(4.57 from 5)
The term “unemployed executive” is not an oxymoron - too often the two words do go together. In today’s business climate, rife with corporate buyouts, staff restructuring, slashed budgets, and rapidly changing initiatives, highly placed executives often get caught in the corporate grist mill and find themselves out of a job. Unemployed executives face unique challenges because they are highly skilled specialists with high price tags. The perfect job doesn’t come along very often, so their job searches can be long, emotionally trying, and financially difficult. But those who are resilient, with a solid core of self-confidence, and who follow a few simple rules, emerge from their job search stronger, and better employed.
The following are some basic rules that you, the job-searching executive, should keep in mind as you navigate through your jobless period.
Believe in yourself and your abilities; have faith
If you were previously well employed, you will be again. It will simply take time to find another great job. You need to trust in your abilities and remain focused on your life goals.
A long and grueling job search takes a heavy toll on a person’s self-confidence, particularly for executives who have never had to scramble for work. You need to dig deep inside yourself for the strength to tune out the panic and wait the process out.
This means keeping your head when your spouse, if you have one, begins to panic. Relationships suffer when one person is unemployed. The jobless spouse must concentrate on the job search and not succumb to panic, while at the same time comforting his or her life partner. Joblessness is a tremendously difficult experience for families if they are not prepared emotionally for it. Anticipating this difficulty, and being kind to yourself and your family through the job search, can help ease the pressure.
Be flexible and bold, not proud
Don’t be afraid to knock on every door, call every friend you have in the business world, and send your resume everywhere. The adage “spray and pray” works. Send out a million copies of your resume, make as many contacts as you can, and keep on smiling. Maybe those resumes won’t get you the perfect job directly, but they will put your name out in the market so when the right job comes along, your name is already on everyone’s lips.
Also, keep your mind open as to what the perfect job might be for you. Don’t be afraid to consider other industries, locations, or directions. You never know what might be perfect for you until you try. Inflexible people get hurt. Flexible people are ready for challenge and growth.
Ignore those executive recruiters who tell you there is no longer a place for you in the market
The following are verbatim statements uttered by prominent Moscow executive recruiters, as recalled by once-unemployed executives who now have great jobs in their fields.
“You probably flew too high in your last job. Your chances of getting a job like that again are slim to none.”
“Because you are a woman, you will never find a good job in Russia.”
“Your skills are no longer in demand.”
“You are too old to be hirable.”
Why did those executive recruiters say such things? Perhaps they are too proud to admit that they don’t have access to all the jobs in Russia. They work for their clients, not for you; they are not interested in helping you if their clients do not need you. At the same time, they do not want to say that you are valuable because, they wrongly believe, if you were, they would have a job for you. And they certainly don’t want you to go to their competitors, so they choose to discourage you.
Some executive recruiters interpret the world of their clients’ needs as the whole job market. Don’t listen to outside assessments of your chances in the market from people whose interests lie elsewhere.
But don’t dismiss the importance of executive recruiters; meet with as many of them as you can. Be prepared to travel when you get a good lead. International companies often retain recruiters in London, New York, or other world capitals to staff their Moscow executive-level positions.
If you have a good relationship with a recruiter, maintain that relationship through good times and bad. Recruiters can change firms, so follow the careers of those who have dealt fairly with you in the past.
Be financially prepared for a long job search
Be ready at all times to live without a paycheck for up to a year. You don’t want to be forced to accept an inappropriate job to pay your bills if your dream position doesn’t materialize quickly. Finding a new executive-level position is a full-time commitment. Always be prepared to finance the time you will need to do it right.
When you realize your job is ending, immediately cut back on all your expenses. Move to a smaller apartment, reduce household spending, rent out any extra property you may have, and financially circle the wagons.
Treat your job search as a full time job
Wake up in the morning, have a cup of coffee, dress for work, and get to work finding a job. Whether it is surfing the internet, sending out resumes, researching interesting companies or new directions, following up on leads, scheduling lunches and informational interviews, or calling on friends and acquaintances, be prepared to put in the time looking for work every day of the work week.
In the same vein, give yourself real relaxation time. Take the weekends off; don’t be afraid to have fun. You won’t be successful if you don’t give yourself a break.
Be a friend to others in good times and bad
When you lose your job, you may find that most of your friends disappear, as if joblessness were contagious. Whether you are employed or searching for work, always be a good friend to those around you. Call your unemployed friends on the phone regularly, ask how they are, give them leads, take them to lunch, and invite them to parties. Executives without jobs need support to keep their spirits up, so give it to them. You can make all the difference in a person’s success.
