Q: Dear Dr. Culp, I worked at my old company through March, 2009, when I was let go. I’d been promoted there. I recently heard through the grapevine that I’m eligible for rehire. Should I wait for my last employer to contact me? Uncertain
A: Dear Uncertain, I’m glad the grapevine is sending good news but dismayed that this is a company you’d like to work in again, but you haven’t kept yourself in front of them.
Now that you realize that might be a good thing, develop a quiet, restrained campaign of letting them know that you enjoyed working there and would like to be reconsidered if their situation changes. Unless someone told you otherwise, you can’t be certain that your old boss is the one who wants to re-hire you. If there are several departments where your skills and experience could benefit the company, figure out which person is most likely to hire you (other than your previous boss). Take a test drive. Casually mention that you’ll be speaking with others in the company. Doing so will tell people that you really want to go back there in a capacity the newly-revived company deems fit.
Keep mum about what you heard. mlc
Q: Dear Dr. Culp, I’ve been job hunting since I lost my job on Inauguration Day. When I write CEOs and vps, I’m generally forwarded to HR, who forwards me to their website. However, no one posts senior full-time slots on those sites or contract positions; so this is worthless to me. How do I get around this insistence that I go to the website and HR? They didn’t tell me this in my MBA program.
I spend 30 to 50 hours per week e-mailing, writing, Facebook-ing, using Linked In, networking at one or two events and even calling. I also have my information with a dozen headhunters/recruiters, including the top five in my field. Frustrated
A: Dear Frustrated, What’s this: “and even calling?” Is calling an afterthought for someone as creative as you? Job hunting throws you into an abyss if you use all of the forms everyone else uses. You’re smart to use social media, but you’re low on direct contacts.
Change the balance! Invest more time on the phone and at networking events. Step up the in-person contact. The machine you’ve established isn’t taking you where you want to go. mlc
Dr. Mildred L. Culp welcomes your questions at culp@workwise.net. Copyright 2010 Passage Media.
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