It’s against the odds, but for one ExecuNet member, the “cold-call” letter worked. Brett Munroe, a corporate communications specialist, did his research and discovered a nearby small to mid-sized nutritional supplements company without a communications department. His letter came at the right time, and he convinced the decision-makers that a communications department was needed and that he was the person to lead it.
Avoid the Large Job Boards
Too often people, even at the executive level, spend too much time on the large job boards trolling for that one golden kernel that’s been waiting for only them. “I found spending too much time on huge job boards like Monster and CareerBuilder to be inefficient and ineffective,” warns Munroe. When asked if there is anything he would do differently, Munroe responds, “If I were to do it again, I would avoid the large job boards completely and focus on networking instead.” For Munroe, the interviews he received from these postings were mostly screenings for positions similar to what he applied for and did not ever result in serious discussions.
Networking in the Job Search
While Munroe’s landing ultimately was the result of a “cold call” letter, it was a member of his network who suggested he pitch the creation of a communications department to prospective companies. “Without my network, I may very well have never come up with the idea that got me in the door of the company I am now with,” relays Munroe. In fact, for Munroe, the biggest surprise during his job search was the social aspects of networking. “Nearly everyone who met with me was kind and generous with their time. After most one-on-one meetings, I came out feeling energized and upbeat.” It was through his network that Munroe secured some interviews for positions which were not publicly advertised.
Suggestions for Other Job Seekers
One does not walk into the world of job hunting and instantly feel comfortable and fully prepared; it takes time and preparation. “I wasn’t sure how long my search would take, but I soon discovered that my local job market had more opportunities than I expected. However, I had not looked for a new position in 17 years, so it took me four months of coaching and numerous interviews before I felt like I could control the interviews,” says the 53-year-old Munroe.
Munroe also suggests tapping into the recruiting community to assist in one’s job search. “I would encourage people to target recruiters who specialize in their field,” he says. “I didn’t get an offer from my contact with recruiters, but some of the recruiters I talked to had good insights and information.” The recruiter contacts made in this job search may not have yielded any leads, but by developing relationships with recruiters and maintaining those relationships going forward, Munroe can rest assured that he will be top of mind if he has a new search in the future or if he needs to hire someone.
The job search process has left Munroe a fan of networking. “I would say networking is the best use of your time,” he says. “I would encourage you to meet with nearly everyone who is willing to talk to you, even those who, on the surface, don’t seem to have anything to offer.” Munroe also encourages job seekers to take the time upfront to put together a list of companies to target and then to tap into their network for more companies and for leads into the selected companies.
Munroe’s final bit of advice: “See the job search as an adventure, as an opportunity. You don’t know where it’s going to lead, but have faith in yourself and be excited about the possibilities!”
