Oracle of NY

Career Management

According to Paloma’s email, she had read my story in the New York Times, was a career coach and promoted a web site for career management called JibberJobber.com. She asked me to take a look at the web site and tell her what I thought.

I took a quick look at JibberJobber.com, liked what I saw and also noticed that the founder of the site Jason Alba had written a book I’m on LinkedIn Now What???

I was on LinkedIn and making occasional connections, but I wondered if there was a better way to use the professional networking site to find a job.

I responded to Paloma, and she sent me a page of tips concerning LinkedIn, inquired how my job search was going and told me I had to start managing my career. “Shift your thinking from job search to career management,” she wrote. When you change your thought process, you change your strategies. You are in control of managing a long-term endeavor, not merely a job replacement. When you accept this paradigm shift, it resonates in your interview sessions.”

Over my lifetime, my MIT degree and family connections have opened doors for me. I was fortunate enough to have a succession of higher and higher paying jobs—but I never had a career. I rode a roller coaster of challenging new jobs and eventual disappointments and was lucky that after each sharp decent, there was a swift and dynamic ascent. However, I never had a long-term career goal. If anything, I was an expert at changing careers.

Manage my career?

After nine months of unemployment, including over two months of international fame, the concept resonated strongly within me. Career management was certainly something I had not accomplished for myself and with which I could sorely use help.

Paloma suggested I use JibberJobber.com as a database to organize my contact information, so I signed on and started entering the information regarding my new contacts and active leads. I mentioned to Paloma that I wished someone would help me type in my entire shopping bag full of contact information—because the task was too daunting for me—and Paloma immediately offered to help.

Paloma and I started corresponding by email regularly and then we started talking daily on the telephone. Paloma said she was determined not only to help me find a job,  so that I could get back on my feet and reunite my family, but she said she would also help me take control of my career.

Famous for Being Unemployed

On the verge of desperation, I got inspired and tried something different. I went out to the corner of 50th Street and Park Avenue wearing a sign board advertising my search and contact information. I thought I would hand out some resumes and generate a few new leads.

Once my story and image went viral, it took me hours to sort through the flashflood of calls and emails. Most of the people who contacted me were well-wishers offering prayers and encouragement, but I also was contacted by many people with relevant job leads. Some of the people whom I met on the street also sincerely tried to help me find a job.

Suddenly, as a result of my sign board publicity, I had dozens of calls to return and half a dozen meetings on my calendar.

As the summer progressed and my fame spread, I had many interesting conversations and meetings—and I came close to landing several exciting jobs.

Furthermore, the media loved my story and instead of my publicity flaring up and flaming out just as fast, every time I thought it was over, I would get a call from a major television network, radio show or newspaper requesting another interview.

Each time I thought my fifteen minutes of fame had come and gone, my picture would suddenly and unexpectedly pop up on the main page of Yahoo.com, CNBC.com or CNN.com.

I could tell when something was up, because my cell phone would go into convulsions, and I would get a flurry of emails from people telling me where they had seen my picture and wishing me good luck finding a job.

When I was interviewed on Fox and Friends, Fox Business, MSNBC and CNN, the newscasters all touched me with their warmth and sincerity and said they wanted to help me find a job. They didn’t make promises but strongly hinted that I would find a job within hours or days as a result of their interview—and told me to keep in touch with them to let them know how things turned out.

I was overwhelmed by their concern and efforts, and my expectations soared with each exciting interview.

As a result of the publicity, I received hundreds of calls and emails—but a job offer remained elusive. I had everything going for me—including the help of major television networks, newspapers and popular Internet sites—but I couldn’t make anything happen.

Was I jinxed?

Then I received an email from Paloma Bowland.

Photography - and Private Lessons for Children and Adults

A Convenient Time to Meet

As part of my networking efforts, whenever I could, I tried to meet with people. That was my goal, as I knew it was the most effective way to find a job. Whenever I contacted people, whether by email or telephone, I asked, “When is a convenient time to meet?”

