A Positive Attitude is crucial to your job search

Do you know the number one thing that employers hire for?

Attitude.

You can teach someone skills such as how to use a computer, welding or landscaping, but how can you teach someone to have a great attitude?

Obviously attitude is not all there is. If you go in for brain surgery you hope the surgeon has something other than just a great atttitude ... but would you want one with a bad attitude?

So do an attitude check and if you think you have anything other than a positively terrific attitude, work at changing it.

A great attitude will take you farther than you can possibly imagine.

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New Career: Choosing what you want to do

So you need, or want, a new career. How are you going to choose what to do?

There are several obvious criteria.

• If you are not in a position to take training, you need something for which you already have the skills
• Something that will pay you enough for your needs
• Something for which there is enough demand that you can find a job
• Something you will enjoy

Yes, enjoy. That is just as important as the rest.

Work you don't enjoy is draining and tiring and you will never do as well in it as in work you do enjoy.

So here is an exercise to help you find what type of work to go after for your new career.

Write down all the things, paid and unpaid, you have done that you enjoy. But be reasonable.

I have a skills quiz that includes "sleeping" as a skill. And perhaps it is, but unless you want a job as a mattress tester, it's probably not going to be useful to earn your living.

Think of all the things you have done in your life that you have really enjoyed.

The next part is trickier. I want you to take generalize it.

For example: Enjoy partying with friends.

Not likely to earn too much money.

But if you enjoy partying with friends, you presumably quite a social person who enjoys others, and probably has good communication skills.

So career skills would include: social, ability to communicate easily and effectively.

These two could well be part of your ultimate new career.

Keep going like that until you have a good list of things you enjoy doing. Then, either alone, or with friends, look at your list and try to come up with jobs that would include as many as possible of your choices.

Not sure what type of job something will fit into?

Go to one of the online job boards, such as Monster, and under keywords type in the thing you like to do. You're not looking for a job to actually apply for here, so location doesn't matter. Just see what jobs come up using that activity. You may get some good ideas.

Once you have a good list of choices, it's time to find out more about pay, and availability of work. More on that in another post. For now, just keep coming up with things you can do that will be appropriate to include in your new career.

Don't settle for just what you've done in past careers. There is so much you can do that was never included in paid work before.

Be creative and find work you love.

"If you find work you love, you will never have to work a day in your life" Anon

More help to find work you love.

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How to look for a Job: a strong introduction can get you in the door

Put your Job Search into high gear with a creative 30 second commercial, Infomercial or Elevator Speech.

- have a job title that explains what you do
– it is no use giving someone a job title that is correct, but does not tell the average person what exactly your job is.
– make up a title, if necessary, from which most people will immediately get some idea of the work you do.
- know what skills have that you most want to use in this job
- know the answer to “why should I hire you?” – which is the benefit you will bring an employer.

A 30 second commercial MUST be practiced and memorized.

Even the most accomplished job seeker will not do a good job of creating one on the spot.

You have to carefully think out what skills and benefits you want to mention, and make sure you present them clearly and concisely.

However, it should not sound practiced and memorized, so put feeling into it when you say it. Don’t just reel it off like a poem.

If the person you are speaking with already knows your name, don’t start off with “My name is…” (This may sound obvious, but believe me, in many years of teaching this format, it doesn’t appear to be obvious at all.)

My name is ________________________ and I am a _____(easily understood job title)_____.

I ___(tell one of your top skills that you want to use)____ and ___(another of top best skills)____

(Tell them what benefit you bring the employer)____. I am looking for opportunities to

offer these skills to a new employer.

I would really appreciate hearing any suggestions you might have about possible

openings, or any people you would suggest I speak with.


Then offer your business card – NOT your résumé.


Example:

My name is Robert Jackson and I am a web designer. I create original and very unique websites that project the company image. I am especially good at doing all the things that make sure the website then comes up on the first page of Google.

In the past I have always increased business for my employers through heightened online visibility. I am looking for opportunities to offer these skills to a new employer.

I’d really appreciate hearing any suggestions you might have about possible openings, or any people you would suggest I speak with.

OR

My name is Penelope Angelo and I am a Personal Assistant. I offer my employer all the usual office administration skills plus bookkeeping, tax preparation and creating of customized business forms.

In the past I have allowed my small business employers to have more time to work on sales and marketing, as they can trust me to look after all the administration details effectively.

