re(e(!er that there is no su'hthing as a ?er8e't@ Bo! 'andidate, and that e<ery 'andidate has strong and %eak ointsre#ati<e to any gi<en Bo!& A#though s(art 'andidates do %ork hard to (itigate theirshort'o(ings !y taking '#asses, reading !ooks, doing strategi' <o#unteer %ork, et'&, they trynot to %orry too (u'h a!out those short'o(ings %hen a#ying 8or %ork& Instead, they8o'us (ore rodu'ti<e#y on ho% to resent their strengths, ski##s and e>erien'e in thestrongest ossi!#e %ay& 3That 8ra(ing thing, again&7 They a#so %ork to 'o(e u %ith e88e'ti<e?eui<a#ents@ 8or their %eak areas:

So(eone #a'king an "4A: ?I ran (y o%n !usiness 8or se<era# years and ha<e takense<era# ro8essiona# de<e#o(ent 'ourses in (anage(ent and 8inan'e&@

So(eone %hose 'urrent osition is not suer<isory: ?I ha<e suer<ised eo#e in theast, and 'urrent#y suer<ise a doCen eo#e 8or a <o#unteer 'o((unity roBe't I’( in<o#<ed%ith&@

So(eone #a'king e>erien'e in te#ehone 'usto(er suort: ?When I did retai# sa#es,%e %ere <ery !usy, !ut %ere e>e'ted to treat e<ery 'usto(er %ith great atien'e andrese't and %e a#so took a #ot o8 te#ehone orders&@




S(art 'andidates a#so don’t assu(e a Bo! reuire(ent is <ita#, or rigorous, %ithoutasking& =andidate 3ner<ous#y7: ?Ho% (u'h E>'e# e>erien'e are you #ooking 8orU@ Hirer3!#ithe#y7: ?+h, Bust so(eone %ho 'an 'reate a si(#e sreadsheet& No 'o(#e> 8or(u#as oranything&@ =andidate 3thinking, re#ie<ed7: ?Whe%@

he E(otiona# =o(onent to Hiring

=andidates %ho see Bo! reuire(ents as rigid a#so o8ten don’t understand that there’sa #arge e(otiona# 'o(onent to (ost hiring de'isions, e<en i8 those de'isions see( ure#yrationa#& As I’## dis'uss in =hater -1, i8 a hirer 8ee#s sa8e hiring you, he %i## ro!a!#y !e #essrigid a!out his reuire(ents& T%o o8 the !est %ays to e#i'it that 8ee#ing o8 sa8ety are to: 3-7ha<e so(eone he trusts re'o((end you 3hen'e, the <ita# ro#e o8 net%orking in getting a Bo!7;and 357 'on<in'e hi( that you rea##y, rea##y %ant the arti'u#ar Bo! in uestion& "any eo#e%ho transition to ne% 8ie#ds do this: they o8ten #a'k (any o8 the 'redentia#s and e>erien'e

that so(eone a#ready in that 8ie#d has, !ut (ore than (ake u 8or it %ith theirre'o((endations and enthusias( and so hirers are in'#ined to gi<e the( !ene8it o8 thedou!t&

Sure, (any reuire(ents are non9negotia!#e, and 8or good reason: you don’t %ant anunua#i8ied do'tor or engineer, 8or instan'e& And, o8 'ourse, so(e e(#oyers are (ore?sti'k#ers@ than others& 4ut a good ru#e o8 thu(! is that i8 there’s a Bo! you rea##y %ant, youshou#d go 8or it e<en i8 you’re not a -00O 8it, un#ess you kno% 8or a 8a't that a reuire(ent isa'tua##y reuired& +8 'ourse, you ha<e to do a 8a!u#ous Bo! %ith your a#i'ation: i8 you don’t,then that 'o(!ined %ith your %eak areas %i## (ean that there’s #itt#e reason a hirer shou#d'onsider you&

Note:K& For (ore on er8e'tionis(, negati<ity, and other 8ear9!ased antirodu'ti<e ha!its,do%n#oad (y 8ree e!ook The Little Guide To Beating Procrastination, Perfectionis, !ears andBloc"s at %%%&hi##aryrettig&'o(&

6& +n Pi'kiness and 4iases

I8 there’s on#y one sa#ary, Bo! tit#e, tye o8 organiCation, !ene8its a'kage, #o'ation,'o((ute, o88i'e setu, et'&, that %i## (ake you hay, the ro!#e( (ay not !e that ?thereare no good Bo!s out there,@ !ut that you are !eing too i'ky& That’s a !ad idea in any Bo!(arket, !ut arti'u#ar#y a %eak one& You need to 'hoose the t%o or three 'riteria that are(ost i(ortant, and re#a> as (u'h as ossi!#e on a## the others&

PrioritiCing 'an !e di88i'u#t, so it’s he#8u# to e>a(ine the thoughts and 8ee#ingsunder#ying your 'hoi'es& Jo you need a 'ertain tit#e or sa#ary !e'ause you rea##y need it, or!e'ause you %ou#d 8ee# #ike a 8ai#ure %ithout it, or !e'ause so(eone e#se %i## !e disaointedi8 you don’t get it, or 8or another reasonU +8ten, Bust 'hara'teriCing a need is enough tode8use it: ?I %ant (y o%n o88i'e !e'ause I had one in (y #ast Bo!, and !e'ause it see(s right




8or so(eone at (y 'areer stage& And, o8 'ourse, the ri<a'y is great& 4ut sti##, I guess it’s notas i(ortant as a good sa#ary and !ene8its a'kage, and a short 'o((ute&@

no% thyse#8, So'rates said, and that’s arti'u#ar#y good ad<i'e 8or Bo! sear'hers& 4ykno%ing yourse#8, you 'reate otions 3see =hater 17, (ake !etter 'hoi'es, and 'an a'hie<e

the !est ossi!#e out'o(e e<en 8ro( a di88i'u#t situation&Ask yourse#8 %hether you are !iased against 'ertain tyes o8 e(#oyers& "any eo#e

%ho ha<e %orked in !ig 'o(anies are o8ten !iased against s(a##er ones and <i'e <ersaAnd (any %ho ha<e !ui#t 'areers in go<ern(ent, !usiness or the nonro8it se'tor are !iasedagainst the other t%o se'tors& You 'ou#d, in 8a't, ha<e a er8e't#y good reason 8or your !ias,!ut i8 your reasons aren’t so#id, then it %ou#d !e !etter to kee an oen (ind& +ne thing thata#(ost a#%ays he#s is in8or(ation: there’s an enor(ous di<ersity in (ost 8ie#ds orindustries, and so i8 one tye o8 Bo! or e(#oyer doesn’t suit you, there 'ou#d %e## !e anotherthat does&

I sa% su'h an e>a(#e o8 !ias in a '#ient %ith a !a'kground in ad<ertising& A8ter

ha<ing !een une(#oyed 8or a #ong ti(e, she %as 8ina##y o88ered a good Bo! in her 8ie#d !utthe 'at'h, 8ro( her standoint, %as that it %as %ith the 8edera# go<ern(ent& She had a <erynegati<e !ias against go<ern(ent %ork that a#(ost ket her 8ro( taking the Bo!, !ut she didtake it and it %orked out (u'h !etter than she had anti'iated&

A#so think a!out %hether you are !iased against yourse#8 or, to ut it another %ay,%hether you (ay !e underesti(ating your hirea!i#ity& I dis'uss this 'o((on ro!#e( at#ength in =hater M, !ut #et (e Bust say no% that i8 there’s a Bo! you’d #ike !ut don’t think you’re ua#i8ied 8or, reread the re<ious 'hater on negotia!#e ?reuire(ents@ and then askso(eone kno%#edgea!#e i8 you rea##y are underua#i8ied or Bust go out and a#y& +8ten, %eunderesti(ate our %orth on the Bo! (arket, or our hirea!i#ity in a ne% 8ie#d& $e'ent#y, 8or

instan'e, I %orked %ith a sa#eserson %hose 'areer se##ing e>ensi<e Be%e#ry 8a#tered a8terM.--& She %anted to start a ne% 'areer in the nonro8it %or#d, !ut thought her e>erien'e%asn’t trans8era!#e& In 8a't, her sa#es !a'kground and e>ertise se##ing to the a88#uent (adeher an idea# 'andidate 8or a de<e#o(ent Bo! 3i&e&, raising (oney7, %hi'h is one o8 the !estnonro8it 8ie#ds o8 a##&

T%o 'o((on !iases against se#8 are, !y the %ay:3-7 Thinking the 'o(etition are a## !etter than you, so that you don’t stand a 'han'e&

The rea#ity, as I dis'uss in =hater -, is that the 'o(etition are o8ten (u'h %eaker than you rea#iCe& And,

357 Thinking you’re !etter than a## the 'o(etition& Peo#e o8ten think this !e'ausethey o<er<a#ue one ski## 3say, a te'hni'a# ski## #ike rogra((ing7 and under<a#ue others 3say,tea(%ork or 'o((uni'ations7& This !ias is dangerous !e'ause it 'an #ead to arrogan'e ands#oiness %hen a#ying, as dis'ussed in =hater 5K&

When Bo! hunting, you %ant as '#ear and o!Be'ti<e a <ision o8 yourse#8, your'o(etition, and the Bo! (arket as ossi!#e& That’s not a#%ays easy to attain, %hi'h is a keyreason you shou#d %ork hard to e>a(ine your riorities and !iases, and a#so seek 8eed!a'k8ro( others&

I kno%, I kno%: a## this rioritiCation and se#89ana#ysis sounds #ike a #ot o8 %ork anddon’t you ha<e enough to do a#readyU 4ut it’s <ita# %ork, !e'ause, VVVin (any 'ases o8




#ong9ter( une(#oy(ent I ’<e seen, the erson %as !eing t oo i'ky, !iased ornarro%#y 8o'used&VVV +8 'ourse, they VthoughtV they %ere !eing 8#e>i!#e and, erhasre9re'ession they %ou#d ha<e !een 8#e>i!#e enough& 4ut these days you ha<e to !e e>tra98#e>i!#e&

P#ease note that, in ad<ising you to !roaden the range o8 ositions you 'onsidera''eta!#e, I a( N+T te##ing you to sett#e 8or a !ad Bo!& I %ou#d ne<er say that, art#y !e'auseit’s horri!#e to send eight hours a day in a !ad situation, !ut a#so !e'ause it’s not a goodstrategy, sin'e it’s hard to su''eed in those 'ir'u(stan'es& +ur goa# is not to get you a Bo!,any Bo!, !ut to get you a Bo! you 'an !e reasona!#y hay at, su''eed at, and use to he# !ui#da strong and 8u#8i##ing 'areer&

VVV he !otto( #ine is that, in a tight Bo! (arket, you (ight ha<e to 'astyour net a #itt#e %ider t han you %ou#d ordinari#y, #ook 8or %ork a #itt#e (ore'reati<e#y than you %ou#d ordinari#y, and ?ush@ a #itt #e harder 8or a Bo! thanyou %ou#d ordinari#y oh, and take a 8e% (ore risks& hat a## (ay not add u

to your idea# situation, !ut it’s a 8ar 'ry 8ro(, and a 8ar !etter situation than,?there are no good Bo!s out there&@VVV

/& +n Fear, Pro'rastination and Not Getting Stu'k

Peo#e ro'rastinate, usua##y, !e'ause they’re a8raid o8 the 'onseuen'es o8 (o<ing8or%ard& So(eone (ight !e deserate to get a ne% Bo!, !ut i8 she is (ore deserate to a<oidreBe'tion, or %inding u in a !ad Bo!, then she (ay ro'rastinate to a<oid those out'o(es&"ore se'i8i'a##y, so(eone 'ou#d tru#y !e#ie<e that ?there are no good Bo!s out there,@ or she

'ou#d !e te##ing herse#8 that to e>'use herse#8 8ro( #ooking and 8a'ing the %orse out'o(e&Peo#e tend to ro'rastinate in three %ays:-7 Es'aist a'ti<ities su'h as (ind#ess te#e<ision, We! sur8ing, shoing or <ideo

ga(es&57 Good %orks 8or 8a(i#y, 8riends or the 'o((unity& I a( not against good %orks 4ut

you ha<e to set a #i(it on it and (ake sure it doesn’t inter8ere %ith your other i(ortantgoa#s, in'#uding 8inding %ork& See =hater -5 8or (ore on this toi'& And, 8ina##y,

D7 A'ti<ities that see( #ike rodu'ti<e %ork, !ut aren’t& This is the sneakiest and (ostinsidious 8or( o8 ro'rastination !e'ause o8ten %e’re not e<en a%are that %e’rero'rastinating& It’s e>e(#i8ied !y the (any eo#e trying to %rite a !ook or thesis %ho doend#ess resear'h !ut ne<er get around to a'tua##y %riting; or the (any eo#e %ho'o(u#si<e#y house'#ean instead o8 using their ti(e to ursue goa#s they ho#d (eaning8u#,su'h as re#ationshis, art, a'ti<is( or ro8essiona# su''ess& 3See the !#og at%%%&hi##aryrettig&'o( 8or an arti'#e on ho% to (ini(iCe house%ork %ithout #i<ing #ike as#o!&7

In a Bo! sear'h, this 8or( o8 ro'rastination o8ten entai#s su!(itting end#ess resu(eson#ine, !ut ne<er getting around to the (u'h (ore e88e'ti<e ta'ti' o8 net%orking& +r, it 'ou#dre<ent you 8ro( 'onsu#ting e>erts or others %ho 'ou#d te## you ho% to i(ro<e yourstrategy: you Bust stu!!orn#y, and ine88e'tua##y, kee #ugging a#ong&




Jon’t !e asha(ed o8 your ro'rastination ro!#e(, and don’t !e a8raid to ta'k#e it,either: ro'rastination is not a 'hara'ter 8#a% or (ora# short'o(ing, !ut (ere#y a !ad ha!itand understanda!#e resonse to 8ear& A #itt#e ro'rastination 'an !e okay, i8 it he#s you getthrough a !ad day& A #ot o8 ro'rastination, ho%e<er, %i## e<entua##y #ea<e you unhay and

!itter at #ost ossi!i#ities& 4etter to ta'k#e your 8ears, i8 on#y a #itt#e at a ti(e&For (ore in8or(ation on ro'rastination and ho% to o<er'o(e it, 'he'k out Aendi>

III o8 this e!ook, and a#so (y +THE$ 8ree e!ook The Little Guide To Beating Procrastination,Perfectionis, !ears and Bloc"s at %%%&hi##aryrettig&'o( &

1& When You Jon’t Like Your +tions

Peo#e a#so o8ten ro'rastinate %hen they’re not hay %ith their er'ei<ed otions&So(eone %ho rea##y %ants a arti'u#ar tye o8 Bo! !ut doesn’t think he 'an get it, 8or

instan'e, (ight ro'rastinate on #ooking 8or any ne% Bo!&I’( ta#king a!out so(ething di88erent, here, than the i'kiness ro!#e( dis'ussed in=hater 6& The ro!#e( there %as ha<ing too #ong a #ist o8 reuire(ents; here, it’s ha<ing'ontradi'tory reuire(ents, or a 'on8#i't !et%een your %ork reuire(ents and other areaso8 your #i8e& So(e e>a(#es:

VSo(eone %ho %ants a high9aying Bo! that’s a#so easy and #o% stress& 3A rare'o(!ination&7

VSo(eone %ho %ants to get aid to do his assion 8or instan'e, art or a'ti<is( !utis un%i##ing to 'o(ro(ise on the Bo!’s #o'ation 3aid Bo!s in these 8ie#ds tend to !e 8e% and8ar !et%een7 or other 8a'tors 3e&g&, sa#ary7&

VSo(eone %ho %ants to #i<e in a 'ertain region erhas !e'ause she gre% u there,has 8a(i#y there, or 8ee#s another dee 'onne'tion to it !ut doesn’t think she 'an 8ind %orkthere&

VSo(eone %ho %ants to send a #ot o8 ti(e %ith his 'hi#dren, or on another i(ortantriority, !ut needs to %ork 8u##9ti(e&

The (ain things to do, in su'h situations, are:-7 ourna# around your thoughts and 8ee#ings to get as '#ear a <ie% as ossi!#e o8 the(&

"any eo#e aren’t 8u##y a%are they ha<e a 'on8#i't, and so it Bust stays in the !a'k o8 theirthoughts, (uddying e<erything and 'ausing 8ear and ro'rastination& "aking your 'on8#i'te>#i'it (ay, ho%e<er, !e a## it takes 8or you to rioritiCe and get (o<ing again&

57 Ta#k %ith 8riends, (entors or others& This is i(ortant !e'ause it’s hard to seeourse#<es o!Be'ti<e#y, arti'u#ar#y %hen under stress& As I dis'uss in =hater --, the !estro!#e(9so#<ing is done in 'o((unity&

D7 =onsu#t 'oa'hes or other e>erts to (ake sure you’re rea##y seeing a## your otions&Your 8riends 'an he# you understand yourse#8, !ut un#ess they are %e## in8or(ed and sa<<ya!out the Bo! (arket and 'areer strategy, they 'an’t gi<e you the !est strategi' ad<i'e&

A## o8 this ad<i'e is arti'u#ar#y i(ortant i8 you’<e (ain#y he#d one kind o8 Bo!, or%orked 8or one e(#oyer& In that 'ase, you (ight ha<e a kind o8 ?tunne# <ision,@ and rea##yneed to 'onsu#t eo#e outside your 8ie#d& $e(e(!er: in8or(ation 8reuent#y #eads to







e(#oy(ent&7 Go 8or it E<en i8 none o8 the 'urrent#y a<ai#a!#e Bo!s is your drea( Bo!, don’t %ait

around 8or one o8 those drea( Bo!s to oen u: instead, go ahead and a#y 8or %hi'he<er o8the a<ai#a!#e Bo!s !est (eet your needs& Waiting around 8or a drea( Bo! is o8ten a 8or( o8

ro'rastination, !ut i8 you 8o'us on doing %e## at %hate<er Bo! you’re doing, and !ui#ding agood 'areer o<er the #ong ter(, the drea( Bo!s o8ten 'o(e to you and ui'ker than you(ight i(agine&

