Recently I had the pleasure of returning to my Alma Mater on
Homecoming weekend. It is something I do
just about every year. However, with the
economy and the job market being what it is, I couldn’t help but reflect back
on how I chose to be an alumnus of this particular institution and compare it
to how one goes about finding their next “project”?
By using the word project, I mean next job, next client, next
endeavor? Is it word of mouth,
networking, social media, etc? If so,
think back to when you started your college search. You were in high school, going to class,
preparing and taking the SAT or some other test. At any point were any of the methods
described above employed in your search for a college? I am going to say they were not used. Not because the technology was not available
to employ them or even because your teenage mind was not exposed to the concept
of them, but rather it wasn’t the way to go about it. Unless you were an amazing athlete, colleges
were not seeking you out. You had to
search for them on your own. And here
you were not searching for a major or a program, but you were searching for an
institution. Searching for your next “endeavor”
or project is no different. You shouldn’t
be searching for a position or a job, but rather a company.
Think about it. When
you started your college search how did you go about it? You started by knowing there were about 3000
colleges. How did you narrow it
down? There are large public and large
private colleges (in the business world you might want to consider this equivalent
to the Fortune 100). There are mid sized
public and private colleges and there are small, private schools as well. While geography and finances may have played
a part in your selection, it probably came down to what the right fit was for
you and your personality. Did you choose
a large school for the challenge of becoming a big fish in a big pond, or for
the anonymity you preferred in the large setting? Did you choose the small school to be a big
fish in a small pond or for the intimacy you found in smaller groups? Whatever made you select the school of your
choosing, remember that you selected them before they selected you. So shouldn’t the same apply here?
Based on your personality, do you thrive in the city or in
the country? Do you like the benefits
and cutting edge technology employed by larger firms or would you prefer to
make an impact at a smaller firm? Do you
like being a part of a big machine or the family atmosphere of a boutique
firm? There is no right or wrong, but
the similarities in how one searches for a college and a firm are undeniable.
Instead of finding a position and trying to fit into
something that isn’t exactly you, why not start with the type of company you
prefer and work your way into an opportunity.
To that end, would you want to be at the “main campus” or a “satellite
campus”? Do you want to attend Penn State
at Happy Valley
Bottom line is that you sought them out before they selected
you. You didn’t just answer an ad, you
created a need for them to want you.
