• by Beverly Weinstein , February 19, 2010

Absolutely! I talked to a senior level ad agency executive recently who conducted a five-month job search with great success. In my opinion, his search was pitch perfect and worth noting.

What to Look For in a Contact List...(Hint: It's Not Just Contacts)

Step one in this successful CEO's search was developing a list of contacts under the broad heading of "anyone that could be helpful" in finding him a job. He also understood that not every contact would be a direct route to his end goal. His conversations always had a purpose, and he stressed the importance of being specific about what he was looking for. It might have been as simple as someone's opinion on marketplace trends or as specific as help getting in front of someone that was looking for a candidate with his skills. He met with more than 100 people.

Searching as a Full-Time Job

"It's important to keep your search going each week like it's your job," he advised. "It's hard to dip in and out of search. I did take the opportunity to visit family and take a vacation, but you have to stay at it. You can't treat it like a part-time event. That's a dangerous mind-set because you can wake up one day, and it's been a year that you've been out of work."

Find a Good Coach

Outplacement, which included a personal coach, was part of this executive's exit package from his previous post. He credits his coach with being instrumental in the success of his search, not only in helping him prepare for interviews, but also in helping him refine his job criteria and make a choice that would best serve his career development.

 "I worked with my coach to prepare for interviews, gave him the feedback I received from interviewers, and then he helped assess and refine the way I presented myself," he said. "On another level, the coach was someone I could turn to if I was feeling down or needed some help to lift my spirits." He was lucky that his former employer footed the bill for a coach, but didn't hesitate to say that it was so valuable that it was something he would have paid for himself.

Interview Tips

"When I started interviewing I was way too casual. I relied too much on my past history," he admitted. "I later realized the importance of going into an interview and being able to provide two or three points where you can add immediate value to an organization."

In addition to researching the company he was interviewing with online, he tried to have a preparatory conversation with someone from the company so he didn't walk into the interview cold. "I found most people are willing to take your call and answer a few questions."

Say More Than Just "Thank You"

After many interviews, this successful job seeker's feeling was that a "thank you" note without meaningful content was a waste. "Take time to compose something that reflects back on the interview conversation and includes some simple points about how you can add immediate value to the company. A few strong paragraphs will suffice," he said. He also though follow-up notes should be sent within 48 hours of the interview.

Visibility

He made a point of remaining active in the business community during his period of unemployment. "Stay visible within your industry," he advised. "Go to conferences, even if you pay out of your own pocket."  He found value in making a point of scheduling meals and meetings in places where he was most likely to run into people in the business. "If people don't see you or hear from you, you're not going to be top of mind," he warned. 

Don't Be Afraid To Negotiate

This executive's aggressive job search got him back in the saddle in five months, but he puts emphasis on finding the right job for you and not just a quick fix to unemployment, even if it takes more time. "I was more focused on the job I wanted, rather than a salary benchmark," he said. "If you're really looking at the right job, then the salary should be in the right range that's appropriate with your contribution level and the kind of company you want to join."

And just because you're unemployed, he said, doesn't mean you can't negotiate. "Being unemployed doesn't mean you shouldn't go back to the company and says, I appreciate the offer, but points one and two still don't fit for me, and these are the reasons why."