It is amazing how difficult it can be to arrange a simple meeting. Some people seem to always have time for meetings, but most people are so busy, they barely ever have time for even a single meeting, spontaneous or not. I arranged meetings whenever I could, but often it took weeks or even months to find a convenient time—if my contact was willing to meet at all.

I also attended professional networking events and presentations sponsored by the International Association of Financial Engineers (IAFE), Professional Risk Managers International Association (PRMIA) and the MIT Sloan Club of New York.

The presentations and panels were usually interesting, but sometimes I just did not speak with anyone other than the person sitting next to me.

At successful events, however, I had captivating conversations with at least several small groups of people over wine and cheese and went home with half a dozen or more business cards and plenty of follow-up work for the next day.

I thought I was doing all the right things—networking, making calls and sending out hundreds of resumes—but I still could not find a job.

Nyetworking

In addition to my online efforts, I tried to call at least several people every day—and my shopping bag full of contact information I had collected over the years was a great resource. It usually took a bit longer than planned to find anything specific for which I was looking, but after sifting though a stack of old emails or a rubber-banded pile of business cards, I could usually locate the sought after name and telephone number.

More often than not, I would just sift through the organized chaos, pulling out the names and numbers of people whom I thought it might be worth calling.

In retrospect, I wish I had been more disciplined about organizing and recording my collection of contact information.

To supplement my own online and calling initiatives, I also networked regularly over the telephone. My family, especially my mother, supplied me with new leads on an almost daily basis—and those leads often started with a friendly call which was a lot more pleasant than making a cold call.

When I made cold calls, I usually ended up hearing a recorded message, and when I did get to speak with the person I was trying to reach—or more often than not, with their assistant—they would invariably tell me to email my resume. I would actually feel great hearing that, as if they were telling me they would give me some consideration—but I did not get any better results from the resumes I forwarded after cold calls, than from the resumes I launched coldly into cyberspace.

Lost in Cyberspace

When I had lost my job at Houlihan Lokey, I thought I had known exactly what to do—and that’s what I did. I updated my resume, signed on to numerous job search boards, compiled lists of companies to contact and took out my shopping bag full of business cards, old emails, notebooks and pieces of scrap paper containing the contact information of professional colleagues and acquaintances.

I had been through the job-hunting routine before—and although it had never been an easy process—I had always managed to succeed on my own or with a little help from my family and friends.

I did not think there was anything new anyone could tell me about how to find a job. My resume was strong. I knew I had to network among family, friends and professional peers. I was not completely comfortable making cold calls, but I knew it had to be done and was actually pretty successful at engaging potential employers once I had them on the line. I was not at all comfortable leaving telephone messages for complete strangers—but that is how cold calls often start out.

On the other hand, I was completely comfortable sending emails to anyone and everyone—and I knew it was a numbers game. The more people I could get to look at my resume, the better my chances of finding a job.

Although I disliked having to retype my personal information for each different job site and online application, it was still an efficient way to find leads and apply for jobs. On some sites, I could apply to job after job with a few clicks of the mouse.

On a typical day, I would do some research and apply to half a dozen targeted jobs online, but sometimes I would get enthused and blindly apply to a dozen jobs of all sorts with a last minute, end of the day flurry of emails and online activity.

I knew I would be lucky to get one response out of a hundred emails and virtual applications, but I kept trying—and I usually got that one response. Even if my applications for specific jobs were not fully targeted, I sometimes got responses and established new relationships with recruiters or potential employers after forwarding my resume or applying for a position online.

Nevertheless, ninety-nine percent of my emailed resumes and online job applications seemed to evaporate into cyberspace. Even when I applied to highly relevant jobs on the job board of my alma mater, the MIT Sloan Alumni Job Board, I rarely received a response. I was excited about the positions and had the required experience—but no one ever seemed to be on the receiving side of my emails and online applications or be available to speak when I called.

