THE JOB HUNT

Completing the Metaphor

©2006 K. Andrew Watkins
 Authors note

It is now 2011, five years after writing this bit of

prose. The country, and the world have been
through economic upheaval resulting in
millions of jobs being lost. Word has it that the
economy is coming back but tell that to the
many who remain unemployed,
underemployed, or “mal-employed”. The
resume seems a sillier notion than ever and
the idea of working together regardless of
personal economic gain more relevant. If you
can find a grain of wisdom, a morsel of humor
in the following pages, then some purpose has
been served here.

February 2011, K. Andrew Watkins

Introduction

In modern times, the job hunt is a virtually

inevitable event/process in the jump from
adolescence to adult-hood. Given the
commonality of this process, the author decided
to offer this look at the job hunt in terms of its
less common metaphor, the Hunt. The writer’s
qualifications for “penning” these words come
from years involved in the process and being
unsuccessful (in his own mind) at said hunt. This
is a metaphor. This is also a tongue-in-cheek
metaphor. Therefore, you, the reader, should
take any ‘information’ found in this book with a
grain of salt. Treat it more as a recreational read
than a factual statement. That is don’t treat it
literally. Bear in mind that the author holds no
responsibility for how the book is interpreted nor
the results of those interpretations (consider this
the author’s disclaimer).
According to the 1977 Edition of Webster’s
New Collegiate Dictionary, the word “Hunt” is
defined thusly:

vb 1 a : to pursue for food or in sport b :to manage in the

search for game 2 a : to pursue with the intent to capture b :
to search out : SEEK 3 : to drive or chase esp. by harrying
4 : to traverse in searchof prey vi 1 : to take part in a hunt
2 :to attempt to find something 3 : to oscillate alternately to
each side (as of aneutral point) or to run alternately faster
and slower instead of steadily - used esp. of a device or
machine

The definitions for Job (not the biblical reference)

are extensive. For the purposes of this writing,
we will define a Job as being gainful
employment; either working for someone (the
ubiquitous employer), being self-employed (a
growing trend), or being a business owner.

For decades now, the Job Hunt has been of

utmost importance in the life of most every adult
of “working age.” By and large, the process is
the same. Create Resume. Search newspaper,
knock on doors, or use Google. Do research.
Write cover letters. Have interviews. Start work
(if lucky or destined). Sometimes, of course,
your neighbor knows someone who knows
someone who has a job perfectly suited to your
talents. Such a Hunt is short but by no means
commonplace.

But how did we go from hunting Mammoth to

hunting Job? The long millenniums between
those two actions could fill many tomes or
several DVD's. Here, we will step across the
ages and finish describing the Job Hunt using the
Hunt Metaphor. With acronyms being a dime-a-
dozen today, it was decided to put one in this
book. We call it the HM. The HM stands for
Hunt Metaphor and we will use it repeatedly but
not ad-nausea. The HM requires that we look at
several factors including the tools, procedures,
and skills needed to be successful in the Hunt.
Where appropriate, we will add philosophical
references based on the HM.

The format of this book will be to describe the

Hunt in general terms and then take each
definition of Hunt in turn for each type of Job
listed above.

Frame of Reference or Hunting Mindset

Even before you leave the house (or any type of

abode be it hut, tipi, yurt, or high-rise), it is best to
establish the proper mindset. This is true whether
you are leaving virtually via modem or physically
via automobile (or on foot). You are about to enter
the wilds of the employment landscape. It is
chaotic, frantic, full of danger, and hunting
competitors. Depending on the type of Job you are
hunting for, you will need to be balanced or
charged up.

If you are going after small game, such as rabbits,

hares, and squirrels (read entry-level positions),
you will need to be at peace, clear headed, and
assured that you have something to offer. If the
Job is a high-profile position (elk, buck, wolverine or
Exec, CEO, CFO) you will need to be balanced but
you will also need to be charged up. This is the
big-leagues. The prize is sizable but so is the
competition. There are fewer people but the Jobs
are scarcer and they can easily turn on you and
attack. You must go out trusting that your previous
experience in the field and your inbred poise is
enough to get your prize.

Tools of the Trade

First, you need to be armed or otherwise equipped.

