Career Movers Series: “Have Him Call Me”

Recently a friend posted a comment on Facebook asking anyone looking for work to let her know as her family owned business needed some temporary help during a busy season. Someone replied back, “I am out of work, have your husband call me.”

I would put that response and variations of it on the list of the top errors made by job seekers. Whenever someone presents you with an opportunity or you identify an opportunity you want to explore, do not become passive. Do not expect other people to do the work. No matter how good your friends are, no matter how strong your professional network is, and no matter how good your resume may look, you are responsible for making sure that friend, that network and that resume work for you. This requires energy and proactive action. Do not expect others to do the work for you. I would say there is a 90% chance that friend is not going to remember to tell her husband and that husband is not going to take time out of his day to look up that person’s phone number and call him. Now, I think there is a 100% chance the husband would have picked up the phone or returned a call, if the job seeker had made some effort.

In any job search the person who should be doing the most work is the person closest to the need. The need is a job and you are the one with the need – so get to work!