ScanBizCards - iPhone App

I've jumped on the iPhone applications bandwagon and am promoting an app that lets you conveniently scan business cards with your iPhone - ScanBizCards. We're getting lots of downloads a day for the free version and are moving up the ranks in the iTunes Store. We are looking for further publicity and advertising partners.

Unlike competing iPhone business card scanning applications:

• ScanBizCards is the only iPhone business card scanning application offering a free version that lets you try the core functionality before you decide to upgrade.
• ScanBizCards acknowledges that OCR is not perfect, so the image of the business card is always displayed side-by-side with the textual information to facilitate editing.
• Cards scanned by ScanBizCards have one-touch accelerators which can be used to instantly place calls, send emails, browse web sites, invite contacts to connect via LinkedIn and send follow-up reminders to your calendar.

ScanBizCards is better than a dedicated scanner:

• ScanBizCards does not have to be connected to a PC when you photograph/scan cards.
• ScanBizCards interfaces instantly with not just your address book but also with your email, calendar, iPhone and browser.
• ScanBizCards can instantly send a LinkedIn invitation.
• ScanBizCards costs $4.99 versus $60 to $300 for a dedicated business card scanner.
• New and useful features are added at no cost.

If you have an iPhone and collect lots of business cards, ScanBizCards is a great utility.

www.scanbizcards.com

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scanbizcards/id335047649?mt=8
 
Contact: Patrick Questembert
patrick@scanbizcards.com
917 250 4177
 
Joshua Persky
Joshua.persky@sloan.mit.edu
917 650 8700

Hello, It’s Paloma

I have changed careers several times during my life, and it usually took only a few months to find a new job even in a new field of work. However, this time, something was different. Nothing seemed to be working. Over six months had gone by, and I was still unemployed. Not only that, but I was world-famous, and I was still unemployed. What was my problem? What was I doing wrong?

I did not seek professional help while I was unemployed, but I am sure grateful that a professional career coach contacted me.

In response to my publicity, a couple of professional career counselors and resume writers had emailed to say that they could help me find a job. I had tried working with one in the city, but he had been pressed for time and after an energetic initial meeting, neither of us had followed through.

However, Paloma Bowland—a career management coach and business strategist working with JibberJobber.com—was different. She sent me an email telling me about her career management site and then called to tell me what to do. She must have done something right, and I must have needed help, because as the summer progressed, I found myself in daily telephone contact with her, changed my job-hunting paradigm, went through a transformational experience—and found a job.

When Paloma called, she told me she would not only help me find a job but would also help me take charge of my career.

First, she gave me numerous tips on conducting and managing interviews. Next, she convinced me to do a thoughtful self-evaluation and revise my resume. Then she told me to clean up and reorganize my blog, coordinate it with my LinkedIn and Facebook profiles and write newspaper articles.

When I found a job and started working again, Paloma insisted our work was not over—it had only just begun.

Every suggestion she made was a chore and a learning process of self-discovery, but I quickly began to feel a difference, a transformation—a renewed sense of self-confidence and self-esteem. She also gave me plenty of psychological support, helping me remain focused and move forward even when I was feeling down.

Almost immediately after I had revised my resume and developed a new outlook, good things started happening. Not only did I get more positive feedback than before, but I felt much better about myself and was able to start turning job possibilities into solid offers.

Lesson Learned—Be Open to Change!

• When looking for a job, especially in economically challenging times, it helps to be open to change. Perhaps, you will have to do something else, somewhere else, at least for a while in order to survive. You may also be pleasantly surprised where an opportunity may lead you, equally in terms of what kind of work you do, where you do it and whom you meet.

• By being open to change, I found myself investigating many different career opportunities in various locations—so my chances of finding a job increased significantly. It was only by fate that I eventually found a job in my own field and in my own back yard.

