Job Searching? Career Coach Shares His Top Tip

Mike Mittleman '93BUS, of the Columbia Career Coaches Network, shares how he went wrong after the loss of a job and his best advice for getting back in the game. 

When I was unemployed, I stopped communicating, which really hurt me in mind, body, and spirit, especially job search and my career.

I felt depressed, reclusive, and shut down—even with my parents, wife, and kids. Getting out of bed was painful—physically and psychologically—and I allowed myself to be consumed by jealousy of people who still had jobs. Why me?

I shut down from everyone, including myself. 

To pivot, let's learn from Goldman Sachs and Google. Can you possibly turn on the TV, your computer and not hear about Goldman and Google? They are everywhere by design.

Goldman requires its equity analysts to speak on all the major news shows, publishes research for all investors to read, and constantly makes press releases. Even if you are economically disadvantaged, you know the name.

Google is your search engine of choice, your browser, your gadgets in your home. It’s a noun, verb, adjective, and pronoun.

What does that have to do with me?

None of us is a household name (except in our own ego). However, we can communicate with a broader audience and reach beyond ourselves, i.e. networking.

Networking is the most valuable career advice.

It might mean leaving the office early for a networking event or even calling a former colleague to check in during your lunch break. It might mean getting out of bed early!

Don’t make excuses.

Set realistic communication goals if you are employed:

• Attend two networking sessions per month and actually talk to people
• Set aside two hours per week to speak with professionals outside your current field just to learn
• Find a mentor in your company who has had experience outside of your current field or a wider view of the world

Establish guidelines if you are unemployed:

• Start by calling your closest former colleagues who won’t care if you are down on your luck
• Connect with five people per day on LinkedIn and follow up with a phone call to learn
• Force yourself to go to one networking session per month

Increase your momentum and start posting something intelligent on LinkedIn weekly so you gain visibility. One of my clients is doing this right now. Share other people's posts.

I know it’s hard. However, be seen; do something; act.
 

Mike Mittleman is a preeminent career coach, focusing on mid-level and senior financial executives. He creates customized plans, finding clients the right job 1-3 months faster than they can on their own. He specializes in financial services’ executives in the banking, FinTech, corporate, and many other verticals. He has helped professionals transition into and out of most Fortune 100 companies, including Goldman Sachs, Google, Morgan Stanley and GE, well as boutique, smaller entities. He works directly with clients with no outsourcing. Learn more about Mittleman and the other members of the Columbia Career Coaches Network. 

A version of this article originally appeared on MikeMittleman.com.