K7 Work to 'reate (ore otions 8or yourse#8 8or the 8uture& I8 you %ant to send (oreti(e at ho(e %ith your kids, 8or instan'e, start resear'hing 8a(i#y98riend#y 'o(anies andstart !ui#ding your 'redentia#s and net%ork so you 'an get hired !y one o8 the( as soon asossi!#e& And i8 you %ant to (o<e to a di88erent region, start (aking #ans 8or that&

VVVWhene<er you think you ha<e no otions, or on#y one or t%o !adones, in your Bo! sear'h or e#se%here, you’re ro!a!#y %rong&VVV Fear tends to'ause us to see things in !#a'k9and9%hite, a##9or9nothing ter(s, !ut 8e% situations in #i8e are

rea##y that %ay& "ost o8 the ti(e, the situation has shades o8 gray, and the !est out'o(es 'anusua##y !e 8ound in that gray area&So, the erson %ho %ants to send (ore ti(e at ho(e %ith his kids, or #i<e in a

'ertain region o8 the 'ountry, (ight 8ind that te#e'o((uting, 8#e>9ti(e or Bo!9sharing he#shi( a'hie<e at #east art o8 that goa#& I8 so(eone e#se 'a(e to hi( %ith that ro!#e(, he’d nodou!t 'o(e u %ith those so#utions in a sna& 4ut %e tyi'a##y ha<e a greater #e<e# o8 8ear%hen 8a'ing our o%n ro!#e(s, and that 8ear i(edes our ro!#e( so#<ing&

Ho% to =hange Fie#ds

Perhas the (ost 8rightening ?!ad otion@ situation is %hen you are e(#oyed in ade'#ining 8ie#d or industry& Then you 8a'e the 'hoi'e o8 either staying and %at'hing your Bo!rose'ts d%ind#e, or taking the di88i'u#t and s'ary ste o8 (o<ing to a ne% 8ie#d& Thatde'ision 'an !e arti'u#ar#y tough i8 you’<e !een in your 'urrent 8ie#d a #ong ti(e, and.orha<e a #arge in<est(ent in edu'ation or too#s& 4ut staying 'ou#d u#ti(ate#y #ead to a deadend& 3=han'es are it %i##, or you %ou#dn’t serious#y !e 'onsidering #ea<ing&7

Whi#e transitioning is di88i'u#t, it is usua##y not as di88i'u#t as eo#e i(agine it %i## !e,and near#y e<ery transitioner, in (y e>erien'e, e<entua##y %inds u !eing <ery hay he orshe (ade the 'hange& 4ut no one rea##y kno%s %hether that %i## !e their out'o(e and it’shard to en<ision, in any 'ase so it’s hard to o<er'o(e the 8ear and get started&

The keys to su''ess8u##y 'hanging 8ie#ds are to: 3-7 resist the 3understanda!#e7 urge toro'rastinate, and 357 ha<e #oads o8 suort and (entors& A#so, re'ogniCe that (ost eo#e,these days, %i## !e 'a##ed on to transition at so(e oint in their 'areers& This isn’t ourgranddad’s Bo! (arket, %here you 'ou#d get a Bo! at I4", odak or another !ig 'ororationand !e set 8or #i8e&

The good ne%s is that, %hereas a 'ou#e o8 generations ago s%it'hing 8ie#ds %as'onsidered %eird, no%adays it’s nor(a# and e<en hi& 3The )ew Yor" Ties re'ent#y reortedthat, ?(ore than 8i<e (i##ion A(eri'ans %ho are to /0 are a#ready engaged in a stage o8%ork a8ter their 8irst 'areers that has a so'ia# i(a't, (ain#y in edu'ation, hea#th 'are,




go<ern(ent and other nonro8it organiCations&@67 You (ay e<en 8ind that your ski##s ande>erien'e are (ore <a#ued in your ne% 8ie#d than they %ere in the o#d one& In 8a't, (anyeo#e dis'o<er that starting a se'ond or third 'areer is not Bust 8as'inating and re%arding,!ut reBu<enating e<en i8 they initia##y %ent into that ne% 'areer re#u'tant#y& 3That in'#udes

(e, !y the %ay&7 It (akes sense, a8ter a##, that (o<ing 8ro( a de'#ining industry 8i##ed %ith8rightened eo#e, to a gro%ing one 8i##ed %ith (ore se'ure and oti(isti' ones, %i## i(ro<e your out#ook, ese'ia##y i8 your ne% 'o##eagues are'iate you (ore than your o#d ones did&

N+TE6& htt:..%%%&nyti(es&'o(.5001.-5.-D.!usiness.-Dne>t&ht(#Ue(Qage%antedQa##

M& Yes, You’re E(#oya!#e

Another 8or( o8 essi(is( I 8reuent#y en'ounter is the idea that (any Bo! seekersha<e that, due to so(e ga or %eakness in their !a'kground or ski##s, no e(#oyer %i## e<erhire the(&

Peo#e %ho think they’re une(#oya!#e are a#(ost a#%ays %rong& I say ?a#(ost@!e'ause there are de8inite#y eo#e out there %ho 8a'e serious dis'ri(ination& "ost eo#eare not in that situation, ho%e<er, and so %e’re !a'k to that se#89estee(.er8e'tionis(ro!#e( I dis'ussed in =hater K& Part II %i## tea'h you si(#e things you 'an do that shou#dsigni8i'ant#y !oost your odds o8 getting hired and not on#y SH+2LJ you do those things, you "2ST do the(& I8 you don’t, then the reason you’re not getting o88ers is ro!a!#y notthat you’re une(#oya!#e or !eing dis'ri(inated against, !ut that you are s're%ing u the

sear'h and a#i'ation ro'ess&There are se<era# se'i8i' grous o8 a#i'ants %ho are rone to 8ee#ing unhirea!#e,in'#uding: Artists %ho are !roke or !urned out and need to get a ?(ainstrea(@ Bo!&

A'ti<ists in the sa(e situation&Anyone s%it'hing industries or Bo!s, in'#uding <eterans trying to transition into

'i<i#ian Bo!s; go<ern(ent %orkers trying to transition into the ri<ate se'tor 3or <i'e <ersa7;'ororate %orkers seeking nonro8it %ork 3or <i'e <ersa7; and eo#e 8ro( do%nsiCedindustries seeking to (ake a 8resh start&

Entrereneurs %hose !usinesses ha<e ?8ai#ed@/ and no% need to get a Bo!&Ho(e(akers reentering the %ork8or'e, and others %ith gas in their ro8essiona#

history&Peo#e %ith one or t%o %eaknesses 8or instan'e, so(eone %ho doesn’t seak or

%rite er8e't Eng#ish, or %ho doesn’t kno% ho% to use a ou#ar so8t%are rogra(&Peo#e %hose re'ent Bo! e>erien'es under(ined their se#89estee( and se#89

'on8iden'e, as dis'ussed in =hater 5&"ost o8 these eo#e’s 'on'erns 'an !e tra'ed to either: 3-7 the er8e'tionist

(is'on'etion that ha<ing one or t%o %eak e#e(ents in your !a'kground, ski##s ore>erien'e %i## doo( your a#i'ation; and 357 an ina!i#ity or un%i##ingness to i'ture




onese#8 in a ne% #ine o8 %ork&The ?one negati<e thing doo(s (y a#i'ation@ (istake o8ten haens %hen you

'o(are yourse#8 to an i##usory idea# 'andidate %ith no %eaknesses or gas in her resu(e& Inrea# #i8e, ho%e<er, no su'h 'andidate e>ists& As dis'ussed in =hater K, the roer resonse to

one’s %eaknesses is not to gi<e u hoe, !ut to 8ra(e your e>erien'e and ski##s so that you’re the strongest ossi!#e 'andidate, and so that your strengths 'o(ensate 8or or,!etter yet, render (eaning#ess your %eaknesses& See =hater 5/ 8or (ore on 8ra(ing&

The ?ina!i#ity to <isua#iCe onese#8 in a ne% tye o8 %ork@ ro!#e( isn’t a short'o(ingso (u'h as a 'o((on hu(an trait& So(e eo#e are Bust natura##y !etter <isua#iCers thanothers, and (ost o8 us aren’t <ery good at it, ese'ia##y %hen %e’re s'ared and.oro<er%he#(ed& The tri'k to o<er'o(ing this ro!#e( is to sto seeing yourse#8 as a ro#e 3an?artist,@ ?entrereneur,@ or ?reentering ho(e(aker@7, and start seeing yourse#8 as a'o##e'tion o8 ta#ents, ski##s and e>erien'es that 'an !e 8#e>i!#y de#oyed in (any %orksituations& Then, you shou#d %ork %ith a rea##y shar 'oa'h, (entor or 'o##eague to (at'h

your ski##s and e>erien'e against the 'urrent Bo! (arket and 8igure out %hi'h Bo!s to a#y8or& 3Then you need to 8ra(e&7It’s i(ortant to do this %ork %ith another erson !e'ause (ost o8 us ha<e trou!#e

<ie%ing ourse#<es o!Be'ti<e#y, and tend, in 8a't, to de<a#ue ourse#<es and oura''o(#ish(ents&

As it haens, (any hirers <a#ue the kinds o8 'andidates (entioned a!o<e:They <a#ue entrereneurs 3in'#uding ro8essiona# artists7 8or their (arket sa<<y,

oerations sa<<y, 'usto(er re#ations ski##s, 'reati<ity, and a!i#ities to (anage, ro!#e(9so#<eand take risks&

They <a#ue <eterans 8or their dis'i#ine and #eadershi&

They <a#ue a'ti<ists and 'o((unity organiCers 8or their kno%#edge o8 the #o'a#'o((unity, organiCationa# ski##s, (anageria# ski##s, and 'o((uni'ations ski##s&VVV he 'ore ro!#e(, as stated in =hater K, is o8ten not ho% hirers see

your ua#i8i'ations and 'redentia#s, !ut ho% Y+2 see t he(&VVV I8 you start 8ro(the standoint that you’re de8i'ient, it’s going to !e hard to 'on<in'e an e(#oyer other%ise&4ut i8 you start 8ro( the standoint that your ski##s and e>erien'e are <a#ua!#e, then you’regoing to !e (u'h (ore #ike#y to 'on<in'e an e(#oyer o8 the sa(e&

+8 'ourse, you shou#d do %hat you 'an to !o#ster your 'redentia#s and 8i## in the gasin your e>erien'e and ski##s& 3A (eaning8u# <o#unteer gig in your ne% 8ie#d 'an %ork%onders&7 And, o8 'ourse, there %i## ro!a!#y a#%ays !e 'andidates out there %ho areo!Be'ti<e#y (ore ua#i8ied than you& 4ut, as I dis'uss in Part II, there are o%er8u#, re#ati<e#yeasy te'hniues you 'an use to 'o(ete against e<en (ore ua#i8ied a#i'ants&

And 8ra(e, !a!y, 8ra(e&

N+TE/& I ut the %ord ?8ai#ed@ in uotes !e'ause there’s rare#y su'h a thing as a tota# 8ai#ure& Thisis yet another toi' I dis'uss in (y 'o(anion e!ook, The Little Guide To BeatingProcrastination, Perfectionis, !ears and Bloc"s, do%n#oada!#e at %%%&hi##aryrettig&'o(&




-0& In<est in La<ish Se#89=are

Looking 8or %ork is not 8or the 8aint9hearted& You’<e got to stay strong, 8o'used and

resi#ient in a ro'ess that is ra'ti'a##y designed to under(ine you& So it’s not si(#y 8ee#9good ad<i'e to te## you to take 'are o8 yourse#8: it is <ery rag(ati' ad<i'e&

So, eat %e## and (ake sure you get #enty o8 s#ee& E>er'ise, and a#so take ti(e 8orre'reation& Try to re#a> in %ays that engage and 8u#8i## you as oosed to, say, es'aistte#e<ision that u#ti(ate#y %inds u !oring or deressing you& Find heroes 3ersona#,'onte(orary, histori'a#, and e<en 8i'tiona#7 %hose 'ourage in the 8a'e o8 ad<ersity insiresand strengthens you, and send ti(e ondering their e>a(#e&

$esist any te(tation you (ight ha<e to think, ?I don’t deser<e #eisure or se#89'are!e'ause I’( une(#oyed&@ That’s an irrationa#, not to (ention inhu(ane, <ie%oint& Andany ti(e you’<e !een reBe'ted, or 8ee# #ike you’<e !een di(inished !y the ro'ess, take ui'k

stes to !o#ster your ego and se#89'on8iden'e& See Aendi> I 8or so(e ideas&Gi<e yourse#8 treats #a<ish ones, i8 ossi!#e& "oney is ro!a!#y tight, right no%, !uttry not to e#i(inate a## #easures& And you 'an a#%ays treat yourse#8 #a<ish#y in 8ree or 'hea%ays, #ike sitting %ith a 8ragrant 'u o8 tea, or #istening to so(e ni'e (usi', or going on a 8un%a#k %ith your kids or dogs&

It is <ery easy, %hi#e Bo! sear'hing, to des'end into a sha(e sira# %here you 8ee# !ad,sto taking 'are o8 yourse#8, and then 8ee# %orse&&&and it kees going& It (ay !e too (u'h toask 8or a re<erse ?ride sira#,@ !ut it is uite ossi!#e to at #east kee things on a re#ati<e#ye<en kee#& When you do so(ething ni'e 8or yourse#8 a8ter you’<e !een reBe'ted or ignored, itsends a o%er8u# (essage to your su!'ons'ious that, ?This reBe'tion haened to (e, !ut it

doesn’t di(inish (e as a erson, or (ake (e any #ess %orthy o8 #o<e and rese't&@It’s a (essage (ost o8 us 'an’t hear o8ten enough, in or out o8 %ork&

--& 4ui#d a Suorti<e =o((unity

"any o8 us tend to iso#ate ourse#<es %hen %e ha<e a ro!#e(, !ut that’s e>a't#y the%rong aroa'h, sin'e (ost ro!#e(s are !est so#<ed in 'o((unity& ust as it takes a <i##ageto raise a 'hi#d, it takes one to he# you 8ind a ne% Bo!& In 8a't, the (ore he# you en#ist 8orthis di88i'u#t roBe't, the 8aster you’## ro!a!#y su''eed&

Your suorti<e ?<i##age@ shou#d in'#ude:VPro8essiona#s, in'#uding not Bust Bo! 'oa'hes, headhunters and resu(e %riters, !ut

theraists, do'tors, nutritionists and others as needed&V"entors %ho 'an ad<ise you on di88erent ase'ts o8 your 'areer and sear'h&

Pre8era!#y #ots o8 the(& So(e (entors are strategi' (entors %ho are in your 8ie#d and 'angi<e ad<i'e regarding the oortunities that are out there and ho% to get the(& These(entors a#so o8ten ha<e 'onne'tions, %hi'h 'an a'tua##y !e (ore i(ortant than thein8or(ation itse#8& 3So(e (entors 'an get you a Bo! %ith a sing#e hone 'a##&7

There are a#so ta'ti'a# (entors %ho 'an ad<ise you on so(e e#e(ent o8 the ro'ess:




resu(e %riting, inter<ie%ing, %hat to %ear to inter<ie%s, ho% to use the Internet, et'&Aendi> II te##s you ho% to 8ind and kee (entors&VYou a#so %ant at #east one Bo!9sear'h ?!uddy@ an understanding erson %ho( you

'an 'a## u %hen you’re ha<ing a !ad 3or good7 day, and Bust ta#k& +8ten, it’s another

une(#oyed erson you ser<e as !uddies 8or ea'h other and, o8 'ourse, you 'an ha<e(ore than one&

A !uddy shou#d !e a thought8u#, honest and oti(isti' erson %ho %i## #isten atient#yto your thoughts, ideas and 8ee#ings, and o88er not Bust 8riendshi and e(athy, !ut'onstru'ti<e and 'o(assionate 8eed!a'k& In other %ords, he shou#d !e neither a harsh Budgenor an ena!#er %ho %i## agree %ith a## your darkest thoughts a!out ho% the %or#d su'ks andthe odds are sta'ked against you& The !est !uddies are oti(isti' rea#ists&

So(eti(es a (entor 'an !e a !uddy, !ut !e 'are8u# a!out (i>ing those ro#es& "any(entors don’t see it as their ro#e to suort you e(otiona##y, and (ay 8ee# un'o(8orta!#e%ith !eing asked to do so& That doesn’t (ean you shou#d deny your 8ee#ings or retend that

e<erything is hunky9dory; it Bust (eans you shou#d kee the 'on<ersation 8o'used on getting%ork, rather than on ho% (isera!#e une(#oy(ent is (aking you 8ee#&You 'an use a 8a(i#y (e(!er as a !uddy, !ut sin'e one o8 things you %i## ro!a!#y

need suort around is the i(a't o8 your une(#oy(ent on your 8a(i#y, it’s a good idea toha<e so(e non98a(i#y (e(!ers as !uddies as %e##&

4uddies 'an a#so ser<e as do'u(ent roo8readers and inter<ie% rehearsa# artners,key suort ro#es&

VNet%orking 'onta'ts& As I’## dis'uss in =hater 5, (ost e>erts !e#ie<e thatnet%orking is key to getting a Bo!& +ne o8 your (ost i(ortant tasks %i## there8ore !e to!ui#d as !ig a net%ork as ossi!#e, and use it e88e'ti<e#y& Ho% !igU NaZ<e or unsu''ess8u#

