Yes, and
Over a decade ago the talented Tina Fey wrote about the "yes, and" rule in her insightful book Bossypants. “The second rule of improvisation is not only to say yes, but YES, AND. You are supposed to agree — and then add something of your own. If I start a scene with 'I can't believe it's so hot in here,' and you just say, 'Yeah...' we're kind of at a stand-still. But if I say, 'I can't believe it's so hot in here,' and you say, 'What did you expect? We're in hell.' Or if I say, 'I can't believe it's so hot in here,' and you say, 'Yes, this can't be good for the wax figures.' Or if I say, 'I can't believe it's so hot in here,' and you say, 'I told you we shouldn't have crawled into this dog's mouth,' now we're getting somewhere.”
Over the years, many have shared "yes, and" as good advice for all kinds of chapters in life. As I was on my latest cross-country drive from California back to Maine I had ample time for thought. I realized I'd been employing the "yes, and" technique often on the trek home. And, I realized this wise saying has so much relevance for the job search.
Networking
In networking, saying "yes, and" to your new connection is a great way to continue the conversation. Often I hear job seekers worry they might be "using" a network contact. It's not using someone when you network; it's exploring options. As a job candidate you have talents and skills to share. You're not trying to connect with someone to exploit them; you're trying to connect because you are interested in them and because you want to use your gifts. So, when they say, "is there anything else I can help you with?" consider saying "yes, and would you suggest anyone else for me to talk with about fill-in-the-blank?" Not only is this affirming, but it's action oriented. You get a next step and the contact gets to help.
Exploring Jobs
In thinking about jobs, employing "yes, and" will keep you open to new options. One of my favorite quotations from our newest Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is this: "Be open to new ideas and experiences because you’ll never know when someone else will have an interesting thought or when a new door will open to take you on the journey of your dreams.” Sometimes when we are looking for that next job, we focus too narrowly and don't consider new industries or new roles. With the accelerated pace of change in the workforce, there may be new jobs that you didn't even know existed. "Yes, I'm interested in X and what is that new opportunity about?" is a useful frame of mind.
Finding the Right Employer
In thinking about a job at a particular company, it's helpful to play the long game. "Yes, I could do this job and it might lead to other opportunities at Company X" is a good way to think about finding a new *great* employer. I've had clients dismiss a job as "too junior" for them. But, if it's in a company you are really interested in, then it's worth exploring. A personal story illustrates this point. When I first returned to part-time paid work after several years home with my son, I found a truly amazing non-profit — Big Brothers Big Sisters — had a "coordinator" level job open. I had a master’s degree from Harvard and had last worked at the director level. But I loved the organization, the hiring manager, the work, and the opportunity to create a program. The pay was low, but I was able to work at a convenient location during school hours, and ultimately to add roles and duties and salary to my job. My point is: look for a company and culture that you want to be a part of and consider all options, not just the obvious one.
