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Try this approach — I think it will make a real difference.
When my husband and I were newly married, he was accepted into an expensive doctoral program across the country in California. We had some savings, but living there was about 50–75% more expensive than the Midwest. I was supposed to be the primary breadwinner for four years — and I had no job.
I remember how anxious I felt, even envying the grocery clerk because she had steady work.
I had just earned a Master of Science in Counseling and completed an internship at a university career center. Before we moved, I used informational interviewing, a proven strategy popularized by Richard Bolles in What Color Is Your Parachute. I wrote dozens of letters to potential employers, searched job sites, and followed up with every contact, asking for a few minutes to talk about their organization, the San Diego job market, and for any advice they could share.
I didn’t let silence stop me. I wasn’t asking for a job — only information and about 15 minutes of someone’s time.
Here’s the secret: people like to help, especially when someone is just starting out. That’s the strength of informational interviews.
I kept at it right up to our drive across the country. I also applied to posted openings and checked in every week or two about my applications. While passing through Needles, California, I called my top choice — the Career Counseling Center at San Diego State University — and they wanted to interview me by phone the next day.
Long story short, I beat out 58 other applicants.
Was I the most qualified? I don’t know. What I do know is that my persistence and follow-up pushed me to the top.
Get a notebook labeled “(your name) Personal Finance” and keep it by your computer. Use it to record your financial goals, ideas, actions, and plans.
