Every single day over the past 9+ months I have dreamed about posting this on The 405 Club…  I got a job! And not just any job, a job that I’m excited about, but we’ll get to that.

First off, PHEW.

Now, as you know it wasn’t easy whatsoever.  I was discouraged at times, I ran into an infinite amount of road blocks, I read tons and tons of articles about networking, new job hunting methods, created a video resume, a multimedia resume, continuously updated my LinkedIn page, FedEx’d hard copies of resumes and 30-60-90 day plans in professional folders, went to seminars, picked up a handful of menial odd jobs (some more demeaning than others), saw friends get jobs while I didn’t, sought advice from friends, career counselors and mentors about jobs and career paths and at the end of the day what was the link to landing a job for me? No joke, The 405 Club got me hired — here’s the story.

Back in March (3 months+ into unemployment), we held an event for The 405 Club called The Project 405 Party.  If you’re new to the club it was our biggest event to date, including career coaches, financial advisers, fellow 405ers and a group of Human Resource Managers and Recruiters we blind-inmailed on LinkedIn known as HRMinNY.  The founder of the group, Steve Englander, is a recruiter who runs the his own firm NYCREX, based in NYC.  Steve was thrilled about the idea, immediately jumped on board and with his genius was born “The Race to Place Challenge” — a motivational contest for recruiters to land 405ers with jobs.  Hosted by The Galway Hooker Pub (upstairs), the event was a success with over 200 people present, all of which was covered by multiple press outlets.

Little did I know just how important that LinkedIn blind-inmail to Steve would be.

When you’re unemployed all you hear is “network, network, network.” For the most part, that’s really true — not just a cliche.  Build relationships with whomever you can, constantly broadening your network of professionals.  Steve and I have stayed in touch ever since the Project 405 Party, touching base from time to time to exchange pleasantries and even post jobs on The 405 Club’s Jobr board.

Another couple of months later (and still unemployed) I told Steve I was looking for a position in a new field — I was ready to move on from Radio Promotion at a major music label and try to break into digital media.  Fortunately, in a previous (career) life Steve had previously worked in digital marketing and had a connection to a fairly new company in the growing field of ad exchanges.  He suggested I keep the company on my radar and after some research I was hooked, but at the moment there weren’t any openings that would fit my skill-set.

Another few months go by…  a few interviews later, some even getting into third round (and admittedly so, others completely stiffed and ignored afterward), the growing ad exchange company had an exciting opening that sounded like a great opportunity for me.  Over the next 2 months I interviewed a handful of times both on the phone and in person, supplied references and hoped for the best.

Needless to say, when you’ve gotten this far it’s hard to concentrate on anything else.  And of course, when it’s supposed to happen in a week, you don’t hear for 2 or 3, but that’s just the way these things go, when……

Ring… Ring… Ring…

I got the offer, subsequently followed by my elated acceptance and a huge sigh of relief — what a major weight lifted off my shoulders. That was one of, if not the, toughest mental challenges I’ve ever been through.  At the end of the day it has changed my life and perspective on many things, for the better, forever.

So why have I just written my (longest) story ever? 2 reasons:

1) Because here’s the truth and you cannot forget this no matter what…

YOU WILL GET A JOB IF YOU DO NOT GIVE UP.

Take it from me, a guy who did everything in the world for over 9 months to get a job in a new industry in the heart of The Great Recession.  If I can do it, you can too.  Network, study, prepare and keep your chin up (frequenting the gym was key for me).

2) Your network of working professionals who want to help you just got a little bit bigger.

I’m now officially a 405 Club alumnus and will help anyway I can with job postings, advice, or anything you need. Paying it forward is at the very foundation of the 405 Club alumni club.

-By Garrett Dale, Founding Member, Digital Marketing Expert, Former Music Industry Professional and now a Digital Media Operations Analyst.