Looking for a new job 101

As part of my company’s current services, I find superintendents to fill open positions at clubs across the country. I really enjoy this work, plus it gives me great personal satisfaction to help a club while helping one of our own with a new career opportunity or the chance for professional advancement.

But it never fails to amaze me how unprepared or uninformed people can be about getting a new job. What’s bugging me right now are misconceptions about the most basic principles of a job hunt and how even the best candidates can shoot themselves in both feet by neglecting the simplest, common-sense concerns.

Here’s what set me off.

A candidate with whom I’d spoken several years ago, and who had asked me to keep him in mind for specific levels of positions, was introduced to and under serious consideration by a high-level, private club. His résumé was presented, he made the cut, interviewed and eventually was offered the position. As part of the offer, he received a signing bonus, significant raise, and a position he told both me and the committee would be the high point of his professional career. He accepted the job and signed on dotted line.

Then, two days later, he changed his mind. His family didn’t want to move.

That’s a perfectly valid reason. But didn’t he know about their reluctance earlier in the process? Had he not discussed it with them? It wasn’t as if the job search was a quick affair, and he didn’t have time to hold a family meeting and talk about relocating.

I wasn’t upset because he changed his mind. He never should have let things get so far along that his about-face embarrassed the club, the selection committee and me. We put a lot of time and effort into the search. His actions showed a lack of respect and integrity.

Let’s go over some basics of job hunting:

Dos

• Be honest throughout the process: to yourself, your family and the club.
• Do your homework before throwing your hat in the ring: about the club, membership, community, cost of living, school systems and health care. Ask yourself if the opportunity meets or exceeds your current situations.
• Do due diligence about the club. Acquire every bit of information the club is willing to make available. Use your network to find out more than what’s publicly available.
• Talk about the situation with your children, particularly teenage children. This is going to impact friendships, schooling and more. And don’t wait until late in the process to involve the family. Talk with them as soon as things begin to look serious.
• Let personal and professional references know in advance that the club might be reaching out to them.
• If you’re offered the job and then decide you don’t want it, that’s fine. Just tell them no and thank them for the opportunity and consideration.

Don’ts

• Don’t use the opportunity to play your current employer against a potential new one. If you’re only using the process as a financial lever with your current club, word will get out. You don’t want to be known as that kind of candidate — or person.
• Don’t forget other members of your family. Will it make it harder for grandparents to see their grandchildren? For kids in college to come home? What about your spouse’s job?
• Don’t underestimate problems from teenagers. In my experience, they’re often the wild card when it comes to both accepting a job and creating a happy home in a new location. If you’re worried about rocking the boat at home, don’t interview.
• Don’t take for granted the club’s financial generosity regarding a visit and interview. If you have no intention of considering the opportunity, why interview and underperform? Say thank you and pass.
• If you get deep into the process and still aren’t 100 percent sure that you’re interested, inform the committee as soon as you can, even after the interview. It’s not fair to take the opportunity away from someone who is really motivated while you’re being wishy-washy.
• Don’t leave the club at the altar. Signing a contract and then backing out is a career-ender, and word will travel faster than Pythium on a hot, humid morning in New Jersey.

It’s all about integrity personal and professional integrity. Don’t think only about yourself but also the other lives that will be affected. If you’re good enough — and handle these situations properly — other opportunities will come along.