A new route

One of the things that I’ve enjoyed most about the morning walk with Bruno is his inquisitive nature and his intense desire to always take a new route. At every crossroads, he undoubtedly will pull in the direction we’ve never gone. Recently I’ve been exploring those new routes with him. It only adds one block, maybe two to our walk. Sometimes it makes the walk an hour, not just 30 minutes. I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to just try something new with him but it has.

On these new routes, Bruno has met some new “friends.” Bubba, another basset hound, is a tri-color with as big of a mouth as Bruno. His sleepy owner came out the day we met, at 6:30 in the morning, and implored Bubba to “Quiet down!” and told him, “It’s too early for this.” Bubba, like Bruno, doesn’t listen. I think some bassets just like to hear their own voice, especially when it’s particularly melodic.

I got to thinking about my new routes with Bruno and starting doing some research about my interviewing history and the lack of success in getting an offer that I’ve had. I talked to a couple of hiring managers who passed me by, an HR director or two who know me well, a few friends, and asked for advice. What I learned was to me surprising news. In my career search, I have been submitting to positions equal to or somewhat lower than my most recent position. My “panelists” all suggested that I wasn’t digging deep enough into my strengths, that I needed to re-evaluate what I am really good at and then search for positions that matched it based on my experience. I finally figured out that I’m qualified for not only a lateral position (duh) but had I still been employed at this point and searching for a new career, I’d be looking up the ladder. I’ve spent so much time on just trying to land a position that I can do and not enough time looking for something that will challenge me. How odd. In the work world, I continually look for change, for improvement. What happened to me that I lead me to be looking for “good enough?”

So I started a new route. I changed my job search agents to reflect the true skills, passion, and drive that I have. What came up were not only director level positions, but AVP and VP, even a CMO or two. Huh. What a dope I’ve been. I think that being unemployed I was being too hard on myself. I’ve continued my education, something I’ve wanted to do but traveling for work made it nearly impossible. I’ve been volunteering at a couple of charitable organizations that need marketing help, I’ve helped two friends with their marketing plans for their new businesses, and I’ve counseled a friend going back to school later in life who wants a new career in marketing. I’ve kept my skills sharp. I’ve kept my competitive edge. I’ve figured out why I’ve been overqualified for the other positions.

A new route. And it has already started to pay off. Within a few days of applying for these better matched positions, I’ve gotten phone calls. That’s what it’s all about. I’m really excited about what the new route will bring.

Weakness

As spring makes its way, the ground begins to peak out from under the snow. And when the ground becomes exposed, so do all the smells. It’s another favorite time of year for Bruno. Not only does he take in every smell he can, occasionally he ferrets out something to eat. Yesterday I found myself fishing a chicken bone out of his mouth. I find it interesting that when I want to take his bone away, I’m met with at least a grumble but when I’m extracting something yummy that he pilfered from the ground, he willingly gives it up, almost laughing at me because now it’s slimy. Call it his weakness.

I started walking Bruno on a new route this week. I don’t know if that was a mistake because with bassets, probably most dogs, the language is, “Always and never.” We always go that way. You never give me what I really want. From what I’ve heard, sounds like kids, too. On this new route of just 10 blocks, I found eight houses for sale, two of them empty. I used to drive past car lots and think to myself, all of these cars will go home with someone at some point. I don’t know about the houses. They can’t possibly all get a new resident. There are too many. The housing market remains very weak.

In the past three weeks, I’ve had an incredible flurry of interviews and I still haven’t been hired. I can’t seem to figure out where I’m weak on a consistent basis and yet strong enough to be interviewed. When I’ve asked for advice from friends, I’ve been told that someone else simply rose a little higher. At the end of last week, after two rejections on the same day, I sent an email that I later regretted. I had asked a friend why I wasn’t hired nearly a year ago. My intention was pure – I wanted to understand what I could have done better, said better, proven better. That was a mistake. He had already shared the reasons months ago. A moment of professional weakness, and five days later I’m still beating myself up for it because he is truly a wonderful person and that email may have been interpreted as a guilt trip. I did ask that my email be disregarded, that I acted on a weak moment. And, I can’t take it back.

So how do I move forward? I just do. I have to. Tomorrow I have a phone interview.