'andidates 8reuent#y think they’re net%orking #ike (ad %hen they’<e 'onta'ted a doCeneo#e& Su''ess8u# 'andidates, in 'ontrast, o8ten 'onta't doCens or e<en hundreds o8 eo#e&A#though that’s a #ot o8 %ork and hard %ork, too, arti'u#ar#y i8 you’re an intro<ert it’s a(u'h !etter use o8 your ti(e than sending out hundreds o8 ?'o#d@ resu(es to strangers,arti'u#ar#y i8 you 'o(!ine it %ith an e88e'ti<e strategy #ike the one I o88er in Part II&

+ne tri'k su''ess8u# 'andidates use, o8 'ourse, is that they don’t %ait unti# they’reune(#oyed to net%ork, !ut net%ork 'onstant#y, as art o8 their dai#y routine, e<en %hi#ethey’re hai#y e(#oyed& There’s #ots o8 !ene8its to that aroa'h, in'#uding that it’sre#ati<e#y #o% stress; you #earn a!out oortunities ear#y on; and that you’re sa<ed 8ro(ha<ing to a#y ?'o#d,@ %ithout a ersona# 'onta't& 3See =hater 5D 8or (ore on thei(ortan'e o8 that kind o8 seed and roa'ti<ity&7

$egarding the 'orre't use o8 net%orks, the e>a(#e I 'ited in =hater D is %orthreeating:

?XI understand you’re sorry, so a( I, !ut that doesn’t do (e any good,’ "r& Ad#er, %ho startsaying 'o##ege tuition this 8a##, is te##ing those o88ering 'ondo#en'es& XI8 you rea##y %ant tohe#, te## (e %hat you think I do %e##, %ho you kno%, and %here you think (y ski##s 8it !est&And they %ere grate8u# 8or !eing gi<en that otion and I %as g#ad I 'ou#d redire't the natureo8 the 'on<ersation retty (u'h on a di(e&’@




Note the se'i8i'ity o8 Ad#er’s instru'tions& Peo#e o8ten rea##y %ant to he# you, !utdon’t kno% ho%: i8 you te## the( re'ise#y %hat you need, you’## o8ten get a (u'h !etterresu#t&

You 'an a#so Boin net%orking grous, !oth on#ine and in the ?rea# %or#d&@ ustre(e(!er not to o<er9re#y on the on#ine stu88: you’<e got to get out and a'tua##y (eeteo#e, and 3(ore i(ortant#y7 #et the( (eet you& A#so, try to a<oid a key (istake (anyune(#oyed eo#e (ake: sending too (u'h ti(e around other une(#oyed eo#e& The%ay to 8ind a Bo! is to net%ork %ith e(#oyed eo#e&

When net%orking, re(e(!er that eo#e are (ore %i##ing and a!#e to he# i8 they 'aneasi#y <isua#iCe you in the ro#e to %hi'h you asire& So, dress aroriate#y, ha<e your 5(inute ?e#e<ator see'h@ and other dia#og %e## rehearsed, and ha<e 'oies o8 your !usiness'ard and resu(e a<ai#a!#e to hand out& 4e ro8essiona# and reared, in other %ords&

-5& =reate i(e

It’s a 8u##9ti(e Bo! to 8ind %ork&+kay, that’s a '#i'h[& 4ut it a#so haens to !e true& Are you on !oard %ith thatU And,

Bust as i(ortant#y, are your 8a(i#y and 8riendsUIt (eans that you shou#d !e sending around 0 hours a %eek #ooking 8or %ork& And

that (eans you ro!a!#y shou#dn’t !e doing any (ore house%ork, 'hores or 8a<ors than youdid %hen you %ere e(#oyed idea##y, in 8a't, you shou#d !e doing #ess, sin'e #ooking 8or%ork is usua##y harder and (ore stress8u# than ho#ding do%n a Bo!, and so you need (ore

re'ueration ti(e&+8ten, it doesn’t %ork that %ay, though& Peo#e see that you’re une(#oyed andassu(e you’re 8ree 8or e>tra 'hi#d'are, househo#d 'hores and e<en <o#unteer %ork& And, #et’s8a'e it: it’s te(ting to do those things, Bust to he# eo#e out and 8ee# rodu'ti<e and kee your (ind o88 your trou!#es& 4ut you need to !e 'are8u# not to #et rando( a'ti<ities e<enkind ones distra't you 8ro( your (ission, or de#ete your energies so that you 'an’t do ite88e'ti<e#y&

I don’t %ant you to ski( on your se#89'are, either& I’d #ike to see a (ini(u( o8 anhour a day o8 ?(e@ ti(e and re'reation, and t%o hours is !etter& In 8a't, i8 you on#y ha<e 0hours tota# to send on !oth #ooking 8or %ork and se#89'are, I’d rather see D0 #ooking and -0se#89'are than 0 #ooking and 0 se#89'are& As dis'ussed in =hater -0, se#89'are strengthensand suorts you so that you 'an get (ore done in the D0 hours: it’s a good in<est(ent&

The !est %ay to (anage your ti(e is to 'reate a %eek#y s'hedu#e in %hi'h #ooking 8or%ork and se#89'are are the 'enterie'e o8 your days the %ay %orking %i## !e on'e you’ree(#oyed again& I8 ossi!#e, share that s'hedu#e %ith your 8a(i#y and 8riends, and ask 8ortheir suort and 'ooeration in sti'king to it& Too o8ten, %e (ake the (istake o8 assu(ingno one %i## he# us that essi(is( thing, again %hen the rea#ity is that our #o<ed ones%ou#d #o<e to he# us, !ut don’t kno% ho%& Te## the( ho% and a#so te## the( %hy, so thatthey understand the 'onte>t !ehind your needs and reuests& That %i## he# the( 8ee# (ore




in<o#<ed and 'o((itted, and they (ay a#so ha<e so(e use8u# 8eed!a'k&+8 'ourse, there’s a#%ays the 'han'e that your 8a(i#y and 8riends %on’t !e suorti<e&

That’s a !itter i##, !ut in that 'ase, it’s u to you to rote't and de8end your s'hedu#e& And#a'k o8 suort at ho(e (akes it a## the (ore 'ru'ia# that you 8o##o% the ad<i'e in the

re<ious 'hater and 'reate a suorti<e, su''ess98o'used 'o((unity around yourse#8&

-D& 4e Fruga#

Why a 'hater on 8ruga#ity in a !ook on ho% to get a Bo!U 4e'ause 8ruga#ity 'reates8reedo( 8or instan'e, the 8reedo( to 'hoose an interesting Bo! that ays #ess o<er a !oringone that ays (ore&

+r, the 8reedo( o8 not ha<ing to re(ain in a 'ray or a!usi<e Bo! Bust 8or theay'he'k& +r, o8 not ha<ing to endure a #ong, e>ensi<e, stress8u# 'o((ute 8or that sa(e

ay'he'k& +r, o8 not ha<ing to %ork 0 or (ore hours a %eek %hen you’d rather send so(eo8 that ti(e %ith your #o<ed ones, art, a'ti<is(, or another i(ortant riority&Fruga#ity Q 8reedo(&So(e eo#e re(e(!er %hen our so'iety %as (u'h #ess 'o((er'ia# than it is no%&

They 'an re(e(!er, 8or instan'e, %hen non9toy 'o(anies did not ad<ertise dire't#y to'hi#dren, the %ay Ga, Nike, A#e and (any others do no%, on Ni'ke#odeon and e#se%here&When there %eren’t ad<ertise(ents on s'hoo#!ooks, to## !ooths, and Bust a!out e<ery%heree#se&

The ressure to 'onsu(e !egins ear#y, and it is intense&$esist it&

Start do%nsiCing your #i8esty#e e<en i8 you don’t 8ee# the i((ediate need to do so&Goog#e ?#i<ing si(#y@ and ?8ruga#ity@ 8or so(e tis, or take out a !ook on those toi's 8ro(the #i!rary& 3Jon’t !uy it7 You’## 8ind a %ho#e, hi 'o((unity out there to suort you, as%e## as ser<i'es su'h as 'raigs#ist&org and 8ree'y'#e&org 38or 'hea or 8ree 8urniture andhouse%ares7, ti(e!anks&org 38or !arter ser<i'es7, go#o'o&org 38or ride9sharing7, and e<eng#o!a#8ree#oaders&'o( 38or 8ree a''o((odations %hen tra<e#ing7&

?4e 8ruga#@ is not ne% or radi'a# ad<i'e, o8 'ourse& Near#y 5,K00 years ago, the Sartanking Agesi#aus said, ?4y so%ing 8ruga#ity %e rea #i!erty, a go#den har<est&@

It %as good ad<i'e then, and re(ains so&

+kay, %e’re done %ith the Part I & No% onto your Bo! sear'h strategy

PA$ II & A +49SEA$=H S $A EGY HA W+$S

-& 1KO




1KO o8 eo#e s're% u their Bo! a#i'ations&1KO&1KOHo#y 'o% It see(s in'redi!#e, and yet that’s the nu(!er (ost o8ten uoted& Here are

t%o e>a(#es:In an arti'#e in the Ari# 6, 500 Wall *treet +ournal, a hu(an resour'es (anager says

that a!out 1KO o8 the 'o<er #etters she re'ei<es ha<e tyos, (isse##ings 3in'#uding there'iient’s na(e7, or other errors&

S'ott 4ennett, author o8 the ou#ar The #leents of -su- *tyle 3A(eri'an"anage(ent Asso'iation, 500K7 says: ?I8 you’<e hired eo#e yourse#8, you’## kno% the8o##o%ing to !e true: As an e(#oyer, i8 you re'ei<e 500 r[su([s 8or an oen osition, (ay!e-0 are error98ree 3i8 you’re #u'ky7&@1

That’s VMKOV, 8o#ks"any hirers reort the sa(e resu#ts& And it’s not Bust resu(es and 'o<er #etters,

either& Peo#e s're% u a## kinds o8 things in their a#i'ations:They a#y 8or the %rong Bo!s&They sho% u #ate or !ad#y groo(ed 8or inter<ie%s& In a 6.-.0 Wall *treet +ournal

arti'#e entit#ed ?Jated Suit, Jirty Nai#s =an Ti the 4a#an'e I8 Youre o! Hunting,@ %riter oann S& Lu!#in dis'usses the (yriad groo(ing (istakes hirers reort ha<ing seen in'andidates& The #ist is in'redi!#e, a'tua##y, and in'#udes: %earing inaroriate '#othing;%earing dirty or %rink#ed '#othing; %earing '#othes that 8it !ad#y or are years out o8 sty#e;sho%ing u %ith hair not 'ut or 'o(!ed; sho%ing u %ith !ad !reath or !ody odor; %earingo!no>ious er8u(e or a8tersha<e; and %earing too (u'h (akeu or (akeu !ad#y a#ied&

They sho% u unreared or unrehearsed 8or inter<ie%s&

They don’t send thank you notes&They use the %rong eo#e 8or re8eren'es, and.or don’t 'oa'h their re8eren'es on thei(ortant oints they need to (ake&

Et'&That 1KO is !oth good and !ad ne%s, as %e’## see !e#o%&

N+TE1& "r& 4ennett and I o!<ious#y disagree on %hether to %rite the %ord ?resu(e@ %ith a''ent(arks& I say no, not Bust !e'ause the a''ents #ook outdated and 8ussy, !ut !e'ause a''ented'hara'ters 'an get gar!#ed during e(ai#s and 8i#e sends, 'reating a tyo& I8 your na(e oranother i(ortant %ord 'ontains an a''ent or other dia'riti'a# (ark, okay, you (ight %antto take the 'han'e !ut %hy do so unne'essari#yU

-K& =o(eting With the ?Fa! -KO@

The 8a't that 1KO o8 your 'o(etition s're%s u is good ne%s, sin'e it (eans you’reon#y rea##y 'o(eting against the re(aining -KO& The !ad ne%s, ho%e<er, is that that -KO is#aying at the to o8 their ga(e and the on#y %ay to 'o(ete is to do the sa(e: to 'o(#ete




e<ery ste o8 the a#i'ation ro'ess as '#ose to er8e't#y as ossi!#e& That takes a #ot o8 ti(eand e88ort, as these e>a(#es o8 %hat you shou#d do VVV8or ea'h and e<ery i(ortantBo! oeningVVV i##ustrate:

V$esear'h: You shou#d 'ondu't e>tensi<e resear'h, not Bust a!out the 'o(any and its

rodu'ts or ser<i'es, !ut its 'usto(ers and 'o(etition, and trends in its industry and'usto(ers’ industries& +h, and re#e<ant o<era## e'ono(i' and o#iti'a# trends&

VEditing: Edit your a#ready9edited resu(e and 'o<er #etter so that they are targetedre'ise#y at this arti'u#ar oening& 3It o8ten takes hours, i8 not a day or (ore&7 Then, sho%the do'u(ents to your (entors and edit so(e (ore !ased on their 8eed!a'k&

V$ehearse: $ehearse ten or (ore ti(es 8or your inter<ie%& Not 8i<e or eight, !ut ten&Go o<er e<ery uestion you are #ike#y to !e asked, and ra'ti'e, ra'ti'e, ra'ti'e unti# you'an de#i<er your ans%ers s(ooth#y and 'on'ise#y&

VGroo(ing: Sho% u 8or inter<ie%s i((a'u#ate#y groo(ed, %ith no detai# a(iss&V$e8eren'es: =are8u##y se#e't the eo#e %ho( you %ant to ser<e as re8eren'es 8or this

arti'u#ar oening, and then ad<ise the( on the se'i8i' things they 'ou#d say a!out you that%ou#d !e (ost he#8u#& A#so, resent their 'o(#ete 'onta't in8or(ation to the hirer in anattra'ti<e 8or(at&

VThank you notes: Send (eaning8u# thank you notes, and other%ise stay in 'are8u#tou'h %ith the hirer&

I8 these e>a(#es see( to reresent an e>tre(e a(ount o8 ti(e and e88ort to de<ote toone oen osition, then that (ay !e %hy you ha<en’t !een getting o88ers& It does take a #ot o8ti(e and e88ort to 'o(ete %ith the ?Fa! -KO&@ "ay!e it didn’t take so (u'h e88ort to get a Bo! a 'ou#e o8 generations ago, !ut these days it o8ten does, ese'ia##y i8 you ha<e any%eaknesses in your !a'kground or ski##s, %hi'h %e retty (u'h a## do&

P#ease don’t get s'ared o88 !y a## the %ork, though& As you’## #earn in the ne>t 'hater,(y suggestion is that you a#y %ith great intensity 8or a s(a## nu(!er o8 Bo!s& That keesthe %ork#oad (anagea!#e&

A## this %ork, !y the %ay, is si(i#ar to %hat anyone does %ho 'o(etes in a high#y'o(etiti<e 8ie#d& Think, 8or e>a(#e, o8 e#ite ath#etes, %ho ai( to er8e't e<ery ase't o8%hat they are doing and try ne<er to 'ut 'orners& Fa(ed 2=LA !asket!a## 'oa'h ohnWooden on'e said: ?I did ta#k a!out er8e'tion to (y #ayers& I said it %as not ossi!#e& 4ut Isaid it’s not i(ossi!#e to try 8or it& That’s %hat %e did in e<ery ra'ti'e and ga(e&@

-6& HIAP <s& Wi##y9Ni##y

I’( not a sorts 8an, !ut I’( guessing that Wooden’s tea( didn’t #ay against e<eryTo(, Ji'k and Harry !asket!a## tea( that %as out there& No, I’( retty sure they %erese#e'ti<e, #aying on#y against other N4A tea(s, and at so(e se'ia# e<ents, and on as'hedu#e that a##o%ed the( #enty o8 ti(e 8or rest and ra'ti'e in !et%een ga(es& +ther%ise,ho% 'ou#d they ossi!#y !e e>e'ted to do their !estU

And ho% 'an Y+2 !e e>e'ted to do your !est, i8 you’re !usy a#ying %i##y9ni##y to a##kinds o8 se'ond9 and third9rate oortunitiesU




Near9er8e'tion, as dis'ussed a!o<e, takes a #ot o8 ti(e and e88ort& I8 you’re going toai( 8or it in your Bo! sear'h, it a#(ost 'ertain#y (eans a#ying 8or Bust a 8e% Bo!s at a ti(e&Whi#e that (ay sound #ike you’re s'ari#y #i(iting your otions, it a'tua##y i(ro<es yourodds o8 getting hired !e'ause ea'h a#i'ation is rea##y strong and hoe8u##y de<oid o8 the

kinds o8 ro!#e(s (entioned in =haters - and -K& 3$e(e(!er: I use the %ord ?a#i'ation@to re8er not Bust to the aer a#i'ation you 8i## out, !ut the entire a#i'ation ro'ess&7

I 'a## the strategy o8 a#ying 8or a 8e% Bo!s in a high#y 'usto(iCed %ay, and %ith greatintensity and 8o'us, the High9Intensity A#i'ation Pro'ess 3HIAP7& HIAP in'reases the'han'es, at ea'h stage o8 the a#i'ation ro'ess, that you %i## !e (o<ed to the ne>t stage,so&&&

HIAPy resear'h and net%orking shou#d in'rease the 'han'es that your resu(e %i## !eserious#y 'onsidered&

A HIAPy resu(e and 'o<er #etter shou#d in'rease the 'han'es that you #and a honeinter<ie%&

A HIAPy hone inter<ie% shou#d in'rease your 'han'es o8 #anding an in9erson one&A HIAPy in9erson inter<ie% shou#d in'rease the 'han'es o8 your !eing short9#isted 8orthe osition&

And a## o8 these #us your HIAPy re8eren'es shou#d great#y in'rease your 'han'es o8getting an o88er&

