Critical Junctures

What kind of project manager would I be if I didn’t have a plan in place for this job search?

Objective: Obtain a position in product, program or project management

Goal: To obtain the position by January 1, 2008

Resources

• my resume
• my professional network
• networking opportunities
• job listings

Phase 1: Research
(4 weeks, August 6 - September 6)
Conduct informational interviews to gain clarity of my career objectives and identify strategic relationships that can expedite my search.

Success Metric - I will have the ability to definitively answer these questions.

1. What job titles am interested in?
2. Am I qualified to hold those positions? What qualifies me?
3. What value-add do I have to offer a potential employer?
4. Who is currently hiring these types of positions?

Phase 2: Prospect Building
(12 weeks, September 6 - December 6)
Build three lists to identify and prioritize prospects.

1. Job postings that fit my search criteria
2. Companies I would enjoy working for
3. Individuals that have hiring responsibilities or can influence hiring through referral

Success metric - For every 10 prospects I identify, I will find at least 1 good job to pursue.

Phase 3: Applying
(12 weeks, September 6 - December 6)
Customize and submit my resume to positions that fit my search criteria. I will need to develop a tracking method for follow-up activities as well.

Success metric - I will receive offers for telephone and in-person interviews.

Phase 4: Interviewing
(10 weeks, September 20 - December 6)
Prepare for each interview and then just go out there and do it.

Success metric - I will be asked to do additional interviews or offered a position. Alternatively, if I am not offered an additional interview or offered a position, I will have the ability to properly assess why.

Phase 5: Close Out The Job Search
Tie up loose ends and celebrate a new beginning.

1. Make plans for smooth transition out of my current organization.
2. Thank everyone in my professional network that supported me in this endeavor.
3. Have a Friday night toast with my friends.
4. Work with my new employer to jump into new challenges.

Contingency Plan
Everything in life comes with risk. At the end of process I may find myself without a new job. What will I do then?

1. Continue with where I am at. I do good work. I am proud that my organization’s constituency directly benefits from what I contribute. There is no loss if I stay where I am at.
2. Assess where I am failing. I am always willing to humble myself to constructive criticism. I can go back to hiring mangers and colleagues to determine where I am falling short. I can develop a new plan to fill those gaps to prepare myself for a second round of searching.

Feedback
I’d like your opinion on this plan. Have I over-looked anything? Do you have suggestions to improve it? Let me know by leaving a comment.