Ultimately, you will want to subdue or control the
Job. You can use ancient weapons like the club,
spear, or bow. Conversely, depending on your
temperament, you may use something more
modern such as the gun. There are many types of
guns and they are used for different purposes and
to subdue the Job desired. Guns are noisy, usually
make a mess, and are costly. Also, after using the
gun, other jobs may be scared off so if you are not
able to bring down the intended jobs, you may lose
your chance at other jobs that are at hand.
Therefore, they should only be used at last resort.
Some Jobs are better acquired with a magnifying
glass and some tweezers or a net and quick reflex.
The choice of weapon depends on three factors:
the type of Job, the terrain, and, your resources
at hand. The Job can be of two overall types:
sustenance or trophy. A sustenance Job is
usually peaceful, wary, and can often be found in
herds. This Job varies from the small sales,
construction, and design to very large
Managerial, Corporate, and Ownership positions.
One will try to flee, the other, to attack and fend
off. The trophy Job is usually dangerous, rare,
and can often turn into the hunter. The terrain
can be flat Savannah, desert, tropical rain forest,
arctic, (i.e. warehouse, office, high rise, or an
actual outside venue) or others in between these
extremes. Most Jobs can be found in Savannah
or Rain Forest, although, depending on the
season, also Tundra. Therefore, a sense of the
seasons is required for migratory Jobs. If the
terrain is flat, you will need to either remain very
still for long hours,or lay flat on the ground until
the job is in range. If the ground is rocky with
sharp relief, you have the option of hiding behind
a boulder until the job shows itself. In the Rain
Forest, you must be very quiet. Avoid stepping
on dead branches as that will scare off any Job.
Create a bivouac in an appropriate spot and wait
there until the Job arrives. Also, you will want to
keep a sharp eye out for potential predators to
avoid being consumed or bitten. This is true for
all terrain but doubly so in Rain Forests as the
visibility is much less and there are many more
predators.

Some fields simply have no Jobs of the type you

are looking for. If this is the case, you then have
two choices. One, you can move to a different field
where there ARE Jobs of the type you are looking
for, or two, you can create a sophisticated lure that
will bring the Job to you. The first is generally
easier but not always successful or satisfactory.
The second takes some doing and creative
perseverance but winds up being worth the extra
effort, especially if the Job is rare, like the Giant
Squid, or has chaotic migratory patterns, like the
Monarch Butterfly.

Once you have chosen your Job of choice, and

know the terrain they can be found in, it’s time to
choose your weapons. Simpler weapons need
greater inherent ability to use, moderate technology
less so, and the most advanced needs greater
technological prowess. A club works best at short
range for Jobs that are not wary, have limited
vision, and where any other members of their family
group scatter quickly afterwards. A spear works at
a greater range but requires better hand-eye
coordination, more range of motion, and faster
feet. The faster feet are required so that
competitors do not steal the Job after you have
dispatched it. A bow works well if you have the
materials required for its construction. You have
great range and therefore need not sneak up on
your Job. Consider using a compound bow if
available. The compound bow requires more
parts in its construction but the results justify its
choice. You need maximum hand-eye
coordination for this weapon and depending on
the size of the bow, greater upper-body strength.
If you use modern weapons, you will have to invest
more in them and there is always a possibility of
breakdown. Should this type of weapon break
down, you will need to take it to a specialist to
repair. Therefore, be sure the facilities exist before
you select these types of weapons.

Modern weapons are best used on large

sustenance prey and the trophy Job. This cuts
down on the danger to you and an expedient
capture or killing. If you decide to capture your Job,
use a dart with a neural paralyzing agent on the tip.
Remember to keep the captured Job under or it
will overwhelm you. A gun is the simplest of
modern weapons although it comes in many
sizes, and with many attachments. A laser sight
is the most useful for aiming, but with a sharp
eye and steady hand, is not really necessary. A
torpedo or missile launcher can take down a
large Job but it usually requires several attempts
to determine the range and angle needed and by
then the Job has moved. If you have GPS
available, and remote sensing capabilities, the
work needed is much reduced although
equipment is seldom to be found and requires
much investment to acquire. A smart bomb is
seldom assured of hitting its precise target and
usually puts the area around its impact in turmoil
and chaos. Still, ifthis is what you have, and
don’t mind the chaos around you, then this is the
weapon to use. You may also need fast wheels
to move quickly to the impact point as this can be
many miles away. If you want to take a Job
down without competitors knowing, it is best to
use a gun at short range with a silencer.