• Although you may envision a career as a straight path, it is sometimes necessary and can even be beneficial to take a detour. In a world that is changing faster than a chameleon changes color—and where company and worker loyalty is a thing of the past—it is best not to limit yourself to your own perception of what you think you do—or to limit yourself to other people’s perceptions of what you have already done. You may want to focus on your chosen field, familiar role, core or most recent experience, but you should also consider other possibilities and figure out how you can transfer your skills to a new role.

• When you are unemployed—and even when you are employed—it is worth considering each and every job opportunity. You never know what you may learn, whom you may meet or which door may lead to your ultimate success.

• When searching for a job, you have to be open to change of career, location and people. It is a great time to explore other possibilities, such as starting your own business. At least, ask yourself if you are really satisfied with your job? What is your fantasy job? Is there something else you would rather be doing or that you could possibly do? Is there somewhere else you would rather be living or that you could possibly live?

• Being open to change is not only about being prepared and willing to change your career or move to a new location for the sake of employment, but it also means adjusting to a changing world, being able to adapt the way you live to new circumstances and letting new people into your life.

• When looking for a job, especially during an economic downturn, you have to be patient. It takes time to find leads and follow up on leads. It takes time to arrange interviews and takes time to get answers. It can take a lot longer than you planned to find a job.

• I know it’s difficult to be patient when you are standing in the cold rain without an umbrella. I’ve been there. You have to keep in mind that the storm will pass and the sun will come out tomorrow—or even more importantly—that the sun is always shining above the clouds.

• Don’t take non-responsiveness or rejection personally. Be patient, be persistent and be professional!

Recycle Yourself and Start a New Life

Although I had no idea when the subprime mortgage problem surfaced in the summer of 2007 that it would lead to a global economic crisis, I was close enough to the news to know that when Bear Stearns collapsed, the rules of the game had changed.

I knew that something profound was happening and that if I were going to find a job in New York City, it would take a tremendous effort and a lot of luck. I also was keenly aware of the changes that had taken place in New York City since 9/11. 

Before 9/11, when someone was having a tough time finding a job in the city or was determined to get their foot in the door at a specific company, they could go knocking on doors. They could show up at the main office, chat with the receptionist, camp out, market themselves to any executive they might meet and beg for a job until they were hired or escorted out the door.

Many people in New York City found employment that way as interns, assistants, apprentices or in the mail room. If someone had the skills and determination, they could work their way up.

Subsequent to 9/11, because of security considerations, it was nearly impossible to get inside an office building in New York City unless you were expected—and that is one of the main reasons I decided to hand out resumes on Park Avenue. It was no longer possible to go knocking on doors in the city. How else could I reach out in person to the people who worked at the companies where I wanted to work?

Much of my creative inspiration was due to a specific change that had taken place in the environment. I accepted that change and sensed I had to do something different.

When Cindy and I realized we had to leave our apartment, we did not get choked up or plot to stay until we were evicted. We sucked it up and got ready for change—as painful as it was.

Cindy moved to Omaha with the little ones, and I borrowed enough money to survive for a couple more months in the city while looking for a job and hosting my older children.

At the end of August, when I moved in with my sister’s family in Larchmont, I again adjusted to an entirely new environment.

From the day I was let go from Houlihan Lokey, my life was in constant flux—but I did my best to adjust accordingly.

Another significant change I made was to let Paloma Bowland—a professional career coach—into my life. I had not considered getting professional help on my own and had been called by many people who said they could help me or wanted to take advantage of my desperation, so when she called, I was as skeptical as could be.

Opening yourself to new people, especially when you are down and out, is not easy, but sometimes it can transform the course of your life. I thought I was open to change before I started working with Paloma, but she helped me change the very core of my approach to finding a job and managing my career, while helping me renew my self-esteem and bring out my true colors.

Clinica E.T.

When I saw the international area code for Japan on my cell phone, I hoped it was Dr. Tetsuji Okuno—and it was.

It was difficult for him to fully express himself in English, but his tone was so sincere, he touched my heart and convinced me to visit him.

When I brought up all the practical considerations of moving my family to Yokohama, he told me it was all possible—and we should discuss the details in person.

