Journal of an under-employed Manager

This is a Status update of sorts.  Since Jan. 2009 (Dec. layoff) I have posted here and stayed on the Career Tools philosophies and practices for Job Hunting, Networking, Interviews, etc.  (IE. I have the Handshake DOWN)

I am a Director/Sr. Manager in Large Commercial Construction in Florida.  Construction unemployment nationally is over 25% and in Florida 42%.  Every week since Jan. I hear of more of my network, hundreds in fact, being let go, branch and regional office closings, even entire companies (some 50+ year old) shutting down.  The outlook is grim.  Yet I have interviewed for 7 upper level positions since Feb. that were legitimate.  A few of those I blew the impression, or fumbled an issue, 3 of them I was in the top 3 out of numerous like candidates.  The interviews have tapered off since early May, even though I have been searching nationally. 

At that point (early May) I felt like so much over-exposed real estate that I pulled my accounts and resume's from all Web sources except Linkedin.(Monster, CB, etc.).  I have networked and grown back a few key relationships using MT guides and followers.  One of them, a past Client, became a Reference which promoted me to potential employers beyond my expectations, yet still, no takers.

This Reference also became a lay off from this industry and a half dozen other Management level collegues of his (whose offices were closed in the last 3 months) are forming a new Consulting firm with offices across the U.S., and I have joined them on a 1099 basis.  We have no income or financing and are chasing our own leads to land work, all out of pocket until the first real contract comes in.

While I still hear from Recruiters weekly about job position leads, they are agonizingly slow to validate and develop into anything beyond screening.   The more Sr. level people come into the market, the more selective employers and recruiters are at showing their cards.  Wendii's blog about passive recruiting (only currently employed candidates) nails what I am experiencing from the job search front line.

While I have all the ammo to be cynical about this industry's job market, even @ 42% unemployment....there are still 60% out there that have turn over which remains to be an opportunity...eventually. 

My empathy to all those out here that are experiencing the same and worse.  If anyone needs contacts in Florida...in any industry...send me a message...I will connect wherever I have the contacts.

Signed,

stirred but not shaken

-D