So(eti(es, eo#e ask %hat’s the har( in a#ying 8or a 8e% Bo!s using HIAP, and!un'hes o8 ?se'ondary Bo!s@ using standard, #o%9intensity te'hniues #ike shooting o88 aui'k resu(e in resonse to an ad& The har( is that the %i##y9ni##y ?shooting@ aroa'husua##y %inds u taking %ay (ore ti(e and energy than %e redi't, and distra'ts us 8ro(our HIAP e88ort&

Another ro!#e( %ith %i##y9ni##y is that you (ay de'ide, one day, that one o8 yourse'ondary 'hoi'es is %orthy o8 a HIAP e88ort, !ut no% you’<e 'o(ro(ised the resu#t !yha<ing re<ious#y sent in a #a(e resu(e and 'o<er #etter&

I8 you 'an send a 8e% hours osting a strong, genera#iCed resu(e on an Internet Bo!!oard, I don’t ha<e a ro!#e( %ith that& 4ut any Bo! you rea##y %ant is %orth a#ying 8orusing HIAP&

Another ad<antage o8 HIAP o<er %i##y9ni##y is that %ith HIAP you are using your !rainthroughout the a#i'ation ro'ess, so that your Bo! a#i'ation ski##s, and 'han'es o8 !einghired, shou#d i(ro<e o<er ti(e& Gi<en this, as %e## as the i(ro<ed odds o8 getting hired, a##the suosed#y ?e>tra@ %ork you are utting in %ith HIAP shou#d, in the end, sa<e you #oadso8 ti(e and grie8&

Let’s dis'uss so(e (ore o8 the 8unda(enta# 'on'ets under#ying HIAP&

-/& Jo it Like Jud#ey

Say t%o (en !oth %ant to (arry a %o(an na(ed Ne## Fen%i'k& The 8irst is na(edSnide#y Whi#ash, and here is his roosa#: ?4a!y, I’( te##ing ya, I %ou#d !e so good 8or you&I’( 8antasti', aren’t IU I’( uite the #ooker, aren’t IU I dress shar, and I te## a good Boke, and




I’( a great dan'er& I earn a great #i<ing, and e<eryone #o<es (e&&&you %ou#d !e so #u'ky toha<e (e&&&So ho% a!out it, !a!yU@

The se'ond suitor is Jud#ey Jo9$ight, and here is his roosa#: ?Ne##, (y dar#ing, I #o<e you& You are so 8antasti'; I #o<e ho% kind you are, and ho% 'reati<e, and 8unny& I #o<e your

sark#ing !#ue eyes, and the shine o8 your 'ur#y !#onde hair& I Bust #o<e e<erything a!out youSo, #ease (arry (e, Ne##, and (ake (e the haiest (an in the %ho#e %or#d& I8 you do, I %i##do e<erything I 'an to (ake you hay&@

Who is Ne## (ore #ike#y to a''et: Snide#y, %ho aears to !e thinking (ain#y o8 ho%great he is, or Jud#ey, %ho aears to !e thinking (ain#y o8 ho% great she is not to(ention, ho% hard he %i## %ork to (ake her hayU

Jue to his ego(ania or, erhas, si(#e ignoran'e, Snide#y hasn’t yet #earned thee#e(enta# truth that, in a ersuasi<e endea<or, it’s the 'usto(er’s 8ee#ings, needs and goa#sthat 'ount, and not yours& ust as Ne## %i## %ise#y 'hoose to go %ith Jud#ey, a %ise hirer %i##go %ith the 'andidate %ho de(onstrates that he, 3-7 understands the hirer’s needs, 357 %i##

%ork hard to (eet those needs, and 3D7 %i## !e thri##ed to ha<e the oortunity to do so!e'ause the Bo! in uestion is Bust so a(aCing& The !etter you are a!#e to 'on<ey this tri#e9threat (essage, the (ore you %i## set yourse#8 ahead o8 the (any 'on8used Snide#ys out there%ho %i## insist on !#athering on and on a!out ho% great they are&

What are the hirer’s needsU G#ad you asked An arti'#e entit#ed, ?-0 $esu(e "istakesThat Turn +88 E(#oyers@ 3Boston Glo&e, /.50.017M !y out#a'e(ent se'ia#ist $ando#h L&Ste<ens su((ariCes the( neat#y: ?Your resu(e shou#d in 50 se'onds or #ess sho% ho% you## (ake or sa<e (oney, generate ne% !usiness, resurre't and retain e>isting '#ients or'usto(ers, e>and and !ui#d re#ationshis, and Bust (ake their %or#d a sa8er and (ore#easant #a'e&@ I’## Bust add that you don’t address these needs Bust in your resu(e and 'o<er

#etter, !ut throughout the a#i'ation ro'ess&

N+TEM& htt:..%%%&!oston&'o(.Bo!s.ga##eries.-0resu(e(istakes.

-1& HIAP Enthusias( Q Sa8ety

I arti'u#ar#y #ike that Ste<ens, in his uote, (entions sa8ety, so #et’s ta#k (ore a!outthat& Whereas in Part I, I %rote a #ot a!out your reasona!#e 8ears as a Bo! a#i'ant, no% #et’sta#k a!out the hirer’s reasona!#e 8ear o8 (aking a !ad hire, %hi'h 'an !e a 'atastrohi' ore<en 'areer9ending (istake& At the <ery #east, it 'an #ead to %eeks or (onths o8 heada'he,8o##o%ed !y the ain and !itterness o8 so(eone’s !eing 8ired or ha<ing to #ea<e se(i9<o#untari#y&

"ost hirers are high#y (oti<ated to a<oid those out'o(es, and so one o8 your ri(arygoa#s (ust !e to e#i(inate any 8ear a hirer has o<er you and your a#i'ation& You’<e got totake this goa# <ery serious#y, !e'ause e<en a tiny a(ount o8 8ear is o8ten enough to ki## your'han'es o8 !eing hired& The hirer %i## ro!a!#y ha<e so(e 8ear e<en i8 your !a'kground andski##s see( er8e't 8or the Bo! in uestion& I8 they’re not i8 there’s e<en a s(a## ga or




(is(at'h the hirer %i## ro!a!#y !e sti## (ore a8raid&The oosite o8 8ear, in this 'onte>t, is a 8ee#ing o8 sa8ety& A ri(e e>a(#e o8 ho%

e#i'iting a sa8e 8ee#ing 'an he# '#ose a dea# is I4"& ?You’## ne<er #ose your Bo! going %ithI4",@ 'ororate in8or(ation te'hno#ogy 3IT7 eo#e ha<e !een te##ing ea'h other 8or de'ades&

They (ean that, e<en though I4" (ay not se## the !est or 8#ashiest 'o(uters and'onsu#ting ser<i'es, their o88erings are a''eta!#e ANJ i8 they so(eho% do s're% u yourroBe't, they ha<e su'h a strong re'ord that no one 'ou#d ossi!#y !#a(e you 8or ha<inghired the( in the 8irst #a'e& So I4" is er'ei<ed as a sa8e 'hoi'e, and rosers as a resu#t&

I8 you 'an si(i#ar#y 'on<in'e hirers that you are a sa8e 'hoi'e, then you shou#dsi(i#ar#y roser& $e(e(!er ho% Jud#ey does it: !y ro8essing, 3-7 a dee understanding o8his !e#o<ed’s needs; 357 a strong %i##ingness to (eet those needs; and 3D7 the idea that he%ou#d !e thri##ed to ha<e the oortunity to do so& In Bo!9sear'h ter(s, this 'o(es do%n to:3-7 HIAP and 357 te##ing 3and sho%ing7 the hirer that you rea##y, rea##y %ant the arti'u#ar Bo!she’s o88ering& As you %i## see, ?HIAP Enthusias(@ are a o%er8u# dou!#e9un'h that

ensures that you are the strongest ossi!#e Bo! 'andidate&HIAP %orks, in this 'onte>t, !y (aking sure that you ne<er su!(it a resu(e ?'o#d@ i8 you 'an he# it that you a#%ays ha<e so(eone the hirer trusts 3idea##y, one o8 her sueriorsor (entors7 re8erring you or other%ise suorting your a#i'ation& That a#one great#ydi(inishes the hirer’s 8ears and in'reases her sense o8 sa8ety&

HIAP a#so he#s the hirer 8ee# sa8e !e'ause a HIAPy a#i'ation ai(s to get a## thedetai#s right %hi'h, as I’## dis'uss in =hater 55, is 8unda(enta# to su''ess& E<ery ti(e you(ake a (istake, e<en a tiny one, it 'reates 8ear in the hirer and under(ines your a#i'ation&4ut i8 you 8o##o% HIAP, (istakes %i## !e ket to a (ini(u(&

As 8or the se'ond ta'ti' indi'ating rea# enthusias( 8or the Bo! in uestion it %orks

in at #east three di88erent %ays:-7 It is dee#y 8#attering to the hirer 3stri't#y seaking, it’s 8#attering to her e(#oyer,a#though she gets to !ask in the re8#e'ted g#ory7;

57 It in<okes the sy'ho#ogi'a# ?re'iro'ity@ rin'i#e that %e tend to #ike those %hosho% #iking and are'iation 8or us& That’s art o8 %hat Jud#ey is doing in his roosa#, andit’s a#so %hat !a!ies, uies and kittens do to ki##er e88e't& 4ut Bo! a#i'ants 'an do it, too,e<en i8 they’re not 'ute as a uy&

D7 +n a (ore rag(ati' #e<e#, the hirer 'an reasona!#y assu(e that i8 you’re tru#yenthusiasti' a!out a Bo!, you’re #ike#y to do %e## at it&

You 'an’t !eat around the !ush a!out your enthusias(, !y the %ay& You 'an’t hint atit, or i(#y it, or assu(e that the hirer %i## get it 8ro( your enthusiasti'9see(ing (anner&You ha<e to state it outright and 'on<in'ing#y& So(eti(e during your a#i'ation ro'ess and, re8era!#y, ear#y on you ha<e to e>#i'it#y say so(ething #ike this: ?This osition%ou#d rea##y !e an a(aCing oortunity 8or (e it’s the kind o8 oortunity I’<e !eenhoing 8or and #anning 8or 8or years, a'tua##y& The reason I got (y 'erti8i'ate in YR andtook the Bo! %ith A4= =or& %as so that I 'ou#d one day ua#i8y 8or a osition #ike this&@ And you ro!a!#y shou#d say it (ore than on'e %ithout s#iing into reetition or e(ty8#attery, o8 'ourse& And you 'an’t Bust say it: your resu(e, re8eren'es and other a#i'atione#e(ents shou#d de(onstrate it&




-M& HIAP Enthusias( Q a Fe% Good LAFS

The !est out'o(e, %hen you are 8irst !rought to a hirer’s attention, is that here8#e>i<e#y thinks, ?This erson %ou#d !e PE$FE=T 8or our Bo!, and our Bo! %ou#d !e PE$FE=T8or hi(&@

P#ease note that %ord ?re8#e>i<e#y&@ Idea##y, %e don’t %ant the hirer to ha<e to onderho% good you (ight !e& We don’t %ant hi( to ha<e to (ake a 'he'k#ist o8 your #uses and(inuses& And %e 'ertain#y don’t %ant hi( to rea'h his 'on'#usion a8ter ha<ing had to hunt8or the i(ortant ie'es o8 in8or(ation that you inad<ertent#y !uried a(idst i#es o8 #essi(ortant stu88 in your resu(e&

It is ossi!#e that your a#i'ation 'ou#d sur<i<e a## o8 those a'ti<ities& 4ut a 8ar !ettersituation is %hen the hirer g#an'es at your resu(e, or (eets you in erson, and thinks, ?YES

This is the one&@That’s the ro8essiona# eui<a#ent o8 ?#o<e at 8irst sight@ 3LAFS7, and i8 you 'an e#i'itthat rea'tion in the hirer, then 3in Snide#y9ta#k7 you’<e got it (ade, !a!y& To understand %hy,think !a'k to a ti(e %hen you %ere head9o<er9hee#s in #o<e %ith so(eone& =han'es are, youro!a!#y thought e<erything that that erson %as and did %as 8a!u#ous& E<en things youdidn’t nor(a##y #ike in other eo#e #ike %hist#ing, or eating eas %ith a kni8e, or doing!oth at on'e %ere adora!#e in your #o<ed one&

It’s the sa(e thing %ith Bo! a#i'ations& I8 you 'an e#i'it LAFS in a hirer, thensy'ho#ogi'a##y he %i## !e redisosed to not on#y ay (ore attention to your good ointsand #ess to your %eak ones, !ut e<en to see so(e o8 your %eaknesses as strengths& So, 8or

e>a(#e, a (idd#e9aged 'andidate %ho 'an e#i'it LAFS in a hirer is (ore #ike#y to !e seen asha<ing <a#ua!#e %isdo( and e>erien'e, as oosed to si(#y !eing o#d& And a LAFS9indu'ing i((igrant %ho seaks Eng#ish %ith an a''ent is (ore #ike#y to !e seen as ha<ing<a#ua!#e !i#ingua# and (u#ti'u#tura# ski##s, as oosed to si(#y !eing ?di88erent@ andthere8ore risky& This (agi'a# shi8t haens !e'ause the hirer is no% oriented to%ard'o##e'ting data to suort his initia# ositi<e e(otiona# rea'tion to you, instead o8 data thatsuorts his 8ears a!out hiring you&

LAFS reuires, 8irst o8 a##, as #itt#e 8ear as ossi!#e on the art o8 the hirer& Sin'e HIAP Enthusias( he#s (ini(iCe 8ear, it is de8inite#y the %ay to go& HIAP Enthusias( 'an #ead toLAFS, in other %ords&

4y the %ay, the 'on<erse to e<erything I’<e !een dis'ussing is a#so true: that not usingHIAP and not sho%ing enthusias( are great %ays to tank your a#i'ation& The #atter, inarti'u#ar, 'an !e a ro!#e( 8or eo#e %ho are shy or ha<e trou!#e e>ressing their 8ee#ings&The so#ution is: 3-7 not to a#y 8or Bo!s you don’t rea##y %ant; and 357 ra'ti'e inter<ie%ing%ith 'oa'hes, (entors, 8riends or others keeing in (ind that the goa# is not to get a##suer9e(oti<e, !ut si(#y to !e a!#e to state and sho% your enthusias(&

50& HIAP Enthusias( Q he ?"agi' Wand@




HIAP Enthusias( is as '#ose to a (agi' %and as you’re going to get during your Bo!sear'h& Here’s a rea#9#i8e e>a(#e o8 ho% it 'an he# get you hired e<en against great odds:

Years ago, I <o#unteered to he# a grou o8 teenage re8ugees get Bo!s& These guys had a

#ot o8 (arks against the( as Bo! a#i'ants: they %ere ne% to the 2&S& and #arge#y un8a(i#iar%ith our 'u#ture; their Eng#ish %as i88y; and, !eyond a## that, they %eren’t e<en 8a(i#iar %ith(ost o8 %hat %e see around us e<ery day& Try getting so(eone e<en an entry9#e<e# she#89sto'king Bo! in a suer(arket %hen he doesn’t re'ogniCe the (i#k or orange Bui'e, or hasne<er seen stra%!erries !e8ore&

And has ne<er inter<ie%ed 8or a Bo! !e8ore&What these re8ugee teens did ha<e going 8or the( %as, 3-7 (e, using HIAP, and 357

!right, engaging ersona#ities and terri8i' attitudes& They %ere grate8u# to !e in the 2&S& andgrate8u# 8or %hate<er oortunities %ere o88ered to the(& They rea##y %anted those she#89sto'king Bo!s, and dis#ayed a #e<e# o8 enthusias( that e(#oyers to#d (e %as !oth unusua#

and hard to resist and so they got hired desite their 'onsidera!#e %eaknesses&Jo you re(e(!er =hater K’s dis'ussion o8 ho% (any Bo! reuire(ents and'redentia#s are (ore negotia!#e than they see(, and ho% 8ra(ing 'an !e used to high#ight your strengths and dra% attention a%ay 8ro( your %eaknessesU Add to that te'hniue thea%eso(e o%er o8 HIAP Enthusias(& It %on’t %ork in e<ery situation, o8 'ourse, !ut ithaens a## the ti(e that a %ise and 'reati<e hirer o<er#ooks gas in the !a'kground o8 a!right, ersona!#e, detai#9oriented, high#y9(oti<ated 'andidate %ho has ut together aterri8i' HIAP Bo! a#i'ation and sho%s that she rea##y, rea##y %ants the Bo! in uestion&

5-& Jo it Like Jud#ey 3Part II7

Jid you noti'e ho%, in his roosa#, Snide#y uses the %ords ?I,@ ?I’(@ and ?(e@ t%e#<eti(es and ?you@ 3re8erring to Ne##7 on#y threeU Jud#ey, in 'ontrast, uses ?I@ and ?(e@ eightti(es, and ?you@ and your@ ten ti(es& Ne## 'ou#d reasona!#y 'on'#ude that Snide#y is thinkingri(ari#y o8 hi(se#8, %hi#e Jud#ey is thinking a #ot a!out her&

And did you noti'e ho% Jud#ey addresses Ne## !y na(e <ersus Snide#y, %ho 'a##s her?!a!y@U In How to Win !riends and .nfluence Peo$le %hi'h you shou#d de8inite#y read tosuort your Bo! sear'h Ja#e =arnegie says, ?A erson’s na(e is to that erson the s%eetestand (ost i(ortant sound in any #anguage&@

And did you noti'e ho%, in Jud#ey’s roosa#, he ro<ides se'i8i' reasons %hy he#o<es Ne##U ust saying, ?I #o<e you,@ isn’t enough: i8 you 'an’t ro<ide reasons, the #istener isnatura##y going to suse't you’re !#o%ing s(oke& "oreo<er, you ha<e to o88er reasons that Bi!e %ith the #istener’s se#89i(age& I8 Jud#ey to#d Ne## he <a#ued her 8or her !u!!#y ersona#ityand Cany sense o8 hu(or %hen she sees herse#8 as a serious erson, she’d ha<e good reason to!e sketi'a#, i8 not susi'ious&