A few days later, I received an email from Dr. Okuno saying that his colleague Mr. Shinro Takahashi would be visiting New York in the middle of October—and that I should accompany him back to Japan at the end of October. I could meet Dr. Okuno, learn about his cancer research and treatment clinic Clinica E.T., discuss his plans for international expansion and come to an agreement regarding my terms of employment.

I was overwhelmed by the invitation and started to imagine a new life in Yokohama and a new career in health care management. Health care was one of the industries least affected by the global economic crisis—and helping in the fight against cancer was a great motivation. Using the Internet, I started to learn as much as I could about endovascular therapy and anti-angiogenesis.

Although most of my family thought I was out of my mind, my career coach Paloma Bowland thought it was a great opportunity. “Unfortunately,” she said, “cancer treatment and cancer research are a growing market.” She suggested that if I were truly looking for job stability in the coming years of economic challenge, I should give the opportunity some serious thought.

My father was also encouraging. He believed living abroad would be educational for the children. He also recalled the wonderful night he had spent in Yokohama when he was in the army. He had been drafted into the Korean War and dispatched to the Philippines. After two weeks at sea, his ship had landed in the port of Yokohama and all the soldiers had gone on shore leave for some much needed rest and relaxation. For the equivalent of fifty cents, he had enjoyed a fine cut of Kobe beef and a tall glass of Kirin beer. After two weeks of unsavory sea rations, he had been more than pleased. “In fact,” he said. “It is one of my fondest memories of the war.”

Somewhat coincidently, my in-laws’ neighbor in Omaha—Sam Cohen—was a world-renowned cancer research specialist who frequently visited Japan.

I gave him a call—and after doing a little research, he told me that Dr. Okuno had a good reputation and successful clinic but was also considered somewhat of a maverick. He had left the mainstream medical community to follow his own path of research and treatment. Only time would tell whether his work would be dismissed—or if he would be recognized as a genius and win a Noble Prize.

That was confirmation enough for me. The more I thought about it, the more I was intrigued and wanted to accept Dr. Okuno’s invitation. At worst it would be an adventurous journey to the other side of the world. At best, it would be the opportunity of a lifetime.

After much introspection, I wrote to Dr. Okuno, accepted his invitation and asked for a more firm itinerary.

No sooner had I accepted Dr. Okuno’s invitation, when I received a call from Richelle Konian, an executive recruiter with whom I had been in touch for over five years. We had been emailing each other regularly over the course of the summer, starting a couple of months before my sign board publicity. She said she had an opportunity for me in the valuations group at a large midtown accounting firm.

When I expressed strong interest, she said she would forward my resume and told me I should expect an interview with the hiring manager. She said she had enjoyed my publicity and blog—and the hiring manager was looking for someone who could write. “I think it’s a perfect match,” she said.

It’s amazing how events sometimes unfold.

A few days later, I had an encouraging interview with the Director of Valuation and Corporate Finance at a large New York accounting firm—and simultaneously firmed up my plans to visit Dr. Okuno in Yokohama at the end of October.

I did not tell the valuations director or executive recruiter about my planned trip to Japan—or tell Dr. Okuno about my job possibility in New York, because I did not know which, if either, would work out. Both opportunities seemed fantastic.

The Human Factor

In the meantime, my Sandwich Board Guy picture and story continued to spread internationally, especially in France, Germany, Italy, India, Hong Kong and China.

More and more international journalists called me for interviews—and a new flood of emails poured in from around the world.

People started telling me how great things were in China, Taiwan, Korea, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia.

“Come here and teach English at the university,” they wrote. “Come here, and you will find a job.”

I even received emails from several expatriate Americans describing how wonderful it was to live and work in Shanghai.

Students and unemployed people started reaching out to me for personal advice. “Should I study finance or is that no longer practical?” “Should I put on a sandwich board like you did?”

