I am currently looking for a contract as a Senior Project Manager. I was recently the IT Project Manager within a 400 million dollar Project and prior to that, at the highest level of consulting at IBM. I am incorporated and also have a second side business (I am experienced and very hardworking…see?). You will see President and Founder now on my LinkedIn.
How is my Job search going? Job searching (or contract searching) is one of the most frustrating experiences of my life. It’s almost always a total roller coaster. The stress and frustration is extreme because we identify ourselves through our jobs and we also want to make a decent living. And when you lose those things it can really make you question yourself. In my case I have recently come within inches of lucrative contracts and also turned down a few opportunities. I would love a good fit for both me and a potential employer. I also have a pretty good nose to sniff out a job that will be a horrifying and unrelenting nightmare. Seriously. There are contracts or jobs that are unrelenting nightmares. I have been in them.
What have I learned during my Job Search?
- Applying on jobs through LinkedIn or Indeed makes me want to occasionally pull my hair out. For every job you apply for, there might be hundreds if not thousands of applicants because it’s way too easy to apply online. You have one click applications now. Yep. Applying for jobs is like buying a gizmo from Amazon – one simple click. I am also competing with people with advanced degrees or engineers often (LinkedIn shows me this) and it can be a bit intimidating. But… applying online is a necessary evil. I have had interviews on occasion using this method. So I do it.
- A much better strategy is to make it a strict priority to contact people or clients you have worked with and ask them for help. Here you already established your reputation (not as a lunatic hopefully) with them. The opposite strategy is approaching strangers for jobs, which is like going to person’s house to sell a vacuum cleaner. The person opens the door and thinks “Who the fuck are you”’?
- Don’t be afraid to apply to senior level Jobs you honestly believe you can excel in. My friends snicker at me when I mention I applied to a VP level job. But they didn’t snicker when I reached the highest level of consulting at IBM or was asked to lead a 400 million dollar project. It’s simple as hell for people to be armchair quarterbacks and give advice. I know I don’t have a University degree. I know I have never been a VP before. But I don’t care. My resume and experience speaks for itself. DO I expect to be a VP? Not really. But I certainly think I can do the job.
Salary negotiations can be fun or discouraging
- Oh boy, money, money, money. In my case because I am dealing with recruiters mostly, I negotiate an hourly rate. And they always try to negotiate less than what I ask for. I’ve done my research and I seek a very reasonable rate. So I am sticking to my rate. End of story.
- I’ve been told I am the perfect candidate during interviews (for very senior positions) and when salary comes up the client falls out of their chair. Sometimes they expect me to take a 50% salary cut from my previous position. I am open to making less money but don’t expect me to work for 50% less at a similar position I’ve already had. It’s insulting.
- When negotiating your first salary offer stick with what you feel you deserve. On a few occasions I’ve had offers of an extra $1000 more than my previous salary. That’s just ridiculous. At one company years ago they tried to reduce my salary 4 times during negotiations and I refused to budge. I got my salary and later happily found out I was making more than most Directors in the company. Also, your chance of getting a decent salary increase after being hired is almost zero.
Consider Job pros and cons instead of just salary
- How long is the commute? A long commute can drive you insane as you inch along a highway every night. Plus you are inhaling life threatening fumes from the traffic in front of you. Not fun.
- Is there travel involved? Business travel sounds glamorous as you fly on fancy jets, eat at posh hotels and negotiate in opulent board rooms around the world. The reality is being stuck in coach while some guy coughs on you, getting fat from eating out and sometimes working in a windowless room in the dungeon basement of the client. It’s not glamorous one bit sometimes.
- What’s the company culture like? I talked to a few people that landed executive level jobs at Amazon and they were expected to work weekends. So they left after their little kids stopped recognizing them. True story. Amazon, Google, Apple….. be prepared to sacrifice.
Recap
- I am currently searching for a Project Management contract. Can you help me? 😀
- Be prepared to be frustrated during a Job Search and practice becoming Captain Patience.
- Your best strategy is approaching people who know you or can refer you as opposed to cold calling strangers.
- Don’t take a ridiculous salary cut to get the job. You will end up at MacDonald’s for your coffees as opposed to Starbucks.
- Consider your commute and how much time you will sit in traffic as opposed to being with your family.
- Travel sounds fun and makes you feel like a badass, but it usually is irritating and not at all badass. More like tired ass.
- Company culture for senior level jobs can be brutal. Do you WANT to be on call 24/7?
Terry Vermeylen is a Senior Project Manager, Business Optimization expert, and SAP and Supply Chain specialist that has advised the US Navy, spoken at conferences, lost his soul a few times, and inspired teams to the point that they want to hug him.