If you are a good friend, when you are unemployed your true friends will be there for you.
By Leslie Witt
Dear Leslie,
I would like to thank you for such a great article, which brings hope and confidence to the hearts of those people who are looking for a job.
After I read this article I met with a warm support from a person who can exactly describe the present situation of the job market for Executives, who can tell about the feelings of unemployed top-manager and such unprofessional behavior of so-called “Executive recruiting companies”.
Thank you for your article. You put the spirit into my heart.
Kind regards,
Lana.
Слишком теоретически.
Год прожить без финансовых поступлений тяжело. И переезд в квартиру поменьше, как это пишется вверху, просто смешной совет.
Гораздо прагматичней было бы противодействие увольнению, поиск абы какой работы с последующим (если мягко сказать) изготовлением копии трудовой.
Если есть кредиты, стоит встать на биржу труда. Ни изготовление копии трудовой, ни биржу НИКТО никогда не проверит.
Звонить и рассылать миллионы резюме тоже чревато. Дело в том, что как правило в отдельно взятый момент вредени у одного и того же рекрутера (кадрового агенства) может быть несколько диаметрально противоположных, но интересных мне вакансий. И если я откликнусь на одну (написав, что устал от проектов и хочу заниматься продажами), то сложно будет откликнуть на вакансию, связанную с проектами.
К сожалению, я часто меняю работу. Мне везет на чудаков с определенной буквы. Я подумываю о том, чтобы написать книгу о трудоустройстве. Там будут более эффективные советы.
Интересный пост, спасибо вам. Интересует вопрос - будет ли продолжение?
Хорошо пишете. Учились где-то или просто с опытом пришло?
Круто, что тут еще можно сказать.
Действительно, по статистике, средняя продолжительность поиска работы для ТОП Менеджера занимает 6 месяцев. И я согласен с тем, что в это время никак нельзя отчаиваться и опускать руки. Позитивный настрой очень важен при общении с потенциальными работодателями и просто знакомыми и друзьями. Ведь у позитивно настроенного человека значительно больше шансов быть рекомендованным.
Во всем мире, круг общения всегда был важным источником интересных предложений и продолжения карьеры. Никогда не стоит забывать об этом. Всегда нужно быть готовым бескорыстно помочь своим друзьям, и они ответят Вам тем же.
Помните, удача любит подготовленных!!!
I’d like to share one story which happened to me recently. My colleague and I got a “gypsy cab” in the street in order to get from one meeting to another. When we got in, we exchanged a few words about the nearby construction going on, about who was the Developer and when it was going to be finished. It was interesting for us, since we work in the Real Estate department.
To our surprise, the driver addressed us with the exact and objective information on who’s this project was and why it was never going to be completed. As we talked, he turned out to be the redundant Top-Manager and ex-Board Member of one of the leading Russian Developer companies. To earn for a living, he cruised the streets and picked up the passengers, like a taxi-driver.
He said he did not give up considering interesting offers; meanwhile, nothing stopped him from earning a decent sum during the daytime. He confessed that he did the same in the 99’-s crisis, and got through quite well.
Many thanks for the article.
I can summarize it in few points:
- First of all a candidate should realize what he/she expect from the next job position (responsibilities, subordination structure, place of work, team and so on);
- Candidate shouldn’t stay and wait for offers, he/she might always move and search everywhere, using all accessible resourses;
- Candidate should prepare for a long search. He/she might not lose confidence in success of this process.
- During negotiations with a client a candidate should always smile and demonstrate positive look.
Idris
An overpowering feeling of shock and fear is often the first emotion felt by the loss of security that a permanent job gives us. This security is often taken for granted.
With a secure position we have an opportunity to achieve, we have a place to go and colleagues and friends to work with each day. Even in those cases where people resign, their initial feelings of self- confidence can quickly give way to concern and doubt if they don’t land a new job quickly. Obviously, loss of income can also cause great apprehension.
Being fired, or asked to leave, doesn’t mean failure in the eyes of everyone else, even though you may feel depressed. Don’t let it give you a complex and, even more important, don’t feel sorry for yourself.
The writers advise is sensible and sound in my opinion.
Thank you to the keen Observer of this wise article and I wold like to add for those unemployed executives,CEO,GD/GM, CFO -YES! - Be active AND visible in the associations (networking) that support your industry. Write, start writing, articles, blogs etc. Give a speech, visit conferences. Organize a talk if you’re too afraid to do one yourself - you’ll still be visible as an expert (on the market). You have to be Visible!