If you decide to use more primitive weapons on the

big Jobs, it is best to ally yourself with other
Hunters to bring down the Job. It means you
have to share the Job with others but the work
entailed to bring the Job down is less and the
bonding that occurs between you and your hunt
mates can be a source of great enjoyment.

The Procedures

Once you have your weapon and any

attachments or additional gear needed, it is time
to go in search of the Job. This may require
extensive travel if the Job is in Outer Mongolia or
tedious standing behind a tree if the Job is slow
in approaching. Be ready to spring into action
the moment your Job comes in sight. It won’t
stay there long as other Hunters are also lurking
in wait. Sometimes a lure or snare is useful. The
lure will bring the Job closer to you and away
from other Hunters. A snare can be used if the
Job is small, wary and fast. Some Jobs hide
amongst other Jobs and are therefore difficult to
spot. Use a pair of binoculars or look sharply for
signs of movement in the crowd. Other types of
Jobs like to hide under rocks, in dead trees, or
even shade themselves to avoid detection. You
need to seek field help from people who know
what these Jobs look like so you can identify
them quickly. These jobs have the potential to
be true gems of employment so don’t be
discouraged by the amount of work required to
catch them.

The field is a complex place with sights, smells,

and noises. You must alwaysinterpret these
stimuli correctly, otherwise something might
blindside you. The field is teeming with Jobs of
many kinds although many of them take some
serious seeking to spot them. Being attuned to
the noises a particular Job makes will allow you
to identify that Job more readily. Some Jobs,
such as Office work, and Executive Level Work
are found in mountainous terrain. Construction
Jobs can also be found there but are more likely
to be seen grazing in the flatlands. Some Jobs
can be found in the ocean but they are usually
migratory so you must know their patterns of
movement, the type of lure to use on them, and
the correct size net or line to employ.

Once you have dispatched the Job, you will either

need to race quickly to take it before someone else
does, or, if only capturing it, to make sure it doesn’t
revive and run away. If it is in close range, that
work is easy. Once you have secured the Job, you
can react in one of three ways. You can stand on
top of it, with one boot on the ground, and howl.
You can move quickly to take it apart for use. Or
you can perform a predetermined ritual to appease
the spirits and give thanks for this gift you now
have. Whichever reaction you have, make the
most of this Job as Jobs are becoming scarce. If
you have acquired a small sustenance Job, and
want a large sustenance or trophy Job, you can try
using the small Job as a lure for the larger Job and
avoid a lot of the work required to find a Big Job
from the start.

Needed Skills

When starting out on any job hunt, the Hunt will

go more smoothly if you have the skills in place
to subdue said Job. Tracking skills, making
weapons and, setting shares, are all good solid
skills worthy of remembrance. For those
technically inclined; GPS, RemoteSensing, and
building storage facilities can all come in handy.
You will also want to know what kinds of lures to
use if you decide to use them. The wrong kind of
lure can bring you a surprise. Keep those skills
honed!
Job Hunting by Definition

1 a : to pursue for food or in sport – This is

synonymous with sustenance and trophy hunting
respectively. To become hired (employed by
someone) you must have the tools required to
subdue the Job. You must find the terrain where
the Job is located. Finally, you must understand
how the Job behaves in the field so you can
dispatch it easily.

Pursuing a Job for food is obviously more crucial

than one for sport. Sport hunting is sometimes
frowned upon as there is less maturity shown
when the Job is finally caught. Some hunters
throw the Job back. Some just hang it on the
wall or have it stuffed so that it sits gathering
dust. People who hunt Job for food can always
be sure to treat the Job with more respect and to
use the Job to its maximum utility.

When hunting for food, it is better to use the simpler

weapons, to go after herds of Jobs, and to use
woodcraft in the hunting process. There are more
Jobs of this type but also more hunters.

b : to manage in the search for game - One of the

ways to make the job hunt easier is to do
networking and use outside resources. Friends,
colleagues, and field experts can be called upon in
the quest for the Job. Some of thesepeople can tell
you where the best fields are, what kinds of tools
are needed, and the skills needed to acquire the
Job. Manage these resources well and they will be
invaluable in the hunt. Remember that you can
also be called upon to act as a resource.