It’s a## e>a't#y the sa(e %hen you’re a#ying 8or %ork& As dis'ussed ear#ier, you 'an’t Bust !#ather on a!out yourse#8 and ho% %onder8u# you are; and you 'an’t get a%ay %ithre8erring to the 'o(any generi'a##y& You need to 'a## the 'o(any, and the hirer, !y na(e




and their roer, re'ise na(es, !y the %ay& $e8erring to the 'o(any 'a##ed ?Sa'e#y Sa'eSro'kets@ as ?Sa'e#y Sro'kets,@ ?Sa'e#y@ or 3%orst7 ?Sa'e#ey@ in your 'o<er #etter 'andoo( your a#i'ation&

You shou#d a#so use the 8u##, 8or(a# 'o(any na(e during inter<ie%s and other

'on<ersations, at #east on'e not Bust to sho% enthusias(, !ut a roer rese't 8or the hiringro'ess&

You a#so 'an’t Bust say that you %ou#d #ike to %ork 8or the 'o(any; you ha<e to say%hy ANJ your reasons (ust Bi!e %ith the 'o(any’s se#89i(age& Te##ing a hirer at a !ank, ?Irea##y #ike the idea o8 %orking 8or an organiCation grounded on traditiona# <a#ues,@ %hen the!ank i'tures itse#8 as a 'utting9edge, 8or%ard9#ooking organiCation, is yet another 8ata#(istake&

Ho% do you 8ind out a 'o(any’s se#89i(ageU 4y thorough resear'h& For starters, reade<ery age o8 its We!site and 3i8 a u!#i' 'o(any7 8inan'ia# state(ents, aying '#oseattention to su!t#eties o8 %ording, tone and i'tures& A#so, read the !usiness and trade

u!#i'ations& "ost i(ortant o8 a##, ho%e<er, is to ask so(eone kno%#edgea!#e&You %i## a#so, o8 'ourse, need to kno% ho% others <ie% the 'o(any& This in'#udes itse(#oyees, 'usto(ers, 'o(etitors, the trade ress and erhas e<en #o'a# o#iti'ians&Jis'rean'ies !et%een a 'o(any’s se#89i(age and the %ay it is er'ei<ed 'ou#d indi'ate aro!#e( 3so(eti(es serious7, an oortunity 8or you to (ake a 'ontri!ution, or&&&!oth

So(e (ore tis:-7 Jon’t e<er si(#y reeat the 'o(any’s o%n %ords to itse#8 that’s too o!<ious and

(any hirers %i## interret it as #aCiness or a #a'k o8 rea# interest& Instead, use the 'o(any’s%ords as a starting oint 8or your o%n ideas and enthusias(, as in: ?I rea##y #ike that A4==o(any’s (ission in'#udes, Xa g#o!a# out#ook,’ !e'ause that’s so i(ortant, these days and

e<en the 2&S& (arket itse#8 is in'reasing#y di<erse& I ha<e a#%ays rea##y enBoyed %orking %ith'usto(ers and 'o##eagues 8ro( di88erent !a'kgrounds& "y Bo! at A4= =or& %as a goode>a(#e&&&@

57 Ta#k a!out ho% you rea##y #ike the 'o(any’s rodu'ts, and %hy you think they arei(ortant and <a#ua!#e, not Bust to the 'o(any’s 'usto(ers, !ut so'iety at #arge& 4ereared to dis'uss ho% they di88er 8ro(, and are !etter than, 'o(eting rodu'ts& 34utne<er !ad(outh anyone not e<en the 'o(any’s 'o(etition during an inter<ie%7 As ane>a(#e: ?I’<e tried out a #ot o8 di88erent %idgets, !ut YR =o(any’s rea##y are the !est and(ost re#ia!#e& It’s %onder8u# that you 'an !ui#d that #e<e# o8 ua#ity into rodu'ts that thea<erage A(eri'an 'an !uy&@

D7 Praise the 'o(any’s 'u#ture& That’s a great ta'ti', !oth !e'ause (any 'o(anies%ork hard to esta!#ish a 'ertain 'u#ture, and !e'ause the hirer %i## natura##y assu(e that i8 you #ike his 'o(any’s 'u#ture you’## 8it in %e## %ith it& ?Suer=or is %e## kno%n to !e a <eryresu#ts98o'used and a''ounta!i#ity98o'used organiCation, and one that a#so #a'es a stronge(hasis on tea(%ork and intergrou 'o((uni'ations& That’s the kind o8 %ork 'u#ture I#ike !est, and that I’<e a#%ays done rea##y %e## as art o8&@

4y the %ay, te##ing a hirer you %ant to %ork at his 'o(any !e'ause ?the sa#ary and!ene8its are great@ is #ike te##ing so(eone you %ant to (arry her 8or her (oney& Not a greatidea&




55& Jetai#s =ount In'redi!#y

When I %as gro%ing u in the -M60s, the 2nited States %as sending (en into sa'eand to the (oon& E<ery sa'e (ission %as an in'redi!#y 'o(#e> roBe't in<o#<ing tens o8thousands o8 eo#e, so(e o8 %ho( designed and !ui#t the sa'e'ra8t, %hi#e others designedthe #i8e suort and other syste(s, #otted the 'ra8t’s traBe'tory, trained the astronauts, orhand#ed so(e other task& E<eryone %orking on those roBe'ts a## the NASA and othergo<ern(ent eo#e, and a## the ri<ate 'ontra'tors kne% that the astronauts’ #i<es #itera##ydeended on their doing their Bo!s er8e't#y, and so there %as a genera# ethi' a'ross theentire sa'e rogra( o8 Cero to#eran'e 8or errors& No (atter ho% tri<ia# your Bo! see(ed, orho% tiny a art o8 the o<era## roBe't, you ai(ed to do it -00O right&

E<en though a Bo! sear'h is not #itera##y a #i8e9and9death strugg#e, it has so(e

i(ortant si(i#arities to a sa'e #aun'h& In !oth 'ases, you (ust do (any things right to getto your destination 3in the 'ase o8 the Bo! sear'h, an o88er7, and e<en a sing#e (istake e<en a?tri<ia#@ one 'an doo( your endea<or& So I %ou#d #ike you to take an Ao##o9#ike ?Ceroerror@ aroa'h to your Bo! sear'h&

Rero error (eans (any things, in'#uding:-7 In'#uding the right in8or(ation in your a#i'ation& This is usua##y HIAPy

in8or(ation that sho%s the hirer not Bust generi'a##y %hat a great 'andidate you are, !ut %hy you %ou#d !e terri8i' 8or her se'i8i' Bo!, and a#so ho% e>traordinari#y hay you %ou#d !e toget it& Let’s suose you are seeking a ur'hasing Bo! at a (ediu(9siCed high te'h 'o(any&A HIAPy resu(e %ou#d e(hasiCe e>erien'e you’<e had in (ediu(9siCed and high te'h

'o(anies, as %e## as your e>tensi<e e>erien'e %ith the arti'u#ar ur'hasing so8t%are thatthis 'o(any uses 3a 8a't you un'o<ered through di#igent resear'h7& And erhas yourersona# e(ai# address %ou#d !e so(ething #ike ur'hasingro)ISP&'o(, and yourre8eren'es, %hen they are 'a##ed, %ou#d ta#k se'i8i'a##y a!out ho% %e## you 8it into (ediu(9siCed 'o(anies and te'h 'u#ture, a#ong %ith your !roader oints o8 e>'e##en'e&

Your goa#, !y the %ay, is not si(#y to it'h a #ot o8 detai#s at the hirer, !ut to 'reate a'o(e##ing narrati<e or 8ra(e 3see =hater 5/7 that he# her re8#e>i<e#y 8ee# that you %ou#d!e er8e't 8or the Bo!& And %hat do I (ean !y ?'o(e##ing@U HIAP Enthusias(, o8 'ourse

57 Jee(hasiCing in8or(ation that under(ines your narrati<e& I8 our a#i'ant hadsent (u'h o8 his ti(e in the Fortune K00, he %ou#d in'#ude that in8or(ation, o8 'ourse, !utossi!#y dee(hasiCe it 'o(ared %ith his (ediu(9siCed !usiness e>erien'e& 3"anys(a##er 'o(anies are not ne'essari#y i(ressed %ith Fortune K00 e>erien'e it raises theuestions o8 %hether you %ou#d !e hay in a s(a##er setting, and %hether you 'an 8un'tion%ithout a !ig9'ororation in8rastru'ture& "any %ou#d rather see #ots o8 e>erien'e atsi(i#ar#y9siCed, or so(e%hat #arger, 'o(anies&7

D7 +(itting unne'essary, distra'ting or har(8u# in8or(ation su'h as the year o8 your'o##ege degree, %hi'h %i## si(#y !e used to date you& +r, that %eird te( Bo! you took %hen you %ere deserate 8or 8unds& +r, that you took a re(edia# %riting or (ath 'ourse& 3"anyeo#e in'#ude that #ast !it o8 in8or(ation to sho% their 'o((it(ent to edu'ation, !ut it 'an




easi#y !a'k8ire77 And, o8 'ourse, Cero error (eans no errors No tyos, (isse##ings, !ad gra((ar,

in'orre't.in'onsistent un'tuation, 8unky 8or(atting, or other errors& It a#so (eans that a## your %ords are 'are8u##y 'hosen and a''urate: that you don’t, 8or instan'e, use ?ur'hasing@

%hen you rea##y (ean ?ro'ure(ent&@What’s the oosite o8 HIAP and Cero9errorU Generi' and s#oy& A non9HIAPy resu(e

(ight not 'ontain the right Bo!9se'i8i' detai#s, or, i8 it does, they %i## !e !uried under a s#e%o8 #ess9i(ortant in8or(ation& I8 the hirer is <ery (oti<ated and.or ni'e, she (ight do the%ork o8 i'king out the i(ortant nuggets, !ut there’s a good 'han'e she %on’t and %hytake that 'han'eU A non9HIAPy resu(e %i## a#so #ike#y 'ontain errors, or si(#y !e #ess thanit 'ou#d !e #ess %e## %ritten, #ess %e## 8or(atted, #ess reada!#e, #ess 'o(e##ing&

And %hi#e the a!o<e e>a(#es ertain se'i8i'a##y to your resu(e, you need to ai( 8orCero errors throughout the entire a#i'ation ro'ess& A Cero9error inter<ie%, 8or instan'e,reuires that you !e i((a'u#ate#y groo(ed, intensi<e#y rehearsed, un'tua# 3or ear#y7,

roer#y HIAPy and enthusiasti', et'&The di88eren'e in resu#t you’## get 8ro( a HIAPy, Cero9error a#i'ation <ersus ageneri' and s#oy one is ro8ound& A HIAPy a#i'ation shou#d, as dis'ussed in =hater -K,in'rease the odds that you’## rogress to the ne>t stage o8 the a#i'ation ro'ess& In'ontrast, a generi' one %i## not on#y not de'rease those odds, !ut do so dra(ati'a##y so that you %i## ro!a!#y !e reBe'ted 8air#y ear#y on, and %ith the hirer ha<ing taken no (ore than a'ursory #ook at your resu(e&

The !otto( #ine is that there are N+ uni(ortant detai#s in a Bo! sear'h: e<en a sing#eerror 'an ki## your 'han'es o8 getting hired& I8 you’<e !een getting the detai#s %rong, %e##,%e#'o(e to the 1KO '#u!& I 'an’t 'ount the nu(!er o8 eo#e I’<e (et %ho ha<e s%orn u and

do%n that they’re not getting hired !e'ause o8 a !ad Bo! (arket, dis'ri(ination, et'& %hentheir do'u(ents and resentation 'ontain o!<ious errors& There (ay or (ay not ha<e !een a!ad (arket or dis'ri(ination, !ut one thing is 8or sure: these eo#e %ere sa!otaging their'han'es&

I8 you ha<e to#d yourse#8 things #ike, ?Who rea##y 'ares i8 I ut a 'o((a in the %rong#a'eU@ or ?No one %rites thank you notes any (ore,@ or ?No one e>e'ts engineers to !e8an'y dressers,@ you’re !oth %rong and (issing the oint& "ost hirers do indeed ay '#oseattention to those kinds o8 detai#s, seeing the( as re8#e'ti<e o8 your ro8essiona#is(, Budg(ent and eagerness to #and the Bo!; and you a#so don’t kno% %hi'h arti'u#ar detai#s agi<en hirer %i## 'onsider ese'ia##y i(ortant& 3So(e 'are (ore a!out '#othing, so(e a!out your re8eren'es, so(e a!out the e>'e##en'e o8 your do'u(ents, et'&7 So you ha<e to get the(a## right&

+8 'ourse, HIAPy (eans di88erent things in di88erent industries and di88erent 'onte>ts:the engineer ro!a!#y doesn’t need to #ook as s#i'k as a !anker or as snaCCy as an ad<ertisinge>e'uti<e& He shou#dn’t sho% u #ooking #ike a ru(#ed nerd, though: as dis'ussed in =hater5K, the days %hen ru(#ed nerdiness %as o<er#ooked, or e<en 'onsidered an asset, are #ongast& =he'k %ith your (entors on %hat’s right 8or your industry and the kinds o8 Bo!s you’rea#ying 8or&

There are t%o i(ortant te'hniues 8or getting the detai#s right, !y the %ay:




roo8reading and rehearsing& You need to roo8read a## your do'u(ents in'redi!#y 'are8u##y,and ha<e others roo8read the( as %e## and you need to roo8read again a8ter e<en (inor'hanges& And, as I (entioned in =hater -, you need to rehearse inter<ie%s, hone 'a##s,net%orking it'hes and other 'o((uni'ations at #east ten ti(es&

HIAP is not ro'ket s'ien'e it’s easy enough to understand ho% it %ork& The hard arta!out it is dis'i#ining yourse#8 not to 'ut 'orners

5D& Ri to It

$e(e(!er ho%, in his arti'#e on resu(e (istakes, out#a'e(ent se'ia#ist $ando#hSte<ens said you ha<e 50 se'onds to get your se##ing oints a'ross in your resu(eU We##,seed is i(ortant in other %ays, too&

It’s a good idea, in (any 'ases, to resond to a Bo! ad or #isting %ithin 5 hours o8 its

aearan'e& Joing so, arti'u#ar#y %ith a 8a!u#ous, 'usto(iCed HIAPy resu(e and 'o<er#etter not to (ention a ersona# 'a## 8ro( an in8#uentia# erson on your !eha#8 9 te##s thehirer !oth that you’re !oth on the !a## and rea##y, rea##y %ant the Bo!& 3The hirer doesn’t needto kno% you stayed u a## night editing your do'u(ents, and i8 he guesses as (u'h, noro!#e(: it (akes you #ook e>tra9(oti<ated&7 +n the other hand, %aiting e<en a sing#e e>traday to a#y (akes you #ook #ess on the !a## and #ess (oti<ated, ese'ia##y 'o(ared %ith a##the eo#e %ho got their stu88 in ui'ker& And %aiting a 8e% days %i## ro!a!#y #ea<e you outo8 the running&

+8 'ourse, you 'an’t resond to an ad %ithin a day i8 you don’t e<en 8ind it 8or se<era#days or %eeks& That’s an easy (istake to (ake in non9HIAPy Bo! sear'hes, %hi'h tyi'a##y

in<o#<e hahaCard#y 'he'king (any ne%saers and We! sites& In HIAP, in 'ontrast, youidenti8y 8i<e to ten key e(#oyers you rea##y %ant to %ork 8or, and kee a '#ose eye on the(,and net%ork intensi<e#y around the(& You 'an e<en and shou#d reare arts o8 youra#i'ations 8or the( in ad<an'e o8 a Bo! oening u& A## this (akes it (u'h easier toresond %ith a 8antasti' resu(e and 'o<er #etter %ithin 5 hours&

There are t%o other reasons to resond to ostings <ery ui'k#y:-7 With so (any 'andidates a#ying 8or ea'h Bo!, (any hirers don’t e<en !other

#ooking at resu(es !eyond the 8irst thirty or 8orty they re'ei<e and it o8ten on#y takes a dayto get to that nu(!er& "ight they (iss a 8antasti' 'andidate %ho haens to 'o(e in atnu(!er KU +8 'ourse: !ut there’s no guarantee o8 that, and (any hirers are not rea##y tryingto hire the ?u#ti(ate@ 'andidate so (u'h as a 'o(etent and sa8e one as ui'k#y and easi#y asossi!#e so they 'an get !a'k to a## their other %ork&

57 Additiona##y, (any hirers are taught that it’s i(ortant to treat e<ery 'andidatee>a't#y the sa(e %ay, as a rote'tion against a''usations o8 dis'ri(ination& 3?Get the sa(enu(!er o8 re8eren'es 8ro( e<ery 'andidate,@ a hu(an resour'es erson on'e dru((ed into(e& ?Jon’t gi<e one erson a %riting test %ithout gi<ing e<eryone e#se one&@ ?"ake sure youdes'ri!e the Bo! in e>a't#y the sa(e %ay to e<eryone&@ Et'&7 Je'iding to ignore a## resu(esre'ei<ed a8ter the 8irst thirty or 8orty is one %ay to ui'k#y e#i(inate (any 'andidates,in'#uding resu(a!#y (any #ess9(oti<ated or #ess9sa<<y ones, %ithout !eing dis'ri(inatory&




