Layoff Journal Week 7 - Proactive vs. Reactive
I caught the flu late last week, so this week’s journal will be shorter than usual. Thankfully I caught it early enough to get the medicine to speed up the recovery. There’s a good analogy here of proactive vs. reactive planning. I didn’t plan on being sick, so being proactive about it (aside from eating healthy, drinking water, and exercising ~ whatever that is. ;) wasn’t part of the game. However, as soon as I realized I was sick, I could get to the doctor and get diagnosed, which allowed a more rapid response (and hopefully recovery.)
Looking Back - Reactive Responses
Indeed was particularly good at reactive planning. Looking back on the data-driven nature of Indeed a few weeks ago, I was reminded just how much of our planning was in response to data that guided the next steps. The core measures of job seeker engagement, quality interactions, and more helped make decisions about what product features and products were built.
In the context of job searching, reactive work means being responsive to employers’ emails/requests, writing thank-you follow-up letters promptly, and applying to new positions as they open up.
Looking Forward - Proactive Planning
Going to my next role, I’m looking for an organization with strength in longer-term planning. It’s not a skill I feel particularly adept in, especially given the short-term nature of the Incubator’s projects. As I interview for roles, I’m asking a lot about this. I want to understand where the company has been, currently is, and especially where it is going. It helps me to understand if I can help them along the next steps in their growth journey.
Today’s Tip - More job search categories
Once you’ve saved a few jobs to LinkedIn, the jobs page turns out to be a very good place to start your search. Looking through my jobs page today, I saw jobs “Recommended for you,” “Similar to a job you saved one day ago,” “Jobs where you’re a top applicant,” “Remote opportunities,” “Still hiring,” “Hiring in your network,” and more. These are great jobs to review (and re-review) to see which would be a good fit.
Fun Stuff
Final Words
If I can help with your search, please get in touch with me. Please give me feedback on what you like or don’t care for in this newsletter, and I’ll adjust. For total transparency, I have no affiliation with any of the tools, companies, or resources I share. These are my impressions, not tainted by any outside influences.
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It might also be interesting to also ask questions about how the proactive planning is balanced with adaptation as new information appears. That is, how do the leaders evolve plans as needed, given “no battle plan survives contact with the enemy” (…or however that quote goes, I may have butchered it!)