Twenty Minutes a Day to a New Job (or How to Pull Off a Job Change while Actively Employed)

by David G. Jensen, Search Masters International

 

The TV in the hotel room had been blaring some infomercial, and yet after a busy day of meetings I didn't have the energy to get up and look for the remote control. And so, by default, I listened to Suzanne Sommers talk about the benefits of using the ThighMaster. I half-listened to her pitch, and then started taking a bit more interest in the ordinary folks whom she paraded onscreen to talk about the Thighmaster program.

"I'm a busy housewife," one gal began. "I really couldn't see how I could make any significant change in my life with all that I have going on. All I can spare is about twenty minutes a day. But the ThighMaster program changed all of that. It is possible to be a housewife and improve yourself at the same time."

This testimonial and those that followed really hit home for me. That day I had been in a career development seminar, in which I had been asked a tough question about this very subject by an attendee. (It wasn't about how to firm up and strengthen your thighs). It came after I had delivered a presentation called "Your Personal Marketing Campaign," which went into great detail about the steps necessary to make a successful job change. My presentation must have made the job search seem like a lot of work, because immediately afterwards I started getting questions from people who were concerned about mounting this project while being currently employed.

All it Takes is Twenty Minutes a Day

A working mother who is also a QA Manager in a major biotech firm came up at the break to ask me the following question. After several members of my audience expressed similar concerns, I realized that this is a common situation:

"I was contacted about a job at a another local company, and although it didn't go anywhere, it got me thinking about my current situation. I'd like to investigate more of these opportunities, but I don't know where to start. How can I look for a new job while I am currently employed?" she asked. "I'm currently working 55-60 hours and then trying to take care of my family when I get home at night."

I feel bad because at the seminar I gave her a pat answer - something about how to get her CV out in confidence. But, after the Thighmaster infomercial and the advice of others, I can tell you that it is indeed possible to create a new life for yourself, in only twenty minutes a day! Here are some common Q & A's that deal with this subject.

How can I focus on a job search while also trying to do a decent job for my current employer? I'm swamped, and can't see past my desk, let alone conduct a job search!

The key to the problem is your word "focus." Any project, no matter how complicated, can be broken down into its key components and then analyzed for the best use of your time. In the case of making a job change, these several key ingredients can be managed by using twenty minutes of your time each day. But you'll need to truly focus on the priorities. Identify just what the most important connections are, and then spend your twenty minutes each day furthering those. For most people, it will be most effective to actually get on the phone and do some networking. Ideally, the time that you spend on your search should be the same time every day, and a habit should develop that makes it automatic. Many people successfully manage this towards the end of the day, or even during their "brown bag" time.

It doesn't feel right to me to be a loyal employee during the day and then to make phone contacts about a job search at the same time. Is this really ethical?

If you are considering a change, than there must be reasons for your current dissatisfaction on the job. Re-think those reasons for a job change, and if they are valid, then develop and implement a plan to go forward. Companies have contingency plans as well. Developing a "Plan B" for yourself is not unethical in any way as long as you remain effective in your present job. The minute that your job search has you spending hours on the phone making marketing calls, or re-writing your resume on company time, you have crossed that ethical border.

Am I really better off looking for a job while employed? I feel like I could do a much better job on my search if I devoted my full-time energy to it.

Stay where you are! We talk to many people who face such a high degree of job dissatisfaction that they completely give up – they quit in order to pursue a fulltime job search. Sadly, many of these folks find out later that they have lost much of their negotiating power. While I don't have any scientific data to offer you, I have personally found that the starting salaries offered candidates who are currently not working is generally quite close to, and sometimes below, their previous salary earned. This compares with what is usually a much better offer, and a significant increase (which varies by the job niche). Knowing that you are a valued and hard working person with a current job means that you get higher, better offers.

My networking list has run dry. How can I keep a fresh flow of contacts in my search when I am only devoting 20-30 minutes a day to the process?

Those networking contacts can come from a variety of places. In fact, you can start building a networking list right now -- whether you are looking for a job or not. One friend, the Director of Pharmacology for a major Pharmaceutical company, described her process for me. Although she isn't in the job market, she's a great networker, and she keeps a detailed log of these contacts handy: "I always have a yellow legal pad on my desk which I use to scribble notes from my phone conversations," she describes. "And then I file those pads in a cabinet, by week. In that way, I've always got a easy reference to calls from the past, and when making up a list of people to call about a particular matter, all that I have to do is to go back to my logs."

Another great idea for the long-term development of a networking list is to collect and save all attendance lists from meetings that you attend. These names are as good as gold, because they are people who are interested in the same material that you are. But, while ideas like these may help a person starting from scratch to develop a good list of networking contacts, it won't help you if you've run dry and have an urgent need to get more names. In that case, have you considered asking a headhunter or two for contacts? While this may seem at cross-purposes to the recruiter's work, most good recruiters are working only on a given set of assignments at any moment. When you don't fit one of those projects, they are often quite helpful in suggesting the names of contacts that might assist you in non-client companies.

I've made contact with a recruiter who was referred to me by a colleague. She told me that she would not present me to a company unless they have an assignment from that firm. I don't understand this. My impression of headhunters is that they will help you find a job -- what's up?

As mentioned earlier, many headhunters operate only on "sole source assignments." In other words, they are geared specifically to certain contracted positions with their client companies. You may be able to find a recruiter who will make contacts on your behalf in order to open some doors, but make certain that you are dealing with a reputable firm. And make certain that they are presenting you to companies where they have an existing relationship (as opposed to stuffing your resume, and an invoice for $15,000, in an envelope to someone that they don't know).

You'll find recruiters who will ask you to limit the number of headhunting firms that you contact, or to leave it to them exclusively. In reality, you could contact a half-dozen firms and still not have any conflicts, as each firm operates in their own sphere of influence. My advice is to spread yourself around a little bit, and to avoid any firms that promise you the world.

Is it OK to use a sick day for an interview trip?

This is done quite often but it really does put you into questionable ethical territory. This is a decision that you'll have to handle at the time it comes up, but obviously vacation days are better suited for interview trips.

The company that I have interviewed with has requested references, and they've hinted that they would like some from my current employer. How can I manage this?

There is no way that you can give your OK to a series of reference checks with your current employer. It is just too risky. But, it is often easy to bring a colleague into your plans and ask that person to provide a reference in confidence. Use that person's reference only in those situations where you have an offer pending.

I remember the time in my early career where I thought I was safe enough in my current employment to level with my direct supervisor and ask him to provide a reference. He and I were old buddies, and I felt that it was OK to be completely truthful with him. What a mistake. Not only did I not get the job, but I shot myself in the foot for future career growth at that firm.

In Closure

It's tough to manage a job search while currently employed. Most importantly, remember that you have obligations on both sides – both your current company as well as your future interests deserve your attention.

It's important to separate the two projects. You have two jobs, and both of them are important. One of them represents your future, and the other pays the bills and puts food on the kitchen table.

For most of us, putting food on the table will take priority. But as many, many others have found ahead of you, it is indeed possible to put a sharp focus on twenty minutes of your day, each day, and create a new future.

And if that fails, you can always use that same time to reshape your thighs . . .

Author:

Dave Jensen
500 Foothills South, Suite 2
Sedona, AZ 86336 

To reach Search Masters International, contact
career@searchmastersinternational.com
(630) 663-9140 

Contact the author for reprint permission:
david_g_jensen@yahoo.com 

 

 

© Copyright 2000 by David G. Jensen, Sedona, AZ 86336-5085. Contact the author for reprint permission.