Shakin’ what you Got

Robert, over at Middle Zone Musings, asks us readers, “what are you doing to get noticed in your field of work?” It is a question many of us are facing now, with all these layoffs and all.  It’s a question that unsettles countless numbers of people.

This question hits home for me, because as of June, I will be out of a job.  Now, it’s not for the reason most people will be out of a job.  Most people in that circumstance got either laid off or fired.  In my field-education-the layoffs have been heavy due to budget cuts, and there aren’t many openings popping up.

I, on the other hand, will be out of a job by choice.

“What?”

Yes.  That’s right.  I have chosen to leave my current school in search of greener educational pastures.  So I don’t go on an unprofessional rant, I’ll just leave it at this: it’s not exactly a good fit.  So I’m firing my employer.

“You’re crazy.”

Probably.  Some have said that before.

But you know what?  I’m not freakin’ out.  Actually, I’m kinda excited.  The prospect of a new beginning enthralls me.  Yes, I know that things are tough right now, and the opportunities are sparse.  The media and the government (Obie included) are capitalizing on our fears, stoking the fires with doom and gloom rhetoric.  But I’ve decided not to participate in the negativity.

This could be the best year of my life.  If you are in an unpleasant situation (which I am right now, to say the least…I’d rather work in Iraq.  Seriously.), there’s no better time like the present to change that.  There’s no reason why my employer and all the doomsayers should hold me hostage.

I can’t just sit here, though, and solely rely on positive thinking.  There’s gotta be some action behind it.

Just as a booth at a sidewalk fair (see, Robert…there‘s the connection to your series!) will never get noticed if its owner doesn’t do anything to make it noticeable, I’ll never get noticed if I don’t get off my duff and work at it.

So you’ve got some music at your booth, a few decorations, a well-placed sign, and some stuff to sell.  Everyone’s got that!

What am I doing to stand out?

I actually saw the writing on the wall about a year ago, so I started to plan for my present circumstances back then.  Any job worth having is usually had due to connections.  It’s not what your pedigree is so much as it is who you know.  So I started doing some networking.

As a teacher and a coach (wrestling), though, I couldn’t just barge into a place and start spoutin’ off my “expert knowledge.”  That would earn me the title “windbag” pretty quickly.

Well, how could I “get my name out there?”  What skills do I have that I can showcase?  I’m still pretty young and fit.  I’m an old-has-been by the standards of most, but I’m not quite ancient.  I can still lace up the shoes and hang in there with the young whipper-snappers.   What an awesome way to get my foot in the door!

So I just introduced myself to a couple of coaches and asked if I could participate in some of their spring practices, not as a coach, but as a wrestler.  Hey, I simply loooovee the sport.  It is fun.  Even if it’s just practice, I love to wrestle, and they happily let me do it on their home turf.  What a deal!

So I showed up, faithfully.  Simple as that.  I kept doing it throughout the spring, over and over and over.  Every week.  Pretty soon, that caught the eye of a few influential parents and coaches.

Fast forward to this year.  After I officially made the decision to resign and move on (effective in a few months), I updated my resume and got a teaching portfolio together.  A few weeks ago, I went to some important post-season wrestling tournaments to network.

I found these influential parents and coaches and put a bug in their ear: “hey, I’m gonna be moving schools this coming year.  You know of any teaching openings?”  The parents and coaches I rubbed shoulders with the previous spring when I attended the practices were all too eager to help.

I was able to make some awesome new contacts as well, with God’s assistance.  I’d find a cheering section of a good team, and sit in their midst.  After a while, the parents would ask me, “who are you cheering for?”

“Nobody, just looking for a place to coach, that’s all.”

That piqued their interest, and there was my opening.  With resume in hand, I planted seeds.

Though jobs won’t officially start opening up until April/May, that networking venture has proved incredibly fruitful as far as getting a jump on the competition.

Notice that none of this involves actually filling out an application, on paper or online.  Most people I talk to who are looking for jobs start online at job search sites: Monster.com, edjoin.org, etc.  They sit all day long looking for and filling out online apps, but they rarely or never get called into an interview.

It doesn’t take too much thought to figure out why.  Hundreds of people apply online for one position.   Out of those hundreds, the hiring reps will only choose a handful, maybe 15 or so, to interview.  Almost every applicant has the same credentials, qualifications, and resume.  What is going to separate you from the rest of the pack?  If all you have is an online app, the answer is “nothing.”  If all you rely upon is your context-less, face-less online resume’, you’ll be incredibly lucky to be granted an interview where you can really knock-em-dead.

It’s much, much more productive to have an influential contact at the job site that can pull for you.   A recommended word from a source the boss trusts is often the thing that puts someone ahead of the field.  It’s just the nature of the job world, plain as that.

That’s why I’ve decided to network with the coaches.  Most of them have been at their schools for a while and have a little weight to throw around.  If I’ve done a good job of subtly showcasing my skills and getting to know the coach, most likely he’ll be willing to try to get me an interview should a teaching position open up.  75% of them are *always* looking for good on-campus assistants (as opposed to an assistant that has another job but coaches in his spare time), and the other 25% know coaches who are.  I can make capital of this need.

Other than that, a small face-to-face meeting (outside a formal interview) can make a big difference too, so I’m actually showing up at schools, asking if I can talk to an admin.  If I get an audience, I merely ask the administrator questions about the school.  I’m trying to find information on the school to determine if its a good fit, but I’m also showing the administrator two things: curiosity and initiative.  Bosses value both.

That small gesture often makes a large impression.  Again, sowing seeds.

Before I leave, I give a copy of my resume to the admin and express interest should something open up.

So, to succinctly answer the question, “what are you doing to get noticed?” it boils down to doubling up my efforts, having a well-thought out game plan, and, of course, much prayer.

An early start combined with good networking is a powerful combination.  Plus, I have the biggest networker of them all–Yahweh.  That counts for something, right? 

There’s no reason for me to give in to all the hand wringing…at least not now.  If September rolls around and I still don’t have a teaching position, shoot, there’s always something else I can do.  I’ll figure something out; I don’t have to be in public education.   Great minds are always finding new paths to forge, and there’s no reason why this should stop in a recession.

I can join law enforcement; become a fireman; heck, I can write for a living, how’s that for an idea?

Bottom line: the lack of job security right now doesn’t have to be a trial for me.  It just might be a blessing in disguise.