What i8 a 'o(any announ'es it %i## !e 'o##e'ting resu(es o<er a eriod o8 ti(e say,a (onthU In that 'ase, it’s okay i8 you %ant to take a 8e% e>tra days to reare your resu(eand 'o<er #etter& I %ou#d sti## try to a#y ear#y, ho%e<er, and I %ou#d a#so take the e>tra steo8 e(ai#ing the hirer to%ard the end o8 the (onth and re(inding her that you are sti## <ery

interested in the osition 3and, Jud#ey9#ike, #isting the se'i8i' reasons %hy7& Joing so he#s you not get #ost in the i#e, %hi#e you sti## retain 'redit 8or !eing an enthusiasti' ear#ya#i'ant& I8 you 'an (ention so(e ne% a'hie<e(ent o8 yours or so(e use8u# ne% tid!it o8in8or(ation, that %i## (ake your re(inder e(ai# e<en (ore <a#ua!#e and (e(ora!#e&

Faster Than a Seeding Ad<ertise(ent

A (u'h !etter strategy than resonding to an ad %ithin one day is to resond in 9-,9-0 or 9-00 days: (eaning, !e8ore the Bo! is e<en ad<ertised You do this not !y sinning the%or#d !a'k%ards to re<erse ti(e #ike Suer(an, !ut !y identi8ying #a'es you %ant to %ork

and 'u#ti<ating a re#ationshi %ith the( e<en !e8ore they ha<e an oening& The !asi' #an isto #o'ate so(eone in the organiCation so(eti(es an H$ erson, !ut a deart(enta#(anager or senior e>e'uti<e is usua##y !etter and 'onta't the( %ith a (essage si(i#ar tothis: ?Your 'o(any is rea##y a #eader in our 8ie#d, and you are a#so a high#y regarded #eaderin our 8ie#d& You don’t aear to ha<e any Bo! oenings right no%, !ut I %ou#d rea##y #ike to%ork 8or your 'o(any.%ith you one day& I kno% you (ust !e <ery !usy, !ut i8 you ha<e a8e% (inutes to dis'uss the kinds o8 ua#i8i'ations you #ook 8or in ne% hires, I’d !e grate8u#&@You 'an e(ai# the( that (essage ?'o#d,@ !ut it’s (u'h !etter i8 you (eet that erson at anet%orking e<ent and de#i<er it in erson, or ha<e a (entor or other 'onta't (ake anintrodu'tion&

This ro'ess, %hi'h I 'a## roa'ti<e Bo! de<e#o(ent, 'an resu#t in %hat is 'a##ed anin8or(ationa# inter<ie%, a re#ati<e#y re#a>ed, #o%9stress e<ent in %hi'h e<eryone 8ee#s good3you, !e'ause you’re ta#king to a otentia# hirer %ithout the stress o8 a'tua##y !einginter<ie%ed; the hirer, !e'ause your Cea# to %ork in his organiCation, or 8or hi(, is8#attering7& In8or(ation inter<ie%s 'an take #a'e on the te#ehone, a#though, o8 'ourse, an inerson (eeting is !etter: either %ay, i8 you (ake a good i(ression, and 'ontinue to(aintain the re#ationshi, the hirer %i## #ike#y 'onta't you %hen there’s an oening or e<en!e8ore the oening a'tua##y e>ists& "oreo<er, your a#i'ation %i## #ike#y not !e !uried in asta'k o8 doCens, !ut #a'ed in the short i#e to !e 'a##ed in 8or an inter<ie% and thatinter<ie% itse#8 'ou#d e<en !e a 8or(a#ity, sin'e the hirer, or so(eone he trusts or isans%era!#e to, a#ready kno%s you and 8ee#s sa8e hiring you&

Proa'ti<e Bo! de<e#o(ent is the %ay to go, and sa<<y eo#e do it e<en %hi#e hai#ye(#oyed, so that they’<e a#%ays got so(e strong irons in the 8ire and don’t risk not hearinga!out good oortunities& Yes, it’s %ork, !ut the !otto( #ine is that, VVVin a #ean Bo!(arket, the traditiona# strategy o8 assi<e#y %aiting 8or a Bo! to !ead<ertised !e8ore a#ying no #onger %orks& What does %ork is roa'ti<e#ygoing a8ter Bo!s !e8ore they are e<en oen !y 'u#ti<ating ositi<ere#ationshis %ith e(#oyers %ho( you %ish to %ork 8or&VVV The on#y e>'etionsare 8ie#ds %here there are #oads o8 oen Bo!s re#ati<e to the nu(!er o8 ua#i8ied a#i'ants




key reasons eo#e re(ain une(#oyed 8or #ong eriods o8 ti(e& Jue to'on8usion, or erhas a re#u'tan'e to net%ork, (any eo#e stu!!orn#y re#yon this 8unda(enta##y %eak strategy desite an a!undan'e o8 e<iden'e that itdoesn’t %ork&VVV

There are other ro!#e(s %ith su!(itting a resu(e on#ine& First, 'ertain strengthsand ski##s su'h as great eo#e or resentation ski##s don’t 'o(e a'ross near#y so %e## onaer as they do in erson&

Se'ond, i8 you’re not good %ith 'o(uters, or your Internet 'onne'tion 3or the'o(any’s %e!site7 is 8#aky, then you (ight not do su'h a good Bo! o8 su!(itting& 3+ne ointo8 %e! su!(issions, !y the %ay, is to 8i#ter out 'andidates %ho aren’t good %ith 'o(uters&7

Third, te'hno#ogy doesn’t gi<e you any 8eed!a'k, so you ha<e no idea %hat your oddso8 su''ess are and %hat you 'an do to i(ro<e the(& +n#y hu(ans 'an gi<e you that8eed!a'k, and o8ten a senten'e or t%o is a## it takes to gi<e you a rea# edge: ?Wo%, it’s great you’re 8#uent in Sanish& We’re %orking to oen so(e ne% Hisani' (arkets, so !e sure to

(ention that to "r& ones %hen he ta#ks to you&@

When In Jou!t, Je#ete

An e>'etion to the ?te'hno#ogy is not your 8riend@ ru#e are those sites se'i8i'a##ydesigned to 8a'i#itate ro8essiona# intera'tion, su'h as LinkedIn&'o( and P#a>o&'o(& So(e Bo!seekers 8ind the( <a#ua!#e, !ut I think they’re not as use8u# as in9erson net%orking, andthus erhas not the !est use o8 your ti(e& I8 you do use the(, you %ant to use the( a'ti<e#yto rea'h out and 8orge ne% 'onta'ts and a##ian'es, not Bust %ait 8or eo#e to 8ind you& Youa#so %ant to use the( as a 'o(#e(ent to your in9erson net%orking, not a re#a'e(ent& In9

erson net%orking shou#d a#%ays re(ain your key strategy&What a!out ha<ing your o%n %e!site, %ith your resu(e and other in8or(ation ostedon itU It’s essentia# 8or so(e 8ie#ds, and a good idea 8or others ask your (entors !utro'eed 'autious#y and re(e(!er that an a(ateurish or inet site 'ou#d easi#y hurt ratherthan he# your Bo! rose'ts& 4etter no site at a## than a !ad one, or one 'ontaininginaroriate in8or(ation&

What’s inaroriateU That’s a tri'ky uestion& Lea<ing aside o!<ious stu88 #ikei'tures 8ro( your #ast !eer !ash, (y 8ee#ing is that you shou#d in'#ude no ersona#in8or(ation on your %e!site, Bust as you %ou#d ha<e no ersona# in8or(ation on yourresu(e& That’s !e'ause you ne<er kno% %hat %i## turn an e(#oyer o88, and !e'ause e<enstu88 that you see as ositi<e 'ou#d !a'k8ire& Lo<e to ost i'tures o8 your kidsU The e(#oyer(ight ad(ire your de<otion to your 8a(i#y or %onder, ese'ia##y i8 you’re a %o(an, i8 you’re going to need to take a #ot o8 ti(e o88 8or 'hi#d'are& Like to skydi<eU The e(#oyer(ight ad(ire your guts, or %onder i8 you’## get inBured and raise her grou insuran'e 'osts&Hea<i#y in<o#<ed in so(e kind o8 'o((unity or o#iti'a# grouU She (ight ad(ire your'o((it(ent, or %onder i8 your in<o#<e(ent %i## inter8ere %ith your %ork duties or re8#e't!ad#y on her 'o(any&

Gi<en that you don’t kno% ho% the hirer %i## rea't, %hy introdu'e these otentia##ysa!otaging ie'es o8 in8or(ation into your a#i'ation ro'essU




When in dou!t, de#ete&These days, o8 'ourse, you shou#d a#so assu(e that rose'ti<e e(#oyers are

Goog#ing you and 'he'king u on you on Fa'e!ook, "ySa'e and other so'ia# net%orkingsites& You shou#d <isit those ages yourse#8, 8irst, and ree(ti<e#y de#ete anything

otentia##y da(aging or distra'ting, and a#so ask others to de#ete otentia##y da(agingin8or(ation a!out you 8ro( their sites&

P#ease re(e(!er, ho%e<er, that e<en %ith a 8a!u#ous %e!site or other on#ineresen'e, ?in erson@ net%orking is %here it’s at&

N+TE:-0& A#ina Tugend, ?o! Hunting isn’t What it 2sed to 4e,@ Ne% York Ti(es, M.5/.01&htt:..%%%&nyti(es&'o(.5001.0M.5/.!usiness.your(oney.5/short'uts&ht(#Ue(Qage%antedQa## & The arti'#e a#so oints out that !e'ause so (any to9ua#ity Bo!seekers are staying a%ay 8ro( Bo! !oards #ike "onster&'o(, (any hirers are starting to stay

a%ay 8ro( the(, too, and are #ooking e#se%here to 8ind good 'andidates&

5K& ? e'hni'a# Ski##s@ Q ?So8t Ski##s@ 4usiness Sa<<y

I8 you’re a 'o(uter geek, s'ientist, te'hni'ian or other te'hie, you ro!a!#yunderstood the 'hater tit#e to (ean that, in a Bo! sear'h, your te'hni'a# ski##s are #essi(ortant than or, at !est, eua##y i(ortant to your so9'a##ed ?so8t ski##s@ 3e&g&,'o((uni'ation, tea(%ork, #eadershi7 and your understanding o8, and a!i#ity to suort,the o<era## !usiness en<iron(ent in %hi'h your ski##s are used&

And that ro!a!#y (ade you (ad&3I8 you’re not a te'hie, kee reading this 'hater is 8or you, too&7Ji#!erts o8 the %or#d, #isten '#ose#y: I kno% you ha<e sent years de<e#oing your

te'hni'a# ski##s, and are roud o8 the(& 4ut those ski##s shou#d not !e the !e9a## and end9a## o8 your a#i'ation, 8or t%o <ery good reasons:

First, there are ro!a!#y (any 'andidates out there %ith ski##s eua# to yours, or e<en gas a #itt#e !etter& In 8a't, the hirer %i## ro!a!#y on#y !e 'onsidering eo#e %ith greatte'hni'a# ski##s, so te'hni'a# ski##s a#one %i## not !e a strong 'o(etiti<e di88erentiator 8or you or any other 'andidate&

Se'ond, (ost e(#oyers %ant to hire %e##9rounded e(#oyees& Sure, they’## %e#'o(ete'hni'a# !ri##ian'e, !ut on#y i8 it’s art o8 a strong o<era## a'kage& 3"any ha<e had thee>erien'e o8 hiring an o<er98o'used ?genius,@ %ith !ad resu#ts&7 Who %ou#d VyouV hire, 8orinstan'e, gi<en the 'hoi'e !et%een these t%o 'andidates:

The 8irst has e>'etiona# te'hni'a# ski##s !ut inter<ie%s oor#y, see(s #ike a #oner, isoor#y groo(ed, and has #uke%ar( re8eren'es& He a#so see(s arrogant, is a(!i<a#ent ornaZ<e a!out the !usiness 'onte>t in %hi'h his %ork takes #a'e 3?I Bust 'ode and #et the(arketers do their Bo!&@7, ANJ he #a'ks enthusias( 8or the Bo! !eing o88ered&

The se'ond has strong, a#though erhas not e>'etiona#, te'hni'a# ski##s& He a#so hasa terri8i' ersona#ity, #o<es %orking as art o8 a tea(, has a tra'k re'ord o8 %orking on




roBe'ts that !oosted 'o(any re<enues, and a#so terri8i' re8eren'es& +h, and he rea##y, rea##y%ants this arti'u#ar Bo!&

You’d hire the se'ond guyU I thought so& 3And, !y the %ay, those e>a(#es are notrea##y 8ar 8et'hed&7

It’s a 'o((on hu(an 8oi!#e, in'identa##y, to o<eresti(ate the <a#ue o8 assets %e o%n Bust !e'ause %e haen to o%n the(& There’s e<en a na(e 8or it, the ?endo%(ent e88e't8a##a'y&@ In a Bo! sear'h, the EEF tends to (ake you o<er<a#ue the ski##s you think you’re goodat 3o8ten, your te'hni'a# ski##s7, %hi#e under<a#uing others&-- This 'an not on#y 'ause you to(isread the hirer’s needs, !ut (ake you arrogant and 'o(#a'ent&

This ro!#e( is not #i(ited to ?te'hie@ te'hies, either& E<ery Bo! in'#udes a te'hni'a#'o(onent !e it hair sty#ing, 'arentry, a''ounting or 'ooking and thus any a#i'ant isat otentia# risk 8or o<er<a#uing his te'hni'a# ski##s re#ati<e to other Bo! reuire(ents& VVVInra'ti'e, this 8reuent#y resu#ts in an ?uside9do%n@ resu(e and inter<ie% in%hi'h the 'andidate e(hasiCes his #east9i(ortant ua#i8i'ations 3the

te'hni'a# ones7, %hi#e neg#e'ting or o(itting his (ost9i(ortant ones&VVV Isee this (istake Va## the ti(e,V and dis'uss it 8urther in the ne>t 'hater&Whether you’re a te'hie9te'hie or so(e other kind o8 te'hie, i8 this dis'ussion is

hitting ho(e, I re'o((end Jr& Lois Franke#’s 8a!u#ous !ook *to$ *a&otaging Your Career: /Proven *trategies to *ucceed 0 in *$ite of Yourself 34usiness P#us, 500/& IS4N: 0966M/1K907, in%hi'h she dis'usses ho% o<er9re#ying on one or t%o key strengths 'an derai# your 'areer&?There is no su!stitute 8or te'hni'a# 'o(eten'e&&&@ she %rites& ?Without it you !ui#d a'areer on ui'ksand& The ro!#e( is that (ost eo#e %ho derai# re#y on te'hni'a#'o(eten'e to the e>'#usion o8 a## other ne'essary !eha<iors& They think that e>ertise intheir 8ie#d shou#d !e enough to (aintain their 'areers& This (ay ha<e !een true in -M60 or

-M/0, !ut it is 8ar 8ro( true in today’s 'o(etiti<e %ork#a'e&@The tyi'a# (istakes o<er98o'used te'hies (ake, a''ording to Franke#, in'#ude:o<er#ooking the i(ortan'e o8 eo#e; not 8un'tioning e88e'ti<e#y as art o8 a tea(; not8o'using on i(age and 'o((uni'ation; insensiti<ity to the e88e't they ha<e on others;di88i'u#ty %orking %ith authority; too !road or too narro% a <ision; indi88eren'e to 'usto(eror '#ient needs; and a roensity 8or %orking in iso#ation&

"ost o8 us are good at 'ertain things, and !e'ause %e’re good at the( %e #ike doingthe( and !e'ause %e #ike doing the( %e do the( a #ot and get !etter at the(& It’s a 'y'#e and not a !ad one, either e>'et %hen you get so 'aught u in it that you ignore otheri(ortant tasks or 'hara'teristi's& To a<oid that ro!#e(, de<ote at #east a third o8 yourro8essiona# de<e#o(ent ti(e 3'#asses, indeendent study, (entoring, et'&7 to shoring u your %eaknesses, as oosed to !ui#ding on your strengths& Instead o8 taking yet anotherrogra((ing or hair sty#ing '#ass, 8or instan'e, take one on 'o((uni'ations, resentationski##s or a''ounting& And don’t Bust guess at %hat your %eak areas are ask trusted ad<isorsand (entors&

+8ten, !y the %ay, our %eaknesses are %eaknesses not !e'ause %e’re rea##y !ad at thetasks in uestion, !ut !e'ause %e ha<en’t de<oted enough ti(e to #earning and ra'ti'ingthe(& This 'an haen out o8 8ear 8or instan'e, %hen you a<oid (ath !e'ause you %ere to#das a kid you %ere !ad at it or Bust !e'ause you %ere !usy %ith other stu88 during your




'areer& So(eti(es, in other %ords, on#y a s(a## e88ort is needed to turn a %eakness into astrength, or at #east a neutra# ua#ity&

It’s a#so a good strategy to assu(e that your 'o(etition is at #east good as you are,te'hni'a##y& That %i## kee you hu(!#e and en'ourage you to do your !est at a## ase'ts o8

the a#i'ation ro'ess, instead o8 o<er9re#ying on your te'hni'a# ski##s& ust don’t goo<er!oard and de<a#ue yourse#8&

N+TE--& Another e>a(#e o8 the EEF is %hen %e try to se## a 'ar or house 8or (ore than %eourse#<es %ou#d !e %i##ing to ay i8 so(eone e#se %ere se##ing it to us&

56& Jon’t =o((oditiCe Yourse#8

No (atter ho% great your te'hni'a# ski##s are, they shou#d rea##y !e the starting ointo8 your a#i'ation, not the end& A rogra((er %ho re#ies so#e#y on his a#ha!et9sou #ist o8#anguages and 'erti8i'ations 3a<a, "L, =SS, Per#, ABa>, et'&7 has retty (u'h ensured thathis resu(e %i## !e #a'ed in the ?nothing se'ia#@ i#e a#ong %ith those o8 (any othera#ha!et9sou a#i'ants& What he’s done, in sa#es ter(s, is turn hi(se#8 into a 'o((odity,%hi'h is a rodu't or ser<i'e that the 'usto(er 3in this 'ase, hirer7 8ee#s she 'an o!tain 8ro((any sour'es, and there8ore de<a#ues&