2 a : to pursue with the intent to capture - Capturing a

Job and dispatching a Job are two different acts
altogether. If your intention is to capture the Job
then the tools required are much different. Spears,
clubs, and bows are of less importance and in fact
should be done without. Lures, snares, and traps
are the tools to use here.

Lures are required to bring the Job into range.

The lure is something the Job Hunter will use to
subdue the Job. It can be anything but the Job
must find it appealing. That fact cuts the choices
down drastically. If the Job is in graphics terrain,
then the lure would be, perhaps, a portfolio or
small construct created and produced by the
Hunter. If the Job is in carpentry, then the lure
could be a photograph of a piece of furniture or
other structure, something to titillate curiosity.

Snares are used for actual capture. They can be

box snares or rope snares. The type of snare used
is determined by the specific Job sought. For each
snare, place a lure inside the snare. For a box
snare, make sure the box is weighted by something
heavier then can be toppled from the inside by the
Job. Rope snares are made by knotting therope
into a noose and tying it to a tree such that when
the Job comes into range of the noose (again,
using a lure), the noose will tighten around the Job
securing it. It can also be made of a net that is
counterweighted to produce the same effect.

b : to search out : SEEK- This is perhaps

the most standard way of using the HM as a
metaphor in finding a job. It suggests less, though,
of actually acquiring said Job but only finding out
where it is. Perhaps this is why many people are
looking (seeking) for employment; the process
doesn’t adequately address capturing the Job
once it is found. As this metaphor isspoken of
sufficiently elsewhere, no more will be said here.

3 : to drive or chase esp. by harrying - This process is

completely useless. It does not lead to
employment but is used by people not serious
about the Job Hunt. It ends up by tiring out the
individual, scattering the Job or any Jobs around
it and basically disrupts the surroundings. The
only benefit it can have is to re-energize the Job
Hunter and keeping it in top condition for the Job
Hunt and the time the Hunt becomes serious. Do
not take on the trophy Jobs this way as they may
turn and attack.

4 : to traverse in search of prey - If the Job were looked

at as residing on a landscape, then this meaning
would be most appropriate. The landscape cannot be
seen as a physical place but conceptual. The Job
could be grazing peacefully in a meadow, chewing
on a leaf, or pouncing on a vole in the forest. If
the Job is a migrating Job, then the Hunter will
need to traverse land in his or her search. The
method of travel depends on what is available,
the type of Job, and the terrain to be traversed.
People with good constitutions and/or lots of time
can walk. If you are in a rush, have the
resources, and can travel fast enough, skis, off-
road vehicles, or a helicopter can be useful. A
mountain bike can also be used. It is important
to point out that each of the latter four will
degrade the terrain or space in which they travel.
Furthermore, the Job may become aware of the
Hunter’s presence before the Hunter is in range
of the Job. For example, if using a helicopter, the
unhappy hunter may find the Job neatly
ensconced in the woods by the time he or she
arrives. Make sure the Job cannot flee into
hostile territory before it is in range. Happy
travels with this HM.

vi 1 : to take part in a hunt - For some Jobs, it is

necessary to bring in other participants. For large
Jobs, herds of Jobs, and particularly quick moving
Jobs, a Hunt Team can be used. While the
individual must share in the prize, it is well worth
the work and having the extra help.
2 : to attempt to find something – This meaning is also
commonly used in the HM. In this case the
something being sought is in fact, a Job. This is a
weak definition as the word attempt suggests that,
just maybe, the hunter will not find what he or she
is hunting for. The implicit assumption is made that
the person doing the hunting actually wants the
Job. It is also the case that the person is doing the
hunting for someone else; hunting by proxy, so to
speak. We call these people “Head Hunters”
although a more appropriate phrase would be “Job
Hunters.”

3 : to oscillate alternately to each side (as of a neutral

point) or to run alternately faster and slower instead of
slowly – used esp. of a device or machine - If the Job
Hunter is using one of the more modern hunting
devices, such as a rifle attached to a pattern
recognition system, then this HM would be useful.
The hunter isable to sit back and let the machine do
the work. Of course, the hunter will want to make
sure the pattern being recognized is the one desired.
Otherwise, the hunter will end up unhappy and
most likely, will throw the Job back or just bury it.

