After a 90-minute dialog with a client recently, I sent her an email summarizing our observations. I include it here so you can get the “flavor” of this process.
Hi, Rachel,
It was good talking with you this morning! I hope at some point in the not too distant future you’ll find a way to come back here for a visit!
As we discussed, networking to find the type of position you want is going to be a whole lot more effective than searching in newspapers and the Internet, and then submitting a resume. That is what most people do and it really puts everyone of them, including you at a disadvantage - you are in competition with all those other people for a single job, via a resume and no personal interaction (unless you happen to get an interview). But in order to network effectively, you need to be able to express clearly what the ingredients of an ideal position should be.
Here are some observations from our talk:
1. All three events you mentioned reflect the importance to you of interactions with people. The first one you mentioned was the selling of lingerie at Macy’s. The particular aspects of this that have meaning for you appeared to be: that you are able to intuitively connect with people, that you are sensitive to their “place” - i.e. being able to read people, their moods, needs, what will help them fulfill their need; that you are able to fulfill that need, and receive feedback that this indeed occurred. You got enjoyment from being able to meet the needs of the customer.
