Get a Haircut, Get a New Job

I am so thankful to each one of you for reading Slacker Manager. You ask me good questions off the blog, you leave insightful comments, and you add value to my life. I am humbled when I am able to give something back to you, and this post is a direct response to a question one of you amazing people asked me.

Here’s the question:

What recommendations would you have for someone such as myself (I have an IT background with an MBA – and I am wanting to move up into management (again)). I am unable to move within my current organization and I know it would require me to move elsewhere.

I’ve got 10 suggestions to get you headed in the right direction.

1) Listen to what others have to say about in the area you want to move into. Use Twitter and Facebook and blog and Ning.

2) Write about your philosophy. Focus on how you would manage a team, what you believe in, stuff like that. Put it on your website.

2) Leave comments that add value all around the blogosphere, being sure to consistently use your name and linking back to your blog. Both of these will help you build friends and influence people who can help you meet people around the country that can help you find a job.

3) Interview your virtual mentors (mentioned in tip 3 above) and ask them what you asked me, only you don’t have to say it’s for you on your blog. It’s a good question, and hopefully someone knows about this.

4) Build up your LinkedIn profile like a resume. Ask for endorsements, add your picture, customize your URL, give a few endorsements, and add what you’re reading, a link to your blog, and start answering questions. (Check out my LinkedIn profile for a good example).

5) Figure out where you would be willing to move. Think about the companies that are there, the weather that’s there, and the culture of the area. Life AND work are important if you’re taking the long view.

6) Write down what you value in a company. Find out by read a few corporate websites about where you want to live (or look at the Fortune 100 Best Places to Work if you just want great companies) and see where you might fit in.

7) See who you know “on the inside” of these companies. This is where you need LinkedIn. You might know someone who knows someone who knows someone…You never know.

8) Ask these insiders for help. Ask them to share your resume with a hiring manager…or ask what they think about the opportunity for you. Perhaps they could do an e-mail introduction or something like that.

9) Ask how you could be a more attractive candidate. Once you meet the hiring manager (virtually or otherwise)Take the feedback seriously, and make the changes suggested if they stay aligned with your values.

10) Hire a career coach (Wendy Terwelp at http://knocks.com is my recommendation). Once you’ve gone as far as you can, find someone you connect with who can help you refine your resume and flesh out your brand even more.

What advice do YOU have for your fellow reader who wants to head in a new direction?

Photo credit: Before the Haircut by Randy Son of Robert