4ut the rogra((er %ho 'an 'on<ey the 8o##o%ing (essage is anything !ut a'o((odity:

?We##, yes, I’<e !een doing a<a rogra((ing 8or 8i8teen years, and a( Sun 'erti8ied& And I’(a#so high#y e>erien'ed in "L, HT"L, Per# and ABa>& 4ut %hat I’( rea##y good at is #eadingtea(s that de#i<er high9re#ia!i#ity, #o%9(aintenan'e 'ode, and a#i'ations that are rea##yintuiti<e and easy to use& We did a giant 'usto(er ser<i'e a#i'ation, #ast year, and it %as soeasy to use that there %ere ra'ti'a##y no training 'osts& It got %ritten u in =o(uterWor#d,and #ed to our 'o(any getting three ne% a''ounts in one (onth&@

Jitto i8 you’re a hair sty#ist, 'arenter, a''ountant, 'ook or anyone e#se& A good(essage 8or a short9order 'ook to 'on<ey, 8or instan'e, (ight !e so(ething #ike this:

?We##, yes, I 'an retty (u'h reare anything that 'o(es o88 a gri##, and 8or t%o out o8 the#ast three years I’<e gotten a 4est =he8 a%ard 8ro( the #o'a# ne%saer& 4ut %hat I’( rea##ygood at is !ui#ding kit'hen tea(s that %ork together %e## and 'an hand#e rea##y high<o#u(es& In (y 'urrent Bo!, %e’<e got 8i<e eo#e doing -K0 #un'hes an hour, 8ro( -- ti## 5:D0e<ery %eekday& And they’<e a## !een %ith (e 8or at #east t%o years& 4e8ore I 'a(e on !oard,the restaurant %ere on#y doing 10 #un'hes an hour %ith three e(#oyees, and the turno<er%as huge&&&@

P#ease note that, in !oth e>a(#es, the 'andidate is ?doing it #ike Jud#ey@ 3see =hater




-/7: seaking to the hirer’s needs and goa#s& That’s redu'ed 'ode (aintenan'e and training'osts, and in'reased re<enues, in the 'ase o8 the rogra((er; and redu'ed oerationa# 'ostsand in'reased re<enues, in the 'ase o8 the 'ook& 3See a atternU7 It’s de8inite#y i(ortant to(ention your 'erti8i'ations and a%ards, sin'e they (ay !e a reuired ?'he'k(ark,@ and a#so

!e'ause they (ight distinguish you 8ro( other 'andidates and he# the hirer 8ee# sa8e hiring you& 4ut they ro!a!#y %on’t !e the de'iding 8a'tor that #ands you the Bo!& $ather, it %i## !e your a!i#ity to #isten to, understand, and seak to, the hirer’s i(ortant needs or <a#ues&

This !a#an'ing o8 your te'hni'a# and non9te'hni'a# ua#i8i'ations shou#d o''urthroughout the a#i'ation ro'ess& It shou#d !e <ery o!<ious in your resu(e, inter<ie%,thank you notes, and the things your re8eren'es say a!out you& P#ease note that it’s notsi(#y a (atter o8 saying a 8e% !uCC%ords, #ike ?I #ike to %ork as art o8 a tea(,@ !utsho%ing, through 'are8u# 8ra(ing o8 your e>erien'e and ua#i8i'ations that these are'entra#, i(ortant <a#ues in your %ork #i8e&

5/& he =ru'ia# I(ortan'e o8 Fra(ing

Fra(ing is the art o8 de'iding %hat ?story@ you %ant to te## a hirer, and then te##ing ite88e'ti<e#y& "ore se'i8i'a##y, it’s a!out %hi'h detai#s you in'#ude or e(hasiCe in youra#i'ation, and %hi'h you dee(hasiCe or o(it&

NaZ<e 'andidates think a## they ha<e to do is 'ough u a #ist o8 their e>erien'e andua#i8i'ations, and they’re done& S(art 'andidates, in 'ontrast, kno% that that #ist is (ere#ythe !eginning: on'e you ha<e it, you i'k and 'hoose, arrange and rearrange, e(hasiCe anddee(hasiCe, unti# those e>erien'es and ua#i8i'ations add u to the strongest ossi!#e

story 8or the e(#oyer it is ai(ed at& 3?Strongest ossi!#e,@ !y the %ay, (eans HIAPiest and(ost enthusiasti'&7S(art HIAPy 'andidates ne<er sto t%eaking their a#i'ations so that the 8ra(ing is

as o%er8u# as ossi!#e&Fra(ing is so o%er8u# that it 'an, and o8ten does, se## the di88eren'e !et%een !eing

hired and !eing assed o<er ear#y in the ro'ess& It is so o%er8u# that you 'an e<en use it toturn negati<es into ositi<es& As (entioned in =hater M, %hen %orking %ith i((igrants, 8ore>a(#e, I o8ten ha<e the( e(hasiCe their !i#ingua#is( and 'o(8ort %ith di<erse 'u#tures strong ad<antages 8or (any Bo!s& I a#so o8ten ha<e the( dis'uss the strong tradition o8hosita#ity in their ho(e#ands another e>tre(e#y attra'ti<e ua#ity to hirers, ese'ia##y in8ie#ds su'h as retai# and touris(& Thus, 8ra(ing 'auses their ?8oreignness,@ %hi'h nor(a##y%ou#d !e neutra# or a dra%!a'k, to (agi'a##y !e'o(e a strong asset&

In =hater M, I (entioned ho% (any Bo! sear'hers !e#ie<e that ha<ing one or t%o%eaknesses %i## doo( their a#i'ation& In so(e 'ases, this (ay !e true, !ut there are (any'ases %hen it isn’t true, and the a#i'ant is !eing too essi(isti'& The strategy, in su'h asituation, is not to gi<e u, !ut 8ra(e #ike (ad& For near#y e<ery %eakness you 'an think o8,there’s ro!a!#y an a#ternati<e e>#anation or 'o(ensating 8a'tor that you 'an e(hasiCeas art o8 your 8ra(e:

For the ?%eakness@ o8 !eing (idd#e aged, there’s the 'o(ensation o8 %isdo( and




Budg(ent 3so(ething that, i8 they thought a!out it, e(#oyers shou#d <a#ue high#y in astrugg#ing e'ono(y %here there’s not (u'h roo( 8or error7&

For the %eakness o8 !eing Bust out o8 s'hoo# 3not (u'h %ork e>erien'e7, there’s the'o(ensation o8 enthusias(, energy and a %i##ingness to #earn&

For the %eakness o8 not kno%ing a 'ertain ski##s, there’s the 'o(ensation that youkno% a## o8 these other i(ortant ski##s, and are a 8ast #earner !esides&

For the %eakness o8 ha<ing s%it'hed Bo!s a #itt#e too 8reuent#y, there’s the'o(ensation o8 ha<ing di<erse e>erien'e and (any 'onta'ts&

Et'&A#ong %ith (ini(iCing your ro8essiona# ?Cits,@ 8ra(ing %i## a#so he# you

de'o((oditiCe yourse#8 3see re<ious 'hater7 and resent yourse#8 as so(eone as '#ose toidea# as ossi!#e 8or the Bo! in uestion&

Here’s ho% one 'andidate I kno% did an e>'e##ent Bo! o8 8ra(ing& As a (idd#e9aged,reentering ho(e(aker %ho %as a#so trying to s%it'h 8ro( !anking to nonro8it %ork, in

theory she had three strikes against her a#though her a#i'ation %as 8ra(ed so %e## you%ou#dn’t say she had any&Here’s an e>'ert 8ro( her 'o<er #etter: ?A8ter near#y t%enty years in !anking, and

taking so(e ti(e to raise (y daughters, I de'ided that I %as ready to e>#ore the ne>t haseo8 (y 'areer& This ti(e I 8e#t <ery strong#y a!out he#ing eo#e in need&@ Noti'e ho% she(entions her ti(e o88 ear#y on and <ery (atter9o898a't#y& She’s 'on<eying the (essage, ?Idon’t think it’s a !ig dea# that I’( on (y se'ond 'areer, and a#so took ti(e o88 to raise (y kids9 and you shou#dn’t either&@ I think she’s ersuasi<e on that oint&

She then goes on to des'ri!e 'ourses she has taken in hu(an ser<i'es %ork, and a#sothe #ogi' under#ying her 'areer shi8t: ?I !egan to think a!out 'o(!ining (y 8inan'ia#

kno%#edge and ski##s %ith (y interest in so'ia# ser<i'es& Finan'ia# #itera'y is one o8 the areasthat i((ediate#y 'a(e to (ind&@ 4y 'onne'ting the dots 8or the hirer, she (akes hertransition see( <ery #ogi'a#, and her atyi'a# !a'kground an asset&

She 'ontinues the 8ra(ing in her resu(e, %hi'h !egins %ith her re'ent hu(anser<i'es 'ourse%ork, and then ro<ides a #ist o8 ersona# ua#ities and 'o(eten'ies that%ou#d !e use8u# in a hu(an ser<i'es organiCation& +8ten, 'o(eten'ies #ists are generi' and!oring, !ut hers is uite se'i8i' and interesting& The 8irst three entries are:

VA!i#ity to understand others’ e>erien'es and erse'ti<es;VA!i#ity to understand and interret interersona# data and use it to a''ess situations

and strategiCe aroriate resonses; andVA!i#ity to (o<e 8ro( e>ert to non9e>ert ro#e %ith genuine oenness to !eing

in8#uen'ed !y and #earning 8ro( others&These de(onstrate not Bust ersona#ity traits that %ou#d aid in hu(an ser<i'es %ork,

!ut %isdo( and (aturity& As su'h, they are a#so o%er8u##y ersuasi<e&+n#y a8ter out#ining her hu(an ser<i'es ua#i8i'ations does she #ist her !anking Bo!s

the in8or(ation (ost naZ<e 'andidates %ou#d start %ith& And e<en in that se'tion, she’s'are8u# to a<oid Bargon, and to #ist su''esses ne% a''ounts %on, a%ards re'ei<ed, et'& thata hirer in a non9!anking 8ie#d %ou#d re#ate to&

It shou#d go %ithout saying that, %ith HIAP, you 8ra(e your a#i'ation not on'e, !ut




8or ea'h indi<idua# Bo! you a#y 8or& E<en i8 you’re a#ying 8or %ork at 8i<e s(a##a''ounting 8ir(s that suer8i'ia##y #ook identi'a#, there %i## !e di88eren'es in their history,'u#ture, aroa'h, '#ient !ase, %ork (ethods, et'& So(e o8 these di88eren'es (ight !edra(ati', %hi#e others (ight !e su!t#e, !ut i8 you 'an identi8y the( through resear'h and

net%orking, and then seak to ea'h 8ir(’s indi<idua# needs <ia 8ra(ing, you %i## send a <eryo%er8u# HIAP Enthusias( (essage&

Yes, 8ra(ing 'an take so(e ti(e, !ut it’s yet another one o8 those see(ing#y ti(e9'onsu(ing HIAP tasks that is, in rea#ity, a short'ut to getting hired&

Ei#ogue

At this oint, (ost Bo! sear'h !ooks %ou#d in'#ude (any 'haters on ta'ti's, in'#udingho% to net%ork, ho% to %rite a resu(e and 'o<er #etter, ho% to inter<ie%, et'& I don’t, so I

kno% I’( kind o8 #ea<ing you hanging 3e>'et don’t 8orget to read the three Aendi'es,!e#o%&7

I’( not in'#uding those 'haters art#y !e'ause it’s a #ot o8 %ork to %rite a 8ree !ook,and so I need to sto at a reasona!#e #a'e, and a#so art#y !e'ause that kind o8 in8or(ation isa#ready a<ai#a!#e 8ro( (any other sour'es& The thing you shou#d do is 8o##o% the instru'tionsin those other sour'es %hi#e a#ying the rin'i#es and strategy dis'ussed in this e!ook&This (eans a#ying HIAP Enthusias( to a## hases o8 the a#i'ation ro'ess, %hi#e a#soa#ying 8or Bo!s ui'k#y, getting the detai#s right, not o<erre#ying on te'hno#ogy, not'o((oditiCing yourse#8, aggressi<e#y 8ra(ing yourse#8, et'& +h, and a#so 8o##o%ing the 'ru'ia#ad<i'e in Part I: seeking he# i8 you need it, 'u#ti<ating oti(is(, not !eing rigid or i'ky,

in<esting in se#89'are, (anaging your ti(e, !eing 8ruga#, et'&I8 enough eo#e te## (e they 8ind this e!ook use8u#, I (ay %rite the ta'ti's art& Let(e kno%, and in any 'ase, I %e#'o(e your 'o((ents and 8eed!a'k&

I %on’t %ish you good #u'k on your Bo! sear'h, !ut so(ething (u'h (ore <a#ua!#e good ski##s

Hi##ary $ettig4oston, "A Je'e(!er, 5001hi##aryrettig)yahoo&'o(

APPENJI I & =oing %ith $eBe'tion and +ther Set!a'ks !y Hi##ary $ettig3sour'e: htt:..#i8e#onga'ti<ist&'o(.!#og.5-.'oing9%ith9reBe'tion9and9other9set!a'ks 7

-& A Serious $eBe'tion

I’<e !een a ro8essiona# %riter 8or de'ades, and %hi#e editors so(eti(es send (y %ork!a'k 8or re<ision, it’s !een a #ong ti(e sin'e a ie'e %as reBe'ted outright& We##, re'ent#y ithaened, and !ig ti(e& The reBe'tion itse#8 %as 'rue# the editor not on#y 'ritiued the




arti'#e itse#8, !ut the ideas under#ying it, and in retty harsh #anguage and, (oreo<er, theessay in uestion %as one I %as rea##y roud o8, and had #a!ored hard on&

To (ake (atters %orse, I had !een ?'ourting@ this u!#isher 3a #i!era# !#og7 8or (orethan a year& I a#so thought that i8 they ran (y ie'e it %ou#d not on#y gi<e (e huge

'redi!i#ity, !ut huge e>osure ossi!#y e<en a 'areer !reakthrough& So there %as a #otriding on this arti'u#ar su!(ission&

And, to to it o88, this reBe'tion 'a(e on the hee#s o8 a !un'h o8 other ro8essiona# andersona# ones& So, taken a## together, it %as a deressing s'enario& I a'tua##y %rote a8riend.(entor a <ery deressed note in %hi'h I des'ri!ed the situation and %ondered?%hether I’( on the right ath&@

5& =oing Phi#osohies

In a (o(ent, I’## share %ith you the a'tions I took to 'oe& 4ut 8irst #et (e share %ith

you the three rin'i#es under#ying those a'tions:-7 +!Be'ti<ity& E<en in the deths o8 desonden'y, I sti## stro<e 8or as ositi<e, oro!Be'ti<e, a <ie% o8 (y situation as I 'ou#d& In the sa(e deressed note in %hi'h I uestioned(y ath, I a#so %rote that, ?I a( (aking i(ro<e(ents in a## o8 the areas noted&@ Thato!Be'ti<ity is <ery i(ortant !oth on its o%n (erits and !e'ause it ro<ides a nu'#eus o8hoe that is e(o%ering&

57 Took the situation serious#y& I think the !est thing I did %as not to underesti(atethe urgen'y o8 the situation, or its otentia# to under(ine (e& I there8ore took i((ediatestrong stes to 'ountera't the de!i#itating sha(e it 'aused&

D7 2sed the ?!oo(erang&@ This is a te'hniue 8ro( =aro#yn See’s e>'e##ent !ook

1a"ing a Literary Life: Advice for Writers and %ther 'reaers, in %hi'h she suggests resonding toa reBe'tion in an e(o%ered %ay, su'h as !y %riting a note to the editor thanking her 8or'onsidering your ie'e& A'ting e(o%ered he#s you 8ee# e(o%ered, and 'ountera'ts thesha(e&

D& The A'tua# =oing

No%, here are the a'tions I took:When I 8irst read the reBe'ting e(ai#, I 8e#t a <ague disaoint(ent, !ut the 8u## i(a't

o8 the reBe'tion hadn’t sunk in& I (ost#y 8e#t a sense o8 deta'h(ent or disso'iation, %hi'h is arote'ti<e strategy& I a#(ost ne<er 8ee# this %ay in (y ro8essiona# #i8e, any (ore, so thisindi'ates a <ery !ad situation&

A 8e% (inutes #ater, I %as #ess deta'hed, and a!#e to re'ogniCe !oth the artia#a''ura'y and inaroriateness harshness o8 the 'riti'is(, as %e## as the 8a't that I had?8ai#ed&@ Then I did start to 8ee# sha(e: I a'tua##y got si'k to (y sto(a'h&

I reso#<ed to %ork hard to 'o(!at (y 8ee#ings o8 sha(e and dise(o%er(ent& First, I!oo(eranged: I %rote !a'k to the editor and thanked her 8or her 8eed!a'k, and noted that it(ust ha<e !een a di88i'u#t note 8or her to send& 3She a'tua##y shou#dn’t ha<e sent it at a##, !ut'a##ed, gi<en our ro8essiona# re#ationshi and the 'ontent o8 her 'o((uni'ation&7 I did




!rie8#y re!ut a 'ou#e o8 her oints, !ut that %asn’t the (ain art o8 (y note& She %rote !a'kthanking (e 8or (y ?gra'iousness&@

