How I Turned Job Loss into Opportunity: The ONE Action That Landed My Dream Job in Just 5 Weeks

September 13, 2017. An ordinary Wednesday for most, but for me, it’s a date I will always remember. I was sitting in a small conference room while most of my team members were in a large conference room, learning about a significant restructure and layoffs in our business line. As I got ready for work that morning, I had this weird feeling that today I was getting laid-off. There was no specific conversation on the matter, just an intuition I had from my interactions with others in the firm in the weeks preceding the lay-off.

I had not yet been on that side of the conference room table, still all the emotions came flooding at once. Doubt in my abilities and decision-making; anxiety in how I would provide for my family; worthiness (or lack thereof) of being a part of a mission and community I believed in. The seeds of resentfulness, and even anger, that “this happened to me” started to take root.

In the days and weeks that followed that Wednesday in the middle of September, there is ONE thing I did to keep me positive and hopeful, and to get myself employed within 5 weeks doing EXACTLY what I LOVE with a remarkable and talented team.

The ONE thing? I picked up the phone. Metaphorically and literally.

So simple, right? Yet, so rarely done in the age of quick applies complex ATS systems with AI for matching, and job aggregators selling the idea of the perfect candidate resume being placed in the inbox of a corporate recruiter or hiring manager.

Here is what ALL of these things miss: active vs passive job seeking activities and the critical importance of the human network that WILL land you your next position.

I made two calls on the way out of the office that day. Those two leaders in my field, whom I respected and liked as humans, not only took my call but went to bat with their leadership to create a possible place for me on their team. You can’t imagine the gratitude I still feel for these leaders and the countless primary and secondary people in my network who emailed, connected, and made calls on my behalf.

Another way to describe what I did to fill my job opportunity pipeline? I “did my job” even though no one was really paying me for it.

I met with prospects and candidates on the market. I went to networking events.

I got up and got dressed and attended Mass.

I went on my morning run and then logged into LinkedIn and email.

I made calls to set appointments every day.

I went to work Every. Single. Day. during my weeks of unemployment.

My husband joked he thought he would see me more during those days, but it just wasn’t the case.

In the end, I had 11 opportunities I was exploring at one time, and four that materialized into offers. The opportunity I accepted? It started with a “cold” LinkedIn message. It was probably the shortest message I have sent and it landed me in one of the best places professionally and personally.

The original message is shown below. I hope its brevity, honesty, and call-to-action can be of some help to you  as you search for your next role.

Stephanie Ranno sent the following message at 8:32 PM

Hi Heidi, I believe we have been connected for a number of years here on LinkedIn and I have enjoyed your posts on employee engagement, retention, and performance management of late. I am for the first time in my professional career, in the unique, stress-inducing, and opportunity-filled position of looking for my next career home. I have a love and talent for quickly and wholeheartedly connecting people and opportunity, especially in the verticals of marketing, creative, and communications. I equally geek-out over trends in talent acquisition and omnichannel marketing & customer journey. Would you be open to a conversation over the next week? Thanks for considering and have a great first week of Autumn. Best, Stephanie 410-215-0543

Whether you were laid off four hours ago, four weeks ago, or 14 months ago, my hope is that your inbox and heart are filled with opportunity and hope through this ONE active “thing” you can do for your job search.

Stephanie Ranno is a wife, mother of three, and believes that a woman can have it all: success in career and family life, as well as success in creative and community projects. Recently recognized as a 2017 Maryland Leading Woman by The Daily Record for professional accomplishment, community involvement and a commitment to inspiring change, Stephanie tries to pursue an integrated life at home and work. As the Director of Enterprise Business Development for TorchLight Hire in Washington, D.C., she helps marketing leaders build talented teams and grow meaningful, progressive careers. Having reviewed thousands of resumes and job descriptions, and advised hiring managers and candidates alike through hundreds of searches and placements, she is uniquely qualified to speak and write on what really works in recruitment and talent acquisition strategy.