Your Job Search Gesallprov

In a recent visit to the Swedish American Museum in Chicago, I spied a beautiful chair built around 1900 by one Frederic Johanson. Perched by the chair was a brief description:

This chair was his gesallprov, which was an apprentice's proof that his trade education was finished and he was ready to become a tradesman.

It occurred to me as I was admiring the extraordinary craftsmanship in this piece -- now wouldn't it be something if before you launched a job search, you had proven you were ready to become a job seeker? How it seems to go for many, though, is that with little preparation, understanding, or knowledge of the career transition and job search process, one attempts to move from Point A to Point B with no apprenticeship training.

Have you well-prepared yourself to produce quality results? Do you know how to craft an extraordinary search that captures the awe of strangers? Have you proven that you are ready to hit the streets armed with the 2009 version of best practices in career management?

Mr. Johanson's work made me pause to appreciate his gesallprov from a century ago. What would you say if someone asked you to describe your job search gesallprov?

cross-posted at billiesucherblog.com

Comments

[Wayne Pagani]

Well said!

I find that people tend to better understand the value of concepts when they are able to visualize it through stories or analogies. This is an ecellent illustration of the value behind a strategic career transition vs a haphazard attempt to find the quickest route to a job.

Wayne

[billiesucher]

Wayne, thank you! I am a big fan of using analogies to help clients "get" whatever it is we're working on. Makes it a little easier sometimes.
- Billie

[Career Search]

This is a wonderful post. It is important to stay positive and I like how this post reinforces that!