Whether or not you're one of those people who's been to a Sound of Music Sing-a-Long-a (if you are one of those people, I'm secretly jealous, because I am not), it might surprise you to learn that the timeless wisdom of the Von Trapp Family saga actually relates to your 2009 job hunt. Go figure! Lesson Number One: Climb Every Mountain! Leave no stone unturned! Go the extra mile! Give 110%! You've got to do everything in your power to get your next gig because, frankly, your competition is already doing everything in their power to get that same gig. Here's a few things you may not (yet) be doing: * Pick up the phone and call (yes, call, not email) people. Ask them to refer you to people who are hiring or people who in your industry. Then call those people. You have to get the word out that you're looking. If your entire personal network (family, friends, Facebook pals, drinking buddies) is not aware you're on the job market, get over yourself and tell them. * Invite people to breakfast and learn how they got to be successful at what they do. Then, get them to refer you to people who are hiring. You'd be astonished at how these non-interviews eventually lead to job offers. * Follow up at every stage. Send a "thank you" note, offer to show work samples (that goes for you, too, Ms. Marketing Manager), offer to provide references. And after you've done all that, find out what else you need to do to show that you're better than the other people they're considering. Then show them that! Lesson Number Two: The Reverend Mother was right. 
This post was contributed by long-time Aquent veteran, Julie Hiipakka. Here's a picture of Julie with her cat.
Remember when she said that, every time a door closes, a window opens? Well, it's true. For example, when things didn't work out for me in one role here at Aquent, I landed unexpectedly in the best position I've had yet.
Or, consider Bradley Richardson, author of Career Comeback and onetime national manager of the Wall Street Journal's official career website. Looking for work after his business failed, he opened his mind and heart to new things and stumbled into a crazy successful career as a recruiter. In other words, don't be afraid to consider your options. Who knows? The job of your dreams might be something you didn't even know was a real job.
Lesson Number Three: You are sixteen going on seventeen.
As Rolf tells Liesl, sometimes you need somebody older and wiser to tell you what to do. In this case, I think you can view anyone with the power to hire you as "wiser" (if not necessarily older). Asking them for advice will be easier than asking for a job, so ask away. How might you improve your resume? What are typical interview questions? Do you have good answers to them? If some of your skills are a little weak, how could you strengthen them? Etc.
Of course, people who work in the staffing industry (at companies like Aquent, for instance - hint, hint) can also give you guidance, and unlike Rolf, we won't blow the whistle on you in your darkest hour. We're not like the Baroness either. She backed down way too easily and was mean. And though we call ourselves "agents," we're not really like Max, who was an agent after all and did help them win the festival. But he was so sneaky.
At our best, I think you could compare us to the nuns who go above and beyond to get the Von Trapps to safety. Except, I guess what the nuns did was sort of illegal, so scratch that.
Oh, heck, it's only a movie, and you know what I'm saying. Or do you?
Leave a comment