Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2003 22:21:18 -0400
From: "Bruce Thomas" <brucethomas@...>
Subject: Re: Applying Project Management to Job Searching

I think Wendy has it here. This is a project where you know you can't
envision the end before you begin.

This type of project is much like an R&D project -- and many will say that
you cannot plan them. I have worked on many and discovered that you can, as
long as you remember that you are planning the process rather than the
outcomes (by definition, unknown).

You can define and plan the time it takes to design a test, acquire the
necessary gear, write the programs, establish the lab, run the tests, and
reduce the data. You may not know how many times the test will have to be
performed, and the results may dictate that other research or activity must
now be added to the plan, but you should be able to plan and execute the
tests "on time and within budget". At that point we discover "iterative and
dynamic".

Finding a job is an R&D project.

First, as Wendy says below, we must define and bound and target the project
and find all of the answers that belong in a well done project plan. The
process of answering the questions that Wendy and others pose, identifying
potential sources, researching by interviewing a variety of sources for
information, preparing the base resume, making sure "the suit" is ready,
customizing the resume for each job, and all of the many other things you
must do can be planned well.

Then the plan (the planners) must be flexible -- as each unknown is revealed
we plan and work to it's resolution, while continuing to execute the
parallel work. It's just another project.

-- Bruce Thomas




----- Original Message -----
From: "King, Wendy J" <wendy.j.king@...>
To: "NewGrange" <list@...>
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2003 1:53 PM
Subject: RE: Applying Project Management to Job Searching


> Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 12:16:03 -0500
> From: "King, Wendy J" <wendy.j.king@...>
> Subject: RE: Applying Project Management to Job Searching
>
> I would definitely consider this a project. The problem is that your
> 'schedule' has so many external dependencies. Therefore instead of
> concentrating on building a schedule, I would focus on the comprehensive
> project plan:
>
> * Document and validate assumptions - why do you want to change jobs?
> * Define your requirements - what type of job at what salary?
> * Develop your approach - recruiters, networking, web sites...
> * Identify your budget - do you have any funding for things such as
> professional resume writing? Training? Etc.
> * Assess risks - Do you currently have a job? How long are you willing to
> go without before you adjust your requirements?
> * Develop and execute mitigation/contingency plans - Flipping burgers,
> sales, administrative, entrepreneurial job...
>
> If you have a spouse, family, and/or a 'significant other,' I'd consider
> them your sponsor since you'll need their support throughout this.
>
> Also - I'd start with a good lessons learned session... (Why are you
> looking for a new job, and what can you learn from the experience that
> better prepares you for the next job?) The hardest thing on that would be
> to remain objective.
>
> Good luck!
>
> -Wendy
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vincent Alcalde [mailto:vjalcalde@...]
> Sent: Monday, June 16, 2003 11:52 AM
> To: NewGrange
> Subject: Applying Project Management to Job Searching
>
>
> Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2003 00:33:08 +0800
> From: "Vincent Alcalde" <vjalcalde@...>
> Subject: Applying Project Management to Job Searching
>
>
> Hi Guys,
>
> A friend of mine is out of work and looking for a job. I got into
thinking
> about how project management might be applied to manage his job-search,
and
> I got stumped a little.
>
> This undertaking qualifies as a project, doesn't it?.
> The goal is pretty much defined (get a good job). There is a timeframe,
> some plan, a rough budget.
>
> The thing that stumps me is this: in all the projects I've worked on, all
we
> needed to do was build the product and deliver. There are recognisable
> milestones and stages. We could plan the work, build the network diagram,
> and then work the plan step by step until we get to the end, sooner or
> later.
>
> But in this case, many of the steps seem entirely out of our hands. You
> cannot make a network diagram like:
>
> A) send resume to microsoft --> B) be invited for interview --> C) accept
> job offer.
>
> because clearly, you do not when and if B will occur. Another possible
> network diagram is also infeasible:
>
> A) send resume to job ads --> B) be invited for interview --> C) accept
job
> offer.
>
> because, again, you do not know if and when B will occur, and typically,
you
> need to do A over and over and over.
>
> What blows my mind is how so many things seem to be beyond our control in
> this project, even more than the typical software project <g>, that the
> project end does not seem to be calculable.
>
> Is this a project at all? If so, are the typical pm tools of any help? And
> how do you apply them? Any thoughts?
>
> Vincent
>
>
>
>
>
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