Public Finance Blog

Wallace Wattles, the famous author of The Science of Getting Rich, wrote that in order for a person to be successful, they always have to create and not compete (which meant play to your own music).  Don’t copy what someone else does to find success.  How do we apply this timeless logic to your job search?  With the competition heating up for every position advertised, we too must create that new opportunity and not compete.

It Ain’t Easy Street…

Whether in public finance or other fields, the market is getting tighter for new positions.  Bankers or counsel who have left the market with the thought they would be in demand when and if they chose to return are finding a deaf ear when announcing they are looking for a new seat.  Recent retirees, who may be tired of playing golf or going to the beach daily, now have that nagging thought of wanting to go back for one more ride; however, they are finding that it’s not as easy because they have lost their edge, clients, ready to do deals, etc. How do you create that new opportunity when this is the case? 

Are You A Project Or Put-Together Professional? 

What’s the plan then?  The answer is, as Wattles shares with us, we must create that new opportunity.  We must find that angle that’s going to make you stand out.  Being a generalist in this hated market is not going to cut it; you must be a specialist, and not just a specialist but one with a proven clientele.  All firms are looking for that standout performer: the one who can generate guaranteed revenue within that first year.  Firms are not looking to hire “projects” (i.e., those people who are going to take more than a year to prove their ideas will result in increased firm revenue).

Stand Tall & Create That New Opportunity

If you find yourself in that position, where you are hitting your glass ceiling or too many people in your firm are going after the same deals, this may be the ideal time to look at new opportunities.  However, take heed!  You must separate yourself from the crowd.  The way to do that is to let us create that new opportunity for you.  Create, don’t compete, and our opportunistic approach to the job market does just that.  Our contracted relationship in the field of banking and law are waiting for someone just like you to bring your creative process to them.  Don’t join the ranks of the heated market; create your own market.  A market of one.

Conclusion

You don’t need a resume to chat with us! If you would like to discuss your options, please reach out for a confidential conversation at 760-477-1284 or email at harlan@hfriedmansearch.com. He can also be reached on LinkedIn. Harlan publishes a blog every Thursday here. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter here, which is a compilation of our weekly blogs, so you never miss one. We have also been mentioned in 2025’s Forbes, click HERE to read more.  

About Harlan Friedman, JD & Founding Member, H. Friedman Search LLC. Harlan is a thirty-year veteran Public Finance Banker turned recruiter who specializes in the placement of all levels Public Finance Bankers, Healthcare Bankers, Municipal Advisors, Compliance Officers, Issuers, and Bond Counsels.