Wireless Recovery - Marketing Yourself

The social job network for the global wireless community

Wireless Recovery - Marketing Yourself

Posted by Harry Daniel Richards on May 17, 2008 at 8:53am

I was laid off from my job in March of 2008. It was the most painful separation I have ever experienced and since I came to LA 5 years ago to work for this company, I am feeling very disconnected. I was responsible for the companies wireless technology and have been in wireless since 1985.

This the longest time I have ever been unemployed since I graduated from college in 1977. In this time, (spent wandering around through my network looking for a job) I have learned a couple of things.

1. I will never be able to retire as long as I am married to my wife of 30 years - I am driving her nuts
2. I will never be able to retire regardless of who I am married to - I am driving myself nuts
3. I need to simplify my life - its amazing how much money I have spent on stuff I don't need
4. My kids are all out of high school and need to move out
5. Watching other people go to work is depressing when you have no where to go
6. Listening to other people complain about their jobs is infurating when you don't have a job
7. Your resume is never good enough for those people who review them and want you to pay for improvements
8. A lot of the jobs posted on job boards aren't real and are really scams for people who want you to pay them
9. My professional network isn't as good as I thought it was
10. I spent the first part of my career being underqualified - now it seems I am over qualified. When was I qualified?
11. My wife needs to go to work
12. I don't market myself very well

Number 12 is the most painful piece, since I have been responsible for wireless sales and marketing a couple of times in my career. However, all the jobs I have had in the last 15 years have been a result of knowing people so I didn't have to send out resumes and interview - just show up and go to work.

So now the journey begins to learn how to market myself better and here's what I have done so far.

Hooked up with a professional coach - I didn't know they were out there, but I need someone to get me on track, help me plan and hold me accountable. I miss the structure of a job

Went to a local university and met with the Dean of Business (and facility) I am offering to lecture on wireless technology and business in general

Get business cards that identify me as a "Technology Consultant" and start attending some events

Wrote a white paper on mobile marketing to send to ad companies to generate some interest

None of it has generated anything yet, but I have just started to focus on the self marketing aspect so it will probably take some time. I don't really want to start my own business again so what I am really looking for is a job. Nothing fancy, don't need to rule the world or be a CTO, but need something to do for the next 15 years or so.

What I am going to try and do is use this blog to track my efforts. Anyone that wants to jump in is welcome.

Anyone that wants to give me a job is more than welcome!

Dan

Comment by Dennis Smith on May 17, 2008 at 10:39am: Dan - I applaud your efforts to "market yourself" and i think doing so through this site is a great idea. I'm going to try and help you get the word out...I'd love to see if this community can play a part in making it happen.

Dennis

Comment by Harry Daniel Richards on May 17, 2008 at 10:46am: I never turn down help or friends :-)

I look forward to seeing what will happen and moving through this process.

Thanks and I appreciate the response

Dan

Comment by Dennis Smith on May 17, 2008 at 10:46am: Harry - can you send me a copy of the white paper you recently completed? I'd like to post it here and on some of my other sites.....see if we can use it to generate some activity around your resume.

Dennis

Comment by John Liechty on May 19, 2008 at 5:48pm: Make sure your profile is up to date on LinkedIn. Load it up with the relevant buzz words, since this is the tool most recruiters survive upon to fill jobs. As always, your network of friends is (and always will be) the best way to change jobs.

Comment by Harry Daniel Richards on May 19, 2008 at 6:32pm: I am on LinkedIn and will send you an invite to join my circle - thanks for the input

Comment by Dennis Smith on May 19, 2008 at 9:36pm: That's great advice, John. I log in to LinkedIn in the morning and never log out til my computer goes dead at night.

I noticed you (John) joined the Wireless Jobs Group I created there as well. Use it to network - there's about 9k members in the group.

Dennis

Comment by Harry Daniel Richards on June 30, 2008 at 9:16pm: Well...

No sooner had I posted up on the blog and I'll be go to hell if I didn't land a job. It took awhile to complete the process but I am now Deputy CIO for Ventura County with responsibilities for their Network Services Group and in charge of all voice, data and wireless networks for the county. I wanted to close this blog out and let people know that there is hope in these dark times. I have found a great job and am enjoying work for the first time in years.

They contacted me shortly after the blog posting on the 17th of May and while it took about a month of interviews and negotiations - I am now employed by the county. Its a sweet gig too.

Anywhoooo

Good luck to you job seekers out there - there is light at the end of the tunnel

Dan