The Ostrich and the Chimp

When an animal displays a high level of intelligence and sociability, biologists and nature lovers praise the creature for its almost human qualities.  The inference is that human beings possess the most highly evolved brains of all the life forms on Planet Earth.  However, there is much that we can learn from the animal kingdom, particularly those of us who seek gainful employment in this lean economy.

Consider and contrast the ostrich and the chimpanzee.  The ostrich, at the first sign of danger, takes the most expedient route by burying her head in the sand.  While this strategy protects the most vital organ, the brain, it leaves the rest of the animal exposed to an untoward fate. It also effectively cuts her off from the rest of the herd (there is indeed safety in numbers).

The chimp is another tale.  A thriving member of his tribe, he is keenly aware of his environment, for it must sustain him as well as his family.  He senses every nuance of change in sound, light, odor, taste, touch, and temperature.  Interpreting change as potential danger, he explores outlying areas for safety as well as an abundance of resources that will enable him and his family to survive.  Once the new region tests positive, he gets the heck out of Dodge (or at least, the forest),

If the winds of change are blowing throughout your company, which animal will you emulate?  Rumors of downsizing, a merger, or change management and signs of decreased business equate, in your world, to modifications in the chimpanzee’s.   Most of us don’t enjoy change; it shakes us out of our comfort zones and shifts us onto an uncharted course.  Triggering our genetically encoded “flight or fight” response, your first reaction may be to bury your head in the sand and pray that the danger passes.  You may rationalize that you are one of the company’s oldest and most loyal employees, and may convince yourself that you are irreplaceable.  In this economy, the reality is that no one is irreplaceable.  Your safest bet, therefore, is to imitate the chimp.  Remain within the tribe and prepare proactively for change.

Your tribe consists of other business professionals with whom you must network to get wind of job openings.  Be creative and industrious, for contacts are virtually everywhere.  They are not only on major and industry-related job boards; they are on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.  They are your fellow college alumni and professors, and your former co-workers and bosses.  They are your local librarian, members of your Chamber of Commerce, your stockbroker, your banker, your hair stylist, and the group of volunteers with whom you erected that nice new house via Habitat for Humanity.  As the detective once told his protégé, “Someone, somewhere, at some time, heard or saw something.”  The more people you inform of your job hunt, the greater your chances of hearing about an opportunity.

Proactive preparation for an employment search includes an honest self-evaluation of your skills, strengths, weaknesses, achievements, and career-related likes and dislikes.  This knowledge will enable you to craft at least two different resumes and two basic but different cover letters. One set will target your industry; design the other to facilitate your entry into another field where your general abilities will have value.   With so many doors closing on job hopefuls, find a way to open others.

Maximize exposure of your skills and accomplishments.  Post your documents onto large, traditional Internet boards such as Monster and CareerBuilder.  Don’t neglect to post, also, on industry-specific boards as well as actual company (employer) websites.

If danger threatens to come calling in the form of a pink slip, rub the sand out of your eyes.   Be the intelligent problem-solver that always aims for higher ground.