Top Exec Blog (Web Log)

As those of you who have read this blog from time to time know, a recurring theme is the Career Path Expressway™, wherein the experiences of people I know or have contact with, faced with recession-induced lay-offs, reductions in force or unemployment from whatever source are commented upon for the benefit of others. No one can predict or know when a lay-off or job loss will affect him or her, however the message underlying most of these posts is that there is always something out there, for the person who is looking, seeking, networking and working on connecting for the purpose of a new career opportunity.

Here is a small sampling of vignettes from recent weeks:

1) Persons joined in a church-sponsored "Back on Track" network (see: www.BackonTrackNet.org ) come together weekly for spiritual and practical activities to get re-employed. Two people land jobs in the first two weeks of participation.

2) Old high school friends, who have been out of touch for decades get back in touch, and knowing that one is out of work, the other offers to connect him with a cousin who works in the same industry and owns a company that might be hiring. Serendipity, to say the least, but it wouldn't have happened without that re-connect that came by luck, through a Facebook page.

3) A friendship that developed via the Internet in a mentor/mentee format comes back around to the (now unemployed) mentor in a positive way, when the mentee provides an introduction to the hiring manager of a company expanding in the USA and the Americas.  Initial interviews are set in motion, and the vibe is positive. Karma, perhaps, what goes around comes around?

4) A former colleague from years ago receives a professional email and update on an individual's search for new opportunities. He hands it off to a fellow VP seeking specialized help in a tricky market, and the phone starts to ring between the two interested parties. Positive action, to be sure, though the process is far from complete.

5) A recruiter contacts an executive who doesn't have time, but remembers a friend in need of a lead, and alerts her to the opportunity. At the same time, that executive sends a personal communication to the recruiter about the candidate, which may help facilitate the process. Good stuff, no?

6) An individual attends a financial seminar attended mostly by retirees (she's not quite of that certain age or heft in her portfolio), and makes the acquaintance of all the attendees, telling them she's looking for work (a "Free Agent"). One of the participants asks, "Can you sell pharmaceuticals?" and the answer is "Why not?" An introduction is pending, since the person asking has a portfolio of companies, one of which needs quality sales expertise, and that's what she offers. That's active networking, and that's how to go out there and find new contacts. Who knows, it might mean a new job!

This list could go on for some time. The bottom line, though is how important it is to operate with an air of expectancy. Despite the news of the "Great Recession" having ended (theoretically) in June 2009 (latest talking point from economists), for those who are battling to stay afloat financially, and those who are hitting the wall in this no-hire/slow-hire zone called the US economy, these types of anecdotes are very important. Think and stay positive. Keep your ears, eyes and brain open to new people, new activities, different settings, etc., and likely you will find new avenues to explore so that instead of staying in the parking lot idling your motor, you can roar back on to the Career Path Expressway™, and get back into the flow of traffic.

Good luck, and why not share some of your own anecdotes with the rest of us? Thanks for reading.

© Daniel A. Cabrera, TopExec.org, All rights reserved, 2010.