I was also asked for economic, financial and business analysis, including a request to write an article about who might succeed Warren Buffet at the helm of Berkshire Hathaway and a request to write an article about corporate governance in light of the global economic crisis.

Both articles were subsequently published in prominent Indian business journals—Business & Economy and The Human Factor, respectively.

Several journalists asked me for political analysis. “How do you think the upcoming elections will affect the economy?” “Will you vote for Obama or McCain?”

I was truly becoming a Sign of the Times and the Face of the American Economy—but where in the world was I going to end up?

Shock and Awe on Wall Street

As a result of the Lehman Brothers collapse, the economic environment went from bleak to disastrous. I pretty much gave up on finding a job in the United States and started aggressively pursuing opportunities abroad.

I was soon in touch with a financier from Hong Kong, the Dutch CEO of an international furniture company, the British CEO of an international car parts company, and a Japanese doctor who ran an innovative cancer treatment and research clinic in Yokohama.

The doctor was so convinced that I was the person to help him manage his clinic and spread his research and techniques throughout the world, he said he would fly me to Japan to meet with him.

All of these people told me they had felt compelled to contact me after seeing my picture in the newspaper, on television or on the Internet.

I had already left New York City, would I soon be leaving the United States?

My wife and I discussed the matter and decide we would be willing to relocate abroad for a year or two for the right opportunity—if we could put money in the bank. Many times, if an American company sends someone abroad—or if a foreign company lures someone abroad—they pay for housing and many other living expenses, so the employee can save much of their salary.

Cindy was not very excited about having me pursue an opportunity in Hong Kong or Yokohama as they were on the other side of the world and it would be difficult for her to visit her parents and grandparents in Omaha.

On the other hand, she felt that London or Amsterdam might be viable as long as housing and other major expenses, such as international schools for the children, were covered by the employer.

The Hong Kong financier who contacted me said he helped American companies set up businesses, market products and invest in China. He called from Hong Kong several times, emailed me questions about the global economy and asked me to describe my approach to business development.

When I pressed him for information about his company and business activities, I did not receive an adequate reply, so our communication stopped.

The Dutch CEO of an international furniture company called me from Verona, Italy and then from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. We had several long, enjoyable conversations, and I started to believe I could soon be an international furniture salesman.

His company had a large catalog of reasonably priced, well-designed and high-quality modern furniture which was produced in Indonesia and China—and I would have responsibility for North and South America but would also be a frequent visitor to Holland, Indonesia and China.

The Dutch CEO said he panned to visit the United States in early November, and as soon as he discussed the matter with his partner and firmed up his schedule, we would set up a meeting.

We even got to the point of discussing compensation and sales targets, but then I got caught up in other leads and could not get a confirmation regarding his visit to America. Eventually, our communication fizzled out.

The British CEO of an international car parts company left me an encouraging message and told me to be in contact with his human resources department.

I called and spoke several times with his human resources manager and learned what I could about the company which re-manufactured car parts. It was growing at forty percent a year and expanding all over the world, especially in Africa and Eastern Europe.

I spoke with the CEO briefly a couple of times, but the first time we spoke he said he was too busy to talk at length and said he would call me back—but did not.

The second time he could not talk for more than a few minutes because he was ill with a severe flu.

I tried contacting him and his human resources manager several times after that but could not get a response.

My most unusual and distant international lead turned out to be the one that developed most seriously.

Dr. Tetsuji Okuno initially called me and left a message, but the connection was full of static, so I could not understand his name, message or telephone number.

He then sent me an email that he had seen me on NHK, a major Japanese network and had been impressed by my attitude. He told me to look at his web site—and I was instantly intrigued by his dedication to medical science and cancer research.

We started corresponding by email, and I soon received a call from his English-speaking in-law in Vancouver telling me that he was extending an invitation to me to visit him and his cancer treatment clinic in Yokohama—perhaps in the middle of October.

I was extremely excited and intrigued by the invitation, but my wife and others in my family did not think it was a practical lead to pursue.