Seven Years Job Hunting: One Planner’s Tips for Staying Positive

Kim Thompson, executive assistant at WK Kellogg Co., knows a little bit about job hunting. After 13 years as the sole planner managing conferences, national sales meetings, trade shows, and other events for Sunny Delight Beverages Company, her position was eliminated.

“I never had to look for a job and never was without a job. I felt that because of my background and my network I wasn’t going to have any problems finding the next position.”

Things didn’t turn out that way.

It took her seven years to land a similar role managing logistics and event planning for the national grocery teams at Kellogg. During that time, she worked odd jobs and went on hundreds of interviews.

Skift Meetings tapped Thompson for her secrets to staying positive.

Stay Involved in the Industry

Thompson, a long-time member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), continued to attend events and stayed involved with the Incentive Marketing Association (IMA). She signed up for fams (familiarization trips), but was often turned down because she was “in between jobs.” The 64-year-old also re-certified as a CMP during that time.

A few close connections stuck with her during the search, sending leads, checking in, and inviting her to industry events. But over time, many others faded away.

“People stopped reaching out. The phone calls stop. That was the most hurtful thing because I felt like I had built those relationships in the industry. So then it’s up to you to be the one to reach out.”

Try and Try Again

She recalls interviewing for a meeting planner role at Kroger three times. “I knew the people in that office. The funny thing is, the hiring manager said, ‘Kim, you’re the best.’ I knocked it out of the ballpark, but they went with someone internally.

“When you first hear that they went with someone else, initially it is disappointing. But it’s their loss. You need to just focus on the next thing.”

She refused to let rejection get her down. “I’ve never had a defeatist attitude, like ‘I can’t do this,’ ‘This is too hard,’ or ‘I’ll just settle.”

Keep Refining Your “A Game”

Thompson had no trouble getting interviews of all types.“There wasn’t an interview that I could go on where I didn’t feel comfortable and confident.”

She had to lower her salary expectations, but companies still considered her overqualified. “I just wanted to get back into the industry,” she said.

She tried career coaching — and found it helpful. She also used a professional to assist in structuring her resume.

Stay Busy

Thompson advises job hunters to “go to work,” as it keeps the day structured. She stayed involved with her church and did volunteer work for the elderly, including driving them to doctor appointments.

She worked three unrelated jobs to pay the bills, including one where she walked out. After leaving that job, she went to Italy for nine days to reset, then started back in, looking for a job again.

Block Out Negativity

Thompson mastered blocking out negative talk. “I don’t allow it into my orbit.”

“It’s the same with ageism,” she said. “I just didn’t want to hear about it. I had friends say, ‘Maybe you should do something else.’”

She advises job hunters to research companies that value older employees. That includes Kellogg, and she leaned into that during her interview.

“I told my now-boss, ‘I just want to snap, crackle, and pop my way right into retirement.’”