The image of oscillating, though, brings up an

additional technique for dispatchor capture. If the
Hunter is interested incapturing more than one Job,
and said Job is of a herd nature, several of them
can be captured by finding the herd and drive or
chase in a non-harrying manner while oscillating
and in so doing, force the herd or a part thereof
towards a fenced-in area. Then a gate can be
swung in place to prevent the herd of Jobs from
escaping. Then the Hunter must train the Jobs; in
essence domesticate them, to serve his or her
purpose. Conversely, the Hunter can herd the Jobs
over a cliff to dispatch them.
Good luck in your hunt!

...The Other Option...

There are hints of this Other Option within the

HM. When I think of the many years I have spent
hunting for that rare Job that I alone qualify for, or
vying with the masses for the grazers standing
peacefully in the field, there are times when I
wish I had come across this Option sooner.

The Job Hunt is quite like its metaphor; competitive

and requiring the most dogged pursuit of one’s
prey. If you are in this track, and are happy with it,
more power to you. I, on the other hand, had to
move to the Other Option. My tools were far too
outlandish to be used in the Job Hunt. I had salt
licks but no guns; bamboo sprouts but no cages;
eucalyptus leaves, but no traps. In short, I had
what it would take to, one might say, befriend the
Job, but not subdue it. Nor was my temperament
of suitable nature for such Jobs as were vied for in
the Savanna. So, I put on a creative cap, and
thought about how to use what I had to maximum
effect. From all of that, I have culled the most lucid
ideas suitable for others...The Other Option:

The other way is not about vying. It is not about

stalking or bringing down the most satisfying Job
in the field. It is about cooperation. It is seeking
to work with others, connecting on profound
levels and bringing meaning and purpose into
ones life. A shift in perspective is required for
this to work. No longer are “They” the enemy,
thefoe, the prey. They are the collaborator, the
supporter, and the resource.

The Metaphor for this section is the OO. You

can look at these as twin lenses of a pair of
glasses. You will need these glasses to be
successful for the OO requires great senses in
perception.

Your tools are stalks, shoots, and leaves; a

steady hand, a gentle voice, a willing spirit. They
are not well respected in the field, in fact,
discounted tremendously. That being the case,
the seeker will have to work harder and longer
and pay attention to subtle signals that may
otherwise be forgotten. The Job is shorter but
approached more often. The actual energy used
is less but requires more stamina of the patient
sort.

Generally, look for ways to improve the lives of

others. Find needs to fill, not justified needs that
support the competitive spirit, but genuine needs
that support the cooperative soul. Dig deep to
find your resources, your abilities. Mesh them
together into a net that supports but does not
strangle. Help others to discover abilities that
complement yours but do not replace them.
Collaborate with your mutually complementary
abilities. The rewards will be greater than
received from vying for Jobs.

Tools for the 00

The tools have been mentioned above and now we

will look at the use of each in detail. Stalks, sprouts,
salt licks, raw fish, and leaves are all examples of
lures but are moresuitably called peace offerings or
“befriending” offerings.

A steady hand is vital. No sudden movements are

best as you want to grow trust and understanding.
Do not use a harsh voice as that will disturb the Job
and possibly cause it to run off. You must be
willing to lose any pride, a fast and furious
mindset, and the competitive thought process.

The HM requires a wardrobe that is “dressed for

success” whereas the OO requires a wardrobe
for fitting in. There is no hard and fast rule about
what you should wear. Each circumstance
requires a different approach and unique style.

Some Final Advice

More creativity on your part and a faster reflex

when it’s needed will avail much. You will also
need to follow migration trends of various Jobs
and their prey. Keep an eye out for Hunters as
they may need help or awareness of the OO.
You will need to pull together diverseskills to
make the OO a success. Those skills are not
always obvious, especially to one previously
using the HM. Dig deep for these gems.

So, that’s all there is to the OO. Extra-special

luck is extended to those who choose the OO.
With creativity, passion, and a flexible mind, you
can become successful with the OO. I wish you
well in this endeavor.