Job Hunting

One month ago I started aggressively job-hunting—as aggressive as you can be while having a full-time job. My job hunt consists of searching key words in my current employer’s website, LinkedIn, Simply Hired, and the job postings on the Chicago Booth alumni website. I find that the easiest search is the key word ‘MBA’ to hone in on management-level positions.

In these 30 days, I’ve landed interviews for a total of 6 positions.

3 have been with my current employer. I guess it’s always easiest to hire one of your own. Speaking of preferential treatment, I recently posted an ad on Craigslist to rent my garage space. Everyone who turned up was eager and professional, but I had to give it to someone who works at my same company. Doesn’t get easier than that in terms of references and payment.

2 were through website applications on job sites, tied to search firms. One of the recruiters has a loose connection to me, but a connection nonetheless. The other one, there was no connection—and it’s for a large, public technology company. It’s noteworthy to point this out because I think there’s this belief that you can’t ever get a job unless you know someone at the company. I don’t believe that to be true.

And lastly, one very promising job lead is through a Burning Man connection. Yey! When I was thoroughly depressed and complaining about my job, a fellow ARTery volunteer told me to send him my resume and he would pass it on to a friend of his who happens to be on the Board of Directors of a bank! The bank followed up immediately.

I am very excited about what the future holds. Based on my experience job hunting, I do feel the market is picking up.