A couple months ago I finally began blogging…after knowing I should blog for a couple years. I did so with one specific idea in mind: to put to the test the career management techniques I’ve taught for the last 20 years in the career management field.
I stated in my first blog, “In the Pool of Job Search? Let’s Dive in Together!” that I would engage in my first “career campaign” in the last 20 years for two reasons: to create a “docu-drama” of using my tips in a real way (rather than simply teaching them), and to open myself up for opportunities outside of my current portfolio of activity to see what some pointed exploration in my areas of passion could deliver.
I committed to letting you, the reader, in on all of it–the good, the bad, and the truth on whether the stuff I teach really works. So, I begin a series of blogs now to document what I’ve uncovered. The results are very heartening.
Realize that before an effective Backdoor(TM) campaign can be pursued, however, there is some requisite introspective career-inventory and branding work to be accomplished. This gives you not only the self-understanding of your own value and unique “essence” to make you confident, but also the written and spoken tools by which to fly your branded “Flag-of-Self” while in the game. From my past work and understanding, I put those together easily enough for me. So I begin this series with the assumption of those integral parts being in place.
(NOTE: These are trained professionals. Do not attempt this at home without the proper foundations intact!)
First, I decided to use the backdoor techniques I teach to investigate and explore a few particular areas of passionate interest for me. This is the requisite first step: to choose areas of investigation based on legitimate passions. To just go out and “look for a job” carries no deeper energy or meaning to enlist people’s attention or excitement. Anyone can look for a “job.” But to explore what ignites you, what causes you fascination and intrigue, not only gives you a reason to get out of bed, but actually makes a contribution to those you will connect with.
Yes, your legitimate, gut-based “ticklement” (the state of being “tickled”) in a profession, industry, or field of work actually makes a contribution to those on your path. Why? Because all of us need validation and re-ignitement in every aspect of our lives, be it our relationships, our faith, or our plans for the future. Why would our careers be any different?
When an authentic “newcomer” comes along displaying intrigue in a field of endeavor we have made our way into (though not necessarily mastered), it can’t help but remind us of what got us here in the first place. What were the elements of our own interest in this area? How have we grown in it? Where are we now compared to when we first came here years ago, wet-behind-the-ears like this newcomer who is coming to pick our brains?
So realize that the people you will be meeting in your campaign will experience a gift of introspection and validation when you truly come from passionate interest. Plus, they will further benefit from your meeting with them because you are likely to have a good bit of fresh perspective to offer them from your recent research and other meetings.
Remember: they are often too busy doing the job to have the time or space to see the overall view of the field or industry. If you’ve done your homework well of connecting with others in an exploratory, fact-finding way, you will likely come with news and angles they have been too wrapped up to notice.
So, Step 1 in an effective Backdoor(TM) campaign is to choose areas to explore which light you up and give you juice. The areas I chose to explore were some related to fields I’ve plowed in the past (to see what’s currently hot or not) and some new and outrageous areas of “dream job.” Here they are:
Recruiting–specifically the area of RPO (Resource Placement Outsourcing)
Outplacement–specifically the Big Three of corporate outplacement (Lee Hecht Harrison-LHH; Right Management Consultants-Right; and Drake, Beam, Morin-DBM) to investigate how they do on a massive scale what I’ve done for years in one-to-one or smaller group settings
Academic Career Counseling–specifically to investigate how the academic world prepares its graduates in MBA and other programs (I sure know what I didn’t get), while at the same time exploring my own question of pursuing a graduate degree
Reality-TV–specifically to put legs to an idea I have nursed for years which would provide career-guidance education on a massive scale in an entertaining way
So, these were my areas of passionate exploration. Tune in next time to follow this series in the evolvement of this Backdoor(TM) campaign…and remember to Always Keep Yourself In The Line of Hire!
