Exploiting Your Job Search Wind

Last year, after tearing my Genoa for the fourth time, I decided it was time to

bite the bullet and invest in a new crisp sail whose seams wouldn’t burst every time the wind came up above 5 knots.

That new sail was an absolute joy to fly. Problem was, though, it made my old mainsail look even worse than it had before. Too many days in the sun and wind had taken their effect on the battered and sagging piece of cloth. It hadn’t ripped yet, but it was pretty blown out: a term used to describe a sail that has been stretched by the wind to the point that it no longer had any elasticity.

Kind of like an old pair of boxers that have lost the “snap” quality.

Technology had also caught up to this old sail. New designs and materials were giving better shapes and added support in the form of special battens. Also, new ways of attaching the mainsail to the boom were giving sailors more control over sail shape in order to maximize effectiveness.

So the decision was made, and in a few short months the new main was delivered. The merchant met us at the boat one spring morning to try it on, while our dock mates looked on in awe of the bright white canvas. It’s an exciting day when someone gets a new mainsail, and everyone rushes to be a part of its installation.

Unfortunately the sail was not a proper fit, so the merchant took pictures and made measurements in order to pass along the information to the sail loft so they could make the necessary adjustments. A few days later we were all once again excitedly installing the now altered sail. Holding my breath, I raised it to the top of the mast, and after a few minor adjustments, it fit perfectly. All who were present for this second attempt cheered with approval as I beamed with pride at the sight of the crisp new “engine.”

Jac and I could hardly wait to complete our business with the merchant and head out to the lake to try it out.

As we rounded the buoys marking our marina, Jac took the wheel, and I stood at the mast. I could hardly contain myself as I prepared to set, not only the new main, but also the recently acquired Genoa.

Two brand new sails. We would surely be the new rulers of Lake Perry, Kansas. With all that fresh canvas flying, no one would dare challenge our superiority for catching wind.

As Jac headed up into the wind, I began raising the pride of our boat. As soon as the main was set and properly tied off, the Genoa was hoisted.

Settling in behind the wheel, I reached over and killed the engine that had been keeping us moving to that point and prepared to turn just far enough off the wind to fill our new sails. They were a glorious sight to behold. Well, they would have been if there had been any wind to fill them, that is.

As though a mighty hand had switched a great fan to the off position, the wind suddenly died. The waning waves of a passing powerboat gently rocked us back and forth as the sails swung side to side. The only sounds on our boat were the halyards slapping against the side of the aluminum mast. Jac and I sat in silent disappointment, searching the surface of the lake for any indication of a coming puff of wind, no matter how small.

In my best old English accent, I quoted Russell Crowe’s character in Master and Commander, “I can harness the wind, but I ain’t its g**damn creator.”

We sat patiently for awhile, and the wind did eventually pick up, and the sails performed every bit as beautifully as we had hoped they would.

We had put a lot of time and effort into acquiring the new sails. We had spent our boating allotment for the season as a matter of fact. But no matter how much went into this acquisition, without the wind, these canvases were as useless as threadbare rags on a hobo in winter.

A client recently let us know the resume they had commissioned from CareerTrend wasn’t living up to what they had hoped for. But after a few probing questions, it was quite clear this particular client wasn’t doing much to get this resume into the proper hands. I knew when those new sails were hanked on for the first time, it would be up to the wind to finish the work they were designed for. It would also be up to me to set the boat on a course that most exploited that wind that was available to propel me forward.

I could no more blame the sails for not performing properly than this client could blame the resume had I not been willing to do my part in getting the most out of these new tools.

Just something to think about.

Rob Poindexter