When I was a manager with Time-Life, one of my best sales reps relished going on job interviews at the same time he was employed with us.

And he freely and openly discussed them with me, which goes to show that I didn't mind.

I trusted him to put in his shift the next day, and to come back from his interviewing forays with juicy intelligence about what my fellow employers were offering.

Cary had a lot of advantages as he bounced from one interview to the next:

(1) He had a good job, already, which was his security. So, he could come across as not-needy, having role-distance to a process that others, especially the unemployed, take so seriously and personally.

(2) He could interview them, and do a thorough job of it, because he was relieved of the need to sell himself. Without any genuine interest in bolting from Time-Life, he could be the boss in those chats.

(3) If something truly exceptional came up, an irresistible opportunity, he could seize it.

Perhaps the greatest advantage was proving that the grass wasn't greener down the block, that he had a great thing going right where he was.

The problem for most job seekers is very similar to what most people face when they negotiate. Suddenly, they're without wheels and they need to buy a car. They do a little research and visit a car dealer, who negotiates every day.

If you're suddenly without a job, you are that car buyer; inexperienced in the cut and thrust, the give and take of negotiating the best deal for your services. Just as when you utterly must have a car that is the worst time to bargain.

When you absolutely must get a job you're in the worst position to negotiate.

Apply The Law of Large Numbers to your job search, which says if you do enough of anything you'll get good at it, and do more and you'll become a pro. Surpass even that amount of experience and you'll become a legend, which was where Cary was headed in his quest.

Specifically:

Set as many interviews as you can, and methodically go on each and every one.

Takes notes afterward, especially of questions that you heard repeatedly or which threw you off your poise.

And above all, try to interview while you are employed, if possible. As you may have heard elsewhere, it also makes sense to keep on interviewing even after you have been offered a new post.

Cary had lots of fun. I could see that, and vicariously, I did too, and we both learned a lot.

Now, isn't that a great way to "employ" yourself?