Landing My Dream Job!
Jul 28, 2024
Barry Lawson Williams, founder of Williams Pacific Ventures, a San Francisco investment and consulting firm, about his experience taking risks and building networks. “In your career, there’s going to be a balance between what is intentional and what is just incidental and lucky,” Williams said. “I encourage you to develop your network so you can position yourself to be lucky.” Sometimes you do indeed get lucky based on the relationships you develop. So, there is good reason to follow this advice.
I would encourage you to develop your network for reasons that go beyond luck. At Contacts Count we believe our approach to networking continually impacts both your professional and personal life in ways that go beyond just luck. Our skills-based approach to networking creates the type of relationships where information, opportunities, introductions to others comes your way based on building trust-based mutually beneficial relationships.
I landed my dream job using the skills and behaviors we use to help others network like a pro. When I left Dunkin Donuts after 25 years, I was fortunate to work with a career transition firm in Boston – New Directions. Their approach to finding a new job and the level of customer service they delivered was extraordinary. Their network of previous clients who were searching for a job had such a positive experience they were willing to help any current client any way they could. The relationship New Directions staff built with their clients was very strong. As I reached out to each of them the response was always the same – “How can I help?”. They all were willing to “give back” to fellow New Directions clients. I came away from my experience with New Directions thinking, working for a firm like this could be my dream job.
I shared my story for what I believed would be my dream job with a business development VP for a global career management firm. She was very interested to hear what I had to say about New Directions. She began to think about how her firm could incorporate some of the New Directions practices into her firm’s delivery of service.
Over the course of some months, we got to know each other - who we were, what are skills were, some of our key accomplishments. One day she called me to let me know her career management firm was interviewing for a VP of Operations. This position was not listed anywhere in the public domain. This position was part of what is known as the "hidden job market." I told her I was definitely interested. She was able to recommend me to the hiring manager, I interviewed and landed the job. Having someone know about a job in the “hidden job market” and immediately thinking that you would be a great fit is not a function of luck. It speaks to the strength of the relationship you have with the other person.
The relationship we developed was what at Contacts Count we refer to as a trust-based mutually beneficial relationship. Each person has spent the time and effort to get the other person really well in all facets of the life – both professional and personally. In this type of relationship each party is ready and willing to help the other person in any way they can. No luck needed in these types of relationships!
About the Author
Vern Schellenger, President and CEO of Contact Count.
Contacts Count is the premier coaching and training organization dedicated to helping you use the power of human connection to transform your career, business, and life.
Vern is dedicated to empowering professionals and entrepreneurs with the strategies, skills and tools to master networking (even if they are introverted and don’t like networking events). His vast experience includes such roles as HR VP and CLO at Dunkin Donuts, VP & Director of Professional Services at Lee Hecht Harrison, and SR VP of Human Resources at American Bankers Association.