Blog: Prioritizing Leads in a Job Search

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Here's the quick status of my efforts this past week.

I started a short project with a Midwest Department of Defense (DOD) contractor to assess and design/re-design their inventory control (IC), tracking, and warehouse management systems (WMS) for efficiency and scalability. They are a small design, engineering and manufacturing firm known for their exceptionally high quality products and innovative (some patented) processes. Their opportunities to triple or even quadruple their sales in next 12 to 24 months are very good.
I updated my resume to reflect the above new project for the DOD contractor.
I had a third interview with the marketing software and services firm, which I feel went very well. The company is focused and growing. In fact, they're among the top 50 marketing firms in the U.S., and they've made Inc.'s top 100 fastest growing marketing firms in U.S. I am following up with them today to talk about next steps.
I am following up with one of the top contractors for the Department of Homeland Security and hope to schedule my next interviews with them today.
I have been playing phone tag with the major satellite and systems integration defense contracting firm. The program managers have noted interest, but I've been stuck for three weeks trying to move the process forward to next interviews.
I need to follow up again on all the leads readers of this blog have sent to me.
I attended a CareerBuilder job fair in Chicago last week. I was concerned before I left for the job fair that I would experience some amount of stigma coming in as an executive. I can report that in fact I was received very well. Two firms indicated that they wanted to discuss my background with more senior management.
I've applied to seven new positions this week.

I am continuing my efforts in expanding my network. For example, on the way out of the job fair I met an IT executive. After discussing our backgrounds, I offered to give him a ride to his car. I learned that he is a mentor for job search candidates, sets up networking events in Chicago, and is developing job search tools. I hope to attend one of his events in the near future. And when his job search tools come to fruition, I will certainly pass those on to you.

The following day, while at a cigar tasting event, I met another IT leader from one of the two largest pharmaceutical firms in the US. We exchanged cards, and the next day I followed up with him about some positions I was interested in and gave him my resume.

Yesterday I was invited to speak at an upcoming networking event for US Marines transitioning from active duty, sponsored by Marines 4 Life. And today I am attending an IT Executive Summit conference, in part to network with other IT leaders.

These random and intentional networking efforts continue to generate new leads and leads TO OTHER sources of leads. For the cost of some time, some gasoline, a cigar recommendation, and volunteering to assist fellow Marines, I gain new contacts and hopefully help others, too.

Thanks again for all of your comments and ideas!