Dean Klotz

Expect the Best

I have had a charmed career since it began. I came into the workforce amidst a strong economy and that prevailed for over a decade. The last three years, however, have not been good for me. After a long and very enjoyable career at Move.com, I decided to take on the start-up world. As many of you know, start-ups are volatile and I was in the midst of a tanking economy when I made the switch.

I took much for granted when I made the change. I assumed my luck and past experiences would prevail and everything would be just fine. But, that has not been the case. Now, I am faced with job changes and being laid off. Re-entering the job market when jobs are scarce and being told I am over qualified for many of the jobs I am interested in is a humbling experience I never planned for. Getting my foot in the door takes longer and the number of opportunities are much more limited. So, what do I do?

I recieved lots of advise on this front. I have been told to “dumb down” my resume and lower my expectations. But this is counter to how I am wired. I worked hard getting my skills up to were they are. Having high expectations has always delivered high results in the past. So why should I lower the bar for myself?

Sure, I have immediate financial needs, but a career is a huge part of my life and what I do for work is not just a job for me, its part of who I am and this approach has not worked for me at all in the past.

So, I have resolved to do the opposite of what recession thinkers say. I am who I am. I am a leader, a driver, a person who has vision and a person who expects vision and drive from the people with whom I work. Why settle and take on something I am not wired to do?

I want to lead and build a team. I am high-end talent with over 15 years of experience in the internet space, so I want to leverage that and be part of a company that sees the internet as part of its core mission. I know how to do many things and that should be seen as a good thing. I can build out a project office, define and design web products and lead a product team. I can run a business unit, define and execute strategy. I do all these things exceedingly well. I don’t fit into a box, so working in a box is not an option for me. I am confident in myself, but appreciate other people for what they offer–so I want to be able to collaborate with great people and not pretend I am the sole source of ideas. I think that process is important, but need to be underwritten with competence. So, a cowboy environment is not for me, but neither is a ridged inflexible environment. I have been around the block several times and I know that SDLC fads may be helpful, but also lead to poor decision making. I am a superb executive with high expectations in myself and others with whom I work- and I need a place where people push themselves and are rewarded for it.

My downtime has not been idle. I sought out mentors, worked on new product concepts, helped a start-up get its tech strategy in place and used it to solidify what I want in a career. I know I will be able to fill the void I have now and I want to get it right this time.

I know I am not alone. You might be in the same situation I am. But for the health of your mind, moral and confidence, don’t comprise what you need. I was once told that most people do exactly what you expect, so expect the best and that is what you will get.

That proved so true with all of the teams I have led in the past and is part of what made me successful. So, expect the best from your job and prospective employers and you will likely get what you want. So, I am not “dumbing” down my past, I am not settling for the first thing that comes along and neither should you.

~DK