3. • The book is about two mice and two little people (beings that were
as small as mice but looked like people) who are looking for cheese.
• The cheese is a metaphor for what we want to have in life (a job,
power status, relationships).
• The maze is a metaphor for where you spend your time looking for
what you want (within the organization, outside it, in the
community, at home etc.).
Introduction
5. • 1. The cheese has moved – deal with it
Lesson Learnt
The starting point of going from where you are in your job hunt to where
you want to be is to admit to yourself that “the cheese has moved”.
Accept the truth for what it is and use it as fuel to pump up your
determination to get to where you really want to be in your career.
6. • 2. Move with the cheese
Lesson Learnt
This means being prepared to change what may have once been working
perfectly for you in your job hunting strategies.
You may need to invest in a CV makeover or brush up on your interview
techniques to improve your chances of landing the job you want.
7. • 3. The new cheese is where you haven’t been before
Lesson Learnt
Your best chance of finding “new cheese” in today’s job market is to go
where you haven’t been and do what you haven’t done before in your job
hunt.
If you’ve been applying for graduate positions only, try an alternative
approach such as getting work experience or an internship with a
smaller firm and working your way up from there. Think creatively and
you’re bound to run into new cheese sooner rather than later.
8. • 4. Don’t search for cheese in the dark
Lesson Learnt
The solution is “don’t search for cheese in the dark” – unless you have a
clear vision of where you want to go and what you want to achieve in
your work life. You will struggle to achieve anything meaningful in your
job hunt.
9. • 5. Learn to move your own cheese
Lesson Learnt
Learn to move your own cheese by staying on top of your game –
work hard;
get to work on time;
find out what is required of you in your role and aim to exceed this;
continuously develop your skills and don’t pass up on opportunities to
get additional training outside your existing skills.