6 months of being unemployed and stressed, 23 actual interviews, 6 second interviews, 400 job applications, 25 network meetings and I receive 2 job offers on the same day

I wish I could read this but you have to be a member of the Right Management Alumni Group.

I totally agree.  The last thing I need is to be a member of yet another group.

All that was posted was the message that was posted above.  Larry's helping to inspire folks who are out there looking.  There wasn't any more to his message that what was posted.  However, as you could imagine, it drew several kudos - to which Larry posted the following reply:

Larry Schwager
•

THANK YOU!


During the last 6 months this forum was my sounding board and I met alot
of wonderful people who gave me suggestions and motivation in my
search.


As you all know, finding a job is difficult. There were many days that I
doubted I would ever find a job. I can't tell you how many times that I
was just so overwhelmed and depressed in my search.


The job search is a numbers game, the more phone and face to face
interviews that you get, the closer you are to getting a new job.


Luck also plays a big factor in your search. It is being at the right
interview at the right time and "clicking" with the people who are doing
the interviewing.


I didn't do anything different than any other particiapant who has has
gone through the Right Management Program. I worked hard, networked and
use the job boards. It takes time and patience to find a job, it can be
done and I'm a perfect example of it.


I will never forget my 6 months and will network with anyone who asks
for my assistance. I will always pay it forward as my payback to the
people who assisted me and for the people who didn't care to help. In
conclusion, hang in there, it will happpen to you also. As James Lee
once told me, it is a temporary situation, you really have to believe
that!

---

I'll keep an eye on the thread and share anything more of value...

Here's some more interesting comments that were recently added:

Conrats, Larry!
Amazing story, all the best in your new role. The worse part is when you
"click" with the interviewer and still no response. It's been nine
months for me, but I agree it's being in the right place at the right
time. So far I've used a combination of job boards and LinkedIn to
locate a contact within the organization to get my resume seen by the
hiring manager. No luck yet, but staying positive. Thanks for the
positive feedback. Good luck!

---

Larry Schwager
•

Some additional bits of advice that I will share.
Many people believe to find a job you need to be on the computer at
least 7 days of the week. I worked 4 days a week from 7:30 to 4:00. I
took one morning off a week to volunteer and the remainder of the day
was for me. You need to get away from your search just to destress.
Being unemployed was the hardest 6 months that I ever experienced.
However, as bad as I had it, there was always someone else who had it
worse! Sometimes you need to step back and look at your problems.Your
unemployed and that will be temporary. Being terminally ill is not
temporary.


I will also share some other thoughts. You need to get out of the house
and be with people. Staying home all the time is not healthy. I did the
following to practice my interviewing skills (Please forgive me), I
would send resumes to Insurance and financial advisor firms to get
financial advisor interviews and to practice my interviewing skills.
These are commission jobs and these firms always responded to me for
interviews.




I also read and recommend the Guerilla marketing for Job Seekers book.
There are many ideas in there that I used.




Finally, I was lucky as I had alot of face to face and phone interviews.
However, the interviews that I thought that I did well, I never heard
from again. The interviews that I though that I did poorly, I was
contacted. You just never know how the interviewer will react to you.


When I first started interviewing, I would take my suit coat off to be
more comfortable (That is a no, no), and looked too relaxed. I went
through a phase where I was giving out written references to my
interviewers. That process didn't seem to make a difference and I
stopped.


I also had follow up questions that I used in the beginning of my
search, such as "why do you work here to the interviewers. That seemed
to get bad reactions and I didn't get those jobs.


Towards the end of my search, I would ask 3 questions.


1. What type of applicant are you looking for?




1. What are you expecting of the candidate for the first 3 months in his
new role.




1. How will you evaluate the candidiate on his job performance?




I always sent a thank you note to my interviewers. To be on the safe
side, I would always contact the HR person and ask for the name and
Email address.




Also, The lack of courtesy on the part of interviewers and HR people
during my search made me very angry. Does it really take so much time to
send an email, saying that you were not selected?




I didn't put my job success on the board to boast. I just wanted to let
you know it will happen to you also. You just have to believe in
yourself!

---

You are so right
about the interviewers and some of HR. Being in HR, the lack of
courtesy is an embarrassment to me. I guess it will not be until they
are looking for a job will they understand common courtesy.

---

I love these 3 you used >>




3 questions.


1. What type of applicant are you looking for?


2. What are you expecting of the candidate for the first 3 months in his
new role?


3. How will you evaluate the candidiate on his job performance?




I also concur...go volunteer & RAISE the bar for yourself...if I can
do it anyone can.




Here's what I mean: I do not watch (even on TV) anything in the medical
field BUT chose to volunteer at a free clinic.




I do not like social networking even professional, but linked in &
facebook kept me very active & I have met 100's of people in a year
that I actually remember them by name.




I also do not play in politics but I joined my local headquarters for
call outs on important vote dates.