DALE: Today’s success story comes from Stephan Elliott, who got caught up in downsizing in the tech sector. He was in his mid-50s at the time. He did consulting and experimented with sales jobs and eventually found what he wanted. Here’s how he described his search…

It took two years of trying everything. I’ve had to look for a job many times in my life and it is always very hard. I do basically everything – networking, friends, reassessing my skills, etc. I eventually found a decent job doing the same stuff I’ve been doing before I got laid off.

JT: And then, it got even better: after a couple of years in his new job, he heard about an even better job…

My current job came as a result of a friend of a friend. My friend told me there was an open position at IBM. So, with his help, I started at IBM and am doing great. Even though most of the jobs I’ve had in my life (I’m 60 now) have been as a result of networking, I still would advise everyone to look at the want ads every day, interview every chance they get, do it all. That’s because, first, you never know, and next, you need the “exercise.”

JT: Stephan summed up what he learned with this general principle: “Do everything, but, know that networking will likely be the key.” He added this about the friend who had helped him get his current job…

It’s important to keep active, even if it is simply having once lunch once a week with past coworkers. Also, my current job at IBM is the result of a friend who was a coworker two jobs ago, and I spent years giving him moral support and advice. So it’s the old adage – want a friend, be a friend.

WHAT’S THE GEM WE CAN CARRY AWAY FROM THIS STORY?

JT: I like Stephan’s formula to “Try everything, but know that networking will likely be the key.” A lot of people are tempted to focus only one method of searching — working with recruiters, or an Internet search — because they believe that method has the highest success rate for their particular type of job. But Stephan understood that, even though he believed networking was the key, he worked at everything else, including getting professional help his search.

DALE: Yes, as Stephan also pointed out, “you never know.” And that’s a great description of the economy and the job market we’re in – you never know when you’re going to next need your network. So Stephan was wise to be a friend, and wise to have had all those lunches with former coworkers. Even people who say they are too shy to network can still have lunch.

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We’d love to hear YOUR success story – please visit jtanddale.com and learn how you can help and inspire those looking for a great new job.

Jeanine “J.T.” Tanner O’Donnell is a professional development specialist and founder of the consulting firm, jtodonnell.com. Her new book is Careeralism: The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career.

Dale Dauten’s latest book is (GREAT) EMPLOYEES ONLY: How Gifted Bosses Hire and De-Hire Their Way to Success.

2008 by JT O’Donnell and Dale Dauten