"Wiz" Through a Job Search

Alternative (and, dare we say, fun) ways to get the position you covet

I hate job searching. I dread the process and although I fill out lots of applications, I never get a result. How can I make my job search more effective so I don’t get discouraged and cynical?

You are Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and you just landed with a thud in the home of the Munchkins. (You have no job and you need one.) Your goal is to get to the Emerald City. (Get the job you want.) You need to find your way through the woods. (Conduct a job search.) So, what is the most effective way to do that? You should start talking with the tin woodsmen, lions and scarecrows who live in the forest (natural counselors and advisors) who will teach and guide you about finding Emerald City of Oz. Do your best to avoid the wicked witches of the west. (People who are dismissive when you try to elicit their advice.) But don’t stay in your house or you will never get to the Emerald City. (Sending resumes into cyberspace hoping to land a job won’t get you there.)

How do you start? First, identify the “sweet spot” for your search: your interests and aptitudes, your skills and the market need. Where those three elements intersect is the “neighborhood” where you could land a job. Compile a list of places that might need your help in this neighborhood (whether or not there is a job posting) and a list of people connected with that neighborhood. Write a description of the job you want and decide where your skills match with workplace needs. Now, you are ready for an adventure.

If you approach your job search as a quest, and adopt a good attitude, your chances of having a successful job search are higher. Be interactive, optimistic, pragmatic, tenacious, intuitive and opportunistic. As you wend your way through the forest, search for the natural counselors who will help and guide you by using the “voice test.” As you start talking with someone, does she/he get involved? If her/his voice goes up in pitch, you have found a natural counselor. If the voice goes down, you have a wicked witch. When you find a natural counselor, meet in person for breakfast, lunch, dinner or coffee.

Be ready to advocate for yourself. Ask “nice,” “helpful” people to help you keep moving through the woods toward the Emerald City. Know what to say and how to say it. Don’t talk about jobs in the beginning of your conversations, because it will keep your discussions short and will not advance your search. Think of these in-person meetings as opportunities to meet new friends and learn a lot.

Show everyone you meet your list of people and places, and ask if they know any of them or could add new prospects. Talk about the job description you put together, see if it is realistic and ask where people have a job you seek. Learn the gossip, rumors and on-the-ground information about what is happening in this neighborhood. Who is about to leave a job and has not told the boss yet? Where are people complaining about long hours?

Try to create the four elements for landing a job:
• Your skills should match the needs of the workplace.
• The workplace is busy and growing.
• The backgrounds of the people working there resemble yours.
• Create trusting relationships in the neighborhood so you can come to the attention of the workplace through a trusted contact who vouches for you.

Remember, a job search is about relationships. Give people who help you small gifts in return:
• Information: recommend a nanny service or a good lawyer
• Connection: introduce people who could help each other
• Promotion: promote her/his business to others
• Supportive listening
• A small tangible gift, like a book based on what you learned about your new friend.

Once you find places that meet the four elements, go on a campaign to be hired. Ask the following question: “I have no idea if your workplace has a need for someone with my skills, but would it make sense to meet with whoever is in charge of hiring? Who is that person?” Try to meet with the Wizard of Oz and see if you can achieve your goal of landing a job in the Emerald City. Work as an intern. Plant a seed that could turn into a job when the workplace is hiring.

If you treat your job search as an adventure, you will not only have a better time and create a network that will sustain throughout your career, but you will get to the Emerald City faster.

Have a question about networking, interviewing, landing the big job or moving up the ladder? Email minute.mentor@tcwmag.com, and we'll have your query answered by a career pro. Check back every Tuesday for new advice from Chicago's top career coaches and experts. Check back on Tuesday, August 16, for advice on how to navigate your career success in today’s stormy employment world.  

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