I %as sti## #e8t 8ee#ing !ere8t& 3This is %hen I %rote the deressed note it %ou#d ha<e!een !etter to 'a## (y 8riend, !y the %ay, !ut he %as out o8 the 'ountry&7 I had no idea %hat

to do %ith (yse#8& The dogs, erhas sensing an oortunity, started '#a(oring to go 8or a%a#k, a#though they had Bust !een out t%o hours ear#ier& Not kno%ing %hat e#se to do, and8iguring that at #east so(eone in the househo#d ought to !e hay, I took the( out 8or a #ong%a#k& It %as 8reeCing out, and the %a#k didn’t rea##y he# (y (ood, !ut it didn’t hurt, either&

Then I did (y dai#y errands, !ut as I (ade (y rounds, I sent a!out \K0 e>tra on treats8or (yse#8 8ood, 8#o%ers, so(e 8un o88i'e su#ies& So(e eo#e (ight see that asirresonsi!#e or es'aist, !ut to (e a treat is Bust that so(ething you %ou#dn’t ordinari#ydo& It doesn’t ha<e to !e a!out (oney a #u>urious !athtu! soak or uttering around in thegarden 'an %ork Bust as %e## !ut o8ten, sending a !it o8 (oney does he#, ro<ided youdon’t !reak the !ank&

Treating yourse#8 during ti(es o8 'risis sends the (essage that, desite the 8ai#ure, youare a good and %orth%hi#e erson& This is 'ru'ia# !e'ause eo#e %ho #et their 8ai#ures de8inethe( o8ten are too a8raid to take risks, and %ind u %ith a ro'rastination ro!#e( or !#o'k&3It’s a#so i(ortant to treat yourse#8 %hen things are going %e##, !y the %ay treat yourse#8as o8ten as ossi!#e7

Later that sa(e day, I %as !oosted %hen another %riting roBe't #ess i(ortant, !utsti## %orth%hi#e %as !etter re'ei<ed&

Around -- &(& that night, I started %riting this essay& =#assi', e(o%ered !oo(erang:%riting %e## is the !est re<enge&

The ne>t day, I re(ained disaointed !ut %as a!#e to (ost#y 'ontinue %ith (y

ordinary %ork as i8 nothing had haened& I a#so !egan to 8ee# %hat I 'onsider a hea#thyresent(ent o<er the harshness o8 the reBe'tion& Later, I %as to %rite the editor a!out that stating (y truth and her !oss gra'ious#y 'a##ed and a'kno%#edged his organiCation’s(istakes and ao#ogiCed& At that oint, the issue %as tru#y in (y ast&

&The Lessons

When I %as younger and #a'ked strong 'oing ski##s, a reBe'tion #ike that %ou#d ha<eset (e !a'k (onths or e<en years& I think the key thing I ha<e #earned is to rioritiCe 'oing%ith set!a'ks, !e'ause i8 you don’t 'oe, the 'onseuent gui#t, sha(e, and disaoint(ent'an re(ain ?unro'essed@ and 8ester& "any eo#e, either !e'ause a set!a'k is too ain8u#, or!e'ause they underesti(ate ho% under(ining it has the otentia# to !e, (ake the (istake o8trying to ignore their ain8u# 8ee#ings and ush on %ith their %ork&

A#so, i8 you tend to%ard negati<ity, you (ay (ake the 'o((on (istake o8 ?o<er9!#a(ing yourse#8&@ eeing an o!Be'ti<e <ie%oint in %hi'h I took resonsi!i#ity 8or (y o%n(istakes !ut did not assu(e resonsi!i#ity 8or the (istakes as others, a#so he#ed (ere'o<er&

It he#ed enor(ous#y that the editor’s !oss 'a##ed (e and took resonsi!i#ity 8or hise(#oyees’ (istakes and ao#ogiCed& 2n8ortunate#y, there are (any eo#e in the %or#d %ho




%on’t do that& 4ut e<en i8 you are !#a(ed un8air#y ese'ia##y i8 you are you shou#d stri<eto !e <ery '#ear and o!Be'ti<e in your o%n (ind a!out, 3a7 %hat you did %rong, 3!7 %hat youdidn’t do %rong, and ] %hat others did %rong that 'ontri!uted to the situation; and try <eryhard not #et others 8oist their (istakes onto you& Friends and (entors 'an !e <ery he#8u# in

this regard, %hi'h is one reason you shou#d 'onsu#t the( as soon as ossi!#e a8ter a seriousset!a'k&

I’## ha<e so(e (ore to say on the i(ortant toi' o8 'oing %ith set!a'k #ater&"ean%hi#e, I hoe this essay has !een use8u# to you& I8 you’<e got uestions or are strugg#ing%ith your o%n set!a'k e>erien'e, 8ee# 8ree to e(ai# (e at #i8e#onga'ti<ist at yahoo dot 'o(&

APPENJI II & he "ar<e#ous "entor "enta#ity and Ho% it =an He# YouSu''eed !y Hi##ary $ettig3sour'e: htt:..#i8e#onga'ti<ist&'o(.!#og.56-.the9(ar<e#ous9(entor9(indset9and9ho%9it9

'an9he#9you9su''eed 7

Ho% i(ortant are (entorsU Let’s Bust say that e<eryone I’<e e<er (et %ho %as stu'kin their #i8e or 'areer %as se<ere#y under9(entored& In o#den days, (entoring %as ro!a!#y(ore o8 an auto(ati' ro'ess: you gre% u %orking a#ongside your arents on the 8ar(, orarenti'ed %ith a 'ra8tserson or #o'a# !usiness o%ner& These days, you o8ten ha<e to %orka #itt#e harder to 8ind (entors&

"entoring is genera##y a (ore e>ansi<e, #ess9stru'tured 8or( o8 tea'hing in %hi'h you gain not Bust kno%#edge, !ut %isdo( and erse'ti<e& "entors are arti'u#ar#y use8u# 8or#i8e and 'areer #anning, and 8or guiding you through 'o(#e> roBe'ts that %ou#d !e hard to

#earn so#e#y through !ooks: 8or instan'e, art, s'ien'e and entrereneurshi& "entors are a#soo8ten %e## 'onne'ted, and use their 'onne'tions to he# their (entees& A sing#e hone 'a##8ro( a (entor (ay !e a## it takes to get you a ne% Bo! or a ne% 'usto(er 8or your !usiness&S(a## %onder that roer (entoring 'an take years or e<en de'ades o88 the ti(e it takes youto su''eed at your goa#s or se## the di88eren'e !et%een su''ess and 8ai#ure&

Idea##y, you shou#d ha<e at #east one (entor 8or e<ery i(ortant area in your #i8e,in'#uding not Bust your 'areer !ut (arriage.artnershi, arenting, hea#th and 8itness,ersona# 8inan'e, and any assionate a<o'ations #ike art or o#iti'a# a'ti<is(& You 'an a#soha<e (entors 8or #i8e’s s(a##er 'ha##enges& Your !rother9in9#a% the ra!id G^ reader 'ou#d(entor you on 8ashion and groo(ing& +r, your neigh!or %ith the green thu(! 'ou#d (entor you in your uest to gro% an organi' garden&

"any under9(entored eo#e assu(e that (entors are in short su#y, and a#so thatotentia# (entors %ou#d !e un%i##ing to %ork %ith the(& Not so "entors are e<ery%here,and (any are g#ad to he#& Here are so(e tis on 8inding and %orking %ith (entors&

3-7 Start S(a##& "entors tend to !e !usy eo#e %ho get asked 8or he# a #ot, so(eti(es!y eo#e %ho are not serious or 8o'used& There8ore, %hen aroa'hing a otentia# (entor,(ake sure she 3or he7 understands that you are one o8 the serious ones !y (aking a se'i8i',8o'used, ersona#iCed and reasona!#e reuest, su'h as, ?Your re'ent arti'#e on ho% to gain




'onsensus %ithin di<erse 'o((unities %as a(aCing& I’( %orking on a roBe't to !ring<egetarian (ea#s to our di<erse s'hoo# distri't and a( running into resistan'e 8ro( di88erentgrous o8 arents& Wou#d you !e %i##ing to ta#k %ith (e 8or K or -0 (inutes at your'on<enien'e on ho% I 'ou#d get the( on !oardU@

Note that the asker does not ask the #istener to ?!e (y (entor,@ or e<en use the %ord?(entor&@ What you’re asking 8or right no% is a 8a<or, not a re#ationshi: i8 the re#ationshiis destined to de<e#o, it %i##& Jon’t 8or'e it&

"any eo#e %i## resond ositi<e#y to su'h a reuest in'#uding so(e %ho( you(ight think too !usy or 8a(ous& +8 'ourse, others %on’t& I8 you get reBe'ted !y a otentia#(entor, don’t take it to heart go right out and ask so(eone e#se&

I8 your initia# 'on<ersation goes %e##, there’s a good 'han'e the erson %i## in<ite youto stay in tou'h or 'o(e !a'k %ith other uestions& No% you ha<e the !eginnings o8 a(entor re#ationshi&

357 A#%ays 4e Pro8essiona#& When 'a##ing or <isiting a (entor, !e ro(t, rearedand 8o'used& Jon’t go ast the agreed9on ti(e a#though, i8 the (entor is enBoying the'on<ersation, she (ight, %hi'h is 8ine& In your dis'ussion, 8o'us on ro!#e(9so#<ing, ratherthan on ho% (isera!#e the ro!#e( is (aking you 8ee#& Later on, send a sin'ere and heart8e#t3!ut not gushy7 thank you note&

3D7 A#%ays Ask the ey ^uestion& So(eti(e during e<ery dis'ussion %ith a (entor, you shou#d ask so(ething #ike, ?Jo you kno% o8 anyone e#se %ho (ight !e a!#e to ad<ise (eon this situationU@ And then, o8 'ourse, 8o##o% through& This %i## he# you !ui#d your (entornet%ork&

37 Stay in Tou'h& I8 you 'onta't your (entors on#y %hen you need he# they %i##ro!a!#y 8ee# used& Instead, 'onta't the( e<ery 8e% (onths Bust to #et the( kno% ho% thingsare going, and ese'ia##y to share any re#e<ant good ne%s&

3K7 $e'iro'ate "entoring shou#d !e a t%o9%ay street& E<en (entors %ho are <erysu''ess8u# are'iate and e>e't return <a#ue& So(eti(es, it 'an !e hard to see %hat you'an use8u##y o88er a (ore9su''ess8u# (entor& 4ut e<ery (entor are'iates re'ei<ing use8u#arti'#es or other in8or(ation they (ight ha<e (issed, or an o88er o8 he# %hen their o%ns'hedu#es get 'ro%ded And, 8ina##y

367 "entor Yes, Y+2 shou#d !e a (entor& First, !e'ause it’s good kar(a to gi<e !a'k,and, se'ond, !e'ause (entoring 8osters your o%n gro%th and su''ess& 3No% you kno% %hyso (any su''ess8u# eo#e do it7 "entoring 8reshens your out#ook, sharens your strengthsand ski##s, and e>oses you to ne% eo#e and <ie%oints& So get out there and 8ind a Bunior'o##eague, student, or so(eone e#se to (entor&

Think you don’t kno% enough to !e a (entorU Think again: I’<e ne<er (et anyone%ho didn’t ha<e <a#ua!#e %isdo( or e>erien'e to i(art&




So, go 8orth and !e (entored and (entor "entoring is a re'ious re#ationshi, anda (ar<e#ous#y 'o(assionate and rodu'ti<e (indset, so #et’s a## %ork together to !ui#d a%or#d %here %e’re a## (entoring ea'h other to #earn, gro% and !e hay&

APPENJI III & So#<ing Pro!#e(s <ersus Jithering !y Hi##ary $ettigadated 8ro( The Lifelong Activist: How to Change the World Without Losing Your Way !y Hi##ary$ettig& Lantern 4ooks, 5006&%%%&#i8e#onga'ti<ist&'o(

So#<ing a ro!#e( (eans taking se'i8i' a'tions su'h as o!ser<ing its sy(to(s or(ani8estations; re'ise#y de8ining it; resear'hing it and its ossi!#e so#utions; de<e#oing astrategy 8or so#<ing it; testing the strategy; i(#e(enting the strategy i8 it tests %e##; ande<a#uating su''ess or 8ai#ure&

Jithering in'#udes a## the other things you do a!out your ro!#e(s, in'#uding%orrying, 8ee#ing gui#ty, !eating yourse#8 u, 'o(#aining to 8a(i#y and 8riends, and 8ee#ingsorry 8or yourse#8&

Jithering is erni'ious& It gi<es you the i##usion that you are so#<ing your ro!#e(, sothat you don’t ha<e to 8ee# gui#ty 8or ignoring it& It a#so gi<es you the i##usion that you are(aking rogress, so that you don’t ha<e to 8ee# #ike you’<e gi<en u hoe& 4ut ditheringdoesn’t rea##y so#<e your ro!#e(& VVV he ha##(ark o8 dithering is that, no (atterho% #ong or serious#y you do it, the ro!#e( ne<er gets so#<ed&VVV Sad#y, this istrue e<en in 'ases %here a erson dithers 8or de'ades, or his or her %ho#e #i8e&

Ho% do you kno% %hen you’re dithering <ersus so#<ingU Easy: i8 you’<e !een %orking

to so#<e your ro!#e(, !ut (aking no rogress, you’re ro!a!#y dithering& E<en the toughestro!#e( is so#<a!#e, at #east to so(e degree _ and it o8ten takes on#y a s(a## a(ount o8a'tua# so#<ing to (ake noti'ea!#e rogress& I8, there8ore, you are (aking no rogress then you are a#(ost 'ertain#y dithering&

Another di88eren'e !et%een dithering and so#<ing is that dithering tends to 8o'us onthe ro!#e(, %hi#e so#<ing 8o'uses on the so#ution& That isn’t an a!so#ute ru#e, !e'ause arto8 %hat you do to so#<e a ro!#e( is 'hara'teriCe and ana#yCe it& 4ut i8 a## you are doing isthinking a!out the ro!#e( and ho% (isera!#e it’s (aking you, and you’re not de<oting anyti(e to designing and i(#e(enting a so#ution, then you are dithering&

Another di88eren'e is that dithering tends to o''ur in iso#ation& You do it yourse#8, inthe ri<a'y o8 your o%n roo(, or at #east in the ri<a'y o8 your o%n thoughts& When you'on8ide in 8riends and others, you use those 'on<ersations (ore to <ent, or to see your o%nideas and e(otions e'hoed !a'k at you, than to o!ser<e, de8ine, et'& "ay!e you don’t e<en#isten <ery '#ose#y to %hat the other eo#e are saying, or ignore their ad<i'e&

So#<ing, on the other hand, usua##y in<o#<es other eo#e _ and not Bust your 8riends,!ut ro8essiona#s su'h as a do'tor, theraist, siritua# ad<isor, t%e#<e9ste sonsor, tea'heror (entor& And, o8ten, (ore than one o8 those& And instead o8 using these eo#e as an e'ho9'ha(!er to re8#e't your o%n thoughts and 8ee#ings !a'k at you, you #isten '#ose#y to %hatthey are saying and do your !est to 8o##o% their ad<i'e&

http://www.lifelongactivist.com/

http://www.lifelongactivist.com/




4e'ause (any Bo! seekers tend to !e asha(ed and inse'ure, they ha<e a natura#in'#ination to%ard iso#ation& 4ut (ost o8 #i8e’s toughest ro!#e(s, in'#uding Bo! sear'hes, are!est so#<ed %ithin a strong 'o((unity& "u'h o8 the %ork you need to do to 8ind a Bo!a(ounts to !ui#ding that 'o((unity, <ia net%orking, ne%s#etters, <o#unteering and other

(ethods&Jithering is a 8or( o8 ro'rastination, a'tua##y& Pro'rastination is a !eha<ior o8ten

grounded in 8ear o8 reBe'tion, 8ai#ure, su''ess or 'hange& The urose o8 ro'rastination isto N+T (ake rogress i&e&, to not ad<an'e to%ard the 'hange that s'ares us and it o8ten%orks se'ta'u#ar#y %e##& An artist %ho is terri8ied o8 !eing reBe'ted !y ga##eries or 'riti'sneed on#y ro'rastinate #ike (ad and ne<er 8inish a ainting to a<oid 8a'ing that ossi!i#ity&Jon’t get (e %rong: ro'rastination 8ee#s a%8u#& 4ut 8or ro'rastinators, the ain o8 not8inishing one’s %ork is usua##y the #esser o8 t%o e<i#s&

"any eo#e ro'rastinate on their Bo! sear'h& So(eti(es they Bust do uni(ortant?!usy@ %ork a## day instead o8 net%orking and other i(ortant %ork one o8

ro'rastination’s (ain ta'ti's !eing to (i(i' rodu'ti<e %ork and so(eti(es they Bustgi<e u and %e! sur8 or utter around the house a## day& And (any o8 the( 8ee# a hugea(ount o8 gui#t a!out their ro'rastination& The rea#ity, ho%e<er, is that #ooking 8or %ork isone o8 the %orst e>erien'es (any o8 us %i## e<er 8a'e it’s se<era# un#easant e>erien'esro##ed into one, rea##y& I don’t !#a(e anyone 8or %anting to ro'rastinate on it&

4ut ro'rastination, %hi#e an understanda!#e resonse, is not an oti(a# one, !e'auseit o8ten #eads to (ore ain and regret in the #ong run& ust as the artist %i## ro!a!#ye<entua##y regret the 8a't that she ne<er ga<e her ainting a rea# shot, i8 youro'rastinate.dither a #ot on your Bo! sear'h, you %i## ro!a!#y regret it, too& So, #ease: see atheraist or use other te'hniues to dea# 8orthright#y %ith your 8ears so that you 'an !e the

(ost e88e'ti<e and HIAPy Bo! sear'her you 'an !e, and get e(#oyed again as soon asossi!#e&

VVVENJ +F E4++VVV

The HIAPy Guide to Finding Work in a Tough Job Market

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