Advice

The Want Ad Paradox

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We all know the story – Networking is the best way to get a job.  Indeed every study I've seen indicates this is true.  I know people whose jobs have come from networking – in some cases, people I helped out.

So you know the drill, Networking good.

However, I also know people that have gotten great jobs via want ads, the whole standard mail a resume thing.  Good jobs.  Career defining jobs.  The majority of their jobs.

So I asked myself about why some people really DO make want ads pay off again and again, and I've come to the conclusion that there's a Want Ad Paradox – and some people manage to navigate it.

The Paradox of Want Ads in a nutshell is this:

  1. Want ads are incredibly inefficient methods of finding employment because everyone applies to them and not all jobs are posted.
  2. Want ads can be low labor to apply for if one is prepared – if you have a premade resume and a generic cover letter you can get resumes out quick.  I once, during a job search covering multiple cities, got out over 80 resumes, and got over 8 initial interviews out of it as well as a few follow ups.

So the paradox is one of inefficiency versus ease.  In short, Want Ads are inefficient, but easy to use.

People effective at using Want Ads are people who have perfected the search process, have a good resume or set of resumes, and a good cover letter or set of cover letters.  In short, they overcome the inefficiency of want ads by being able to get good resumes and cover letters out fast and efficiency.

I'm still big on networking, and frankly think that it's going to get more important over time.  But the Want Ad search, done right, has a place in people's career searches – if they know how to make it work fast and efficiently.

ADDENDUM: I'd also note one advantage of the Want Ad search is you'll meet many recruiters, whom you can network with or find out about unposted and new positions.  That may up the value of the search for people – and ironically turn it into networking.

– Steven Savage

So Why Not Start Over?

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I talk to people with career issues, from being out of work to unhappy with their job.  They are tired of the search or tired of the work.  They've done all they can or are just plain done.  Oh sure, they're trying to move forward with life but aren't sure it's working, or if they care.

Here's a suggestion:  why not just start over?

If whatever you're doing isn't working, why not just decide to go blank slate, give up your ideas and plans and techniques, and just start over:

  • Quit your job search for one day and then re-design it from step one.
  • If you're unemployed, just take any reasonable job mand throw yourself into it for a few weeks to just have a start of any kind.
  • Drop your career plans and ideas that seem dead in a water and re-evaluate them from square one.
  • Take that option to relocate from your company and get a fresh start (if your spouse, friends, pets, etc. are OK with it).
  • Try something new at work, a new project, etc.
  • If you're unemployed go on and try and start your own business on the side while you search.  Why not?
  • Take a friend up on that offer to move in with them until you get on your feet.

In short, if it all is lousy, why not a fresh start?  What do you have to loose?

If you think about starting over, then you'll know.

The flipside of of starting over is that when you consider it, you'll then ask yourself if it's really worth starting over.  Confronting the possibility of throwing out your current plans makes you confront your plans – and yourself.

Maybe it's time to start over.

Or maybe considering it will make you appreciate what you have.

– Steven Savage