I’d really appreciate hearing any suggestions you might have about possible openings, or any people you would suggest I speak with.

Want more help with your creative job search?

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Jobs can be found in News Stories

Jobs can be found in News Stories. Yes, they can.

When you read the newspaper, or listen to the news on the radio or TV, do so with your job search in mind.

Knowing when a new business is coming to town, a new project happening or an event taking place can show you where your skills and experience can be put to use.

A new hotel coming? Not only is there construction, but there will be all the products and services needed related to decorating, supplies of all kinds, and eventually staff.

They may need a connection to a charter bus service, or taxi service for their guests, and various other contract guest services, including hairdressing, facials and massage.

They may want tour guides, or shopping assistants and a galaxy of other products and services.

And that is only a few of the things that will be connected with this new hotel.

By identifying how this opportunity could be of benefit to you, you can get in on the ground floor - you can contact the hotel before they start looking for someone with your skills, offer your services and avoid the competition from others who can offer the same.

Be creative. No, a new hotel will not have a human resources office on the main floor - because the main floor isn't built yet!

If it's a chain, you can contact another hotel of the same chain and find out the information, or visit their website. What ever information you do have about this happening, do not be afraid to follow up on it, ask questions, and eventually you will find the person you need.

Whatever the news story you hear, consider what it could mean in terms of work for you, and follow up. Don't give up because the person to contact is not obvious. Dig deep and gain your reward.

Have a great resume ready, and you will probably be rewarded for your persistence and determination.

Need more job search help?

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Find a job you'd love: Play the "sun" game

Here is a fun way to find what a job your'd enjoy.

I call it the "sun" game, because it looks like the rays of the sun.

Draw a circle, and inside the circle write a area that you would like to work in. Let's say you love golf, then write the word "golf" inside the circle.

Then draw rays of the sun, lines going out from that circle.

On each line write the name of something you could do that would be connected with golf.

• caddy
• instructor
• office admin
• sales of memberships
• sales in pro shop
• golf clothing designer
• golf tour operator

..... that is just a very few, and very random examples, but you get the idea.

Everything you can possibly think of that is connected to your base topic, in this case golf.

Keep going. Get your friends involved. Silly ideas are welcome, just keep on brainstorming till everyone totally runs out of ideas.

"Google" your topic on the internet, and see what comes up. Maybe some new ideas for your sun diagram.

Look in the yellowpages under golf. Any new ideas there?

If this results in no obvious "yes I can do that" moments, start to analyze each one, thinking of exactly what variations on each idea might work for you.

This is a great way to flesh out how to find a job, often in a line of work, or related to a hobby, where you really never thought you could make a living.

Yes, you can make a living doing what you love - sometimes it just takes more time than others to work out how to do it.

More help in planning your next career.

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Informational Interviews: What not to ask.

Informational Interviews: What not to ask.

Do not ask for a job. Do not produce your resume (which is just another way of asking for a job)

Your goal is to find out where the jobs are so you can then apply in the usual, recognized manner, probably through a human resources department.

If you are doing the information interview with the person you should be doing it with, namely someone in the job you want, or their immediate supervisor, they will not be in a position to hire you anyway, unless you are applying to work in human resources.

The informational interview is to uncover unadvertised jobs, or jobs which are coming up soon but as yet are not advertised.

So do not in any way shape or form ask for a job. Just ask if they person knows of any possibilities either in this company or any other company where someone with your skills & experience might find work.

That's it. That's the information you are seeking.

When you hear of a job, phone up human resources and ask how to apply - this is not an information interview. It is you actively following up on a job lead.

More help in finding that great job.

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Informational interviews: who should the job seeker contact?

Informational interviews: who should the job seeker contact?

Answer: someone who is in the job you want, or their immediate supervisor.

Informational interviews do not include asking for a job, so you don't need someone who has the power to hire you.

People in the job you want, will know if their company is hiring, and they may well know if any other companies are hiring. There's a good chance some of them will know people who do similar work in other companies.

The goal of your interview is to find that out.

More help to find that great job.

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Informational Interviews: question for the job seeker to ask.

Informational Interviews: questions for the job seeker to ask.

So you're looking for a job, and you've bought into the idea (the GOOD idea) to do informational interviews. You've phoned the appropriate person and arranged a 10 - 15 minute meeting.

What are you going to ask when you get there?

Before you go, write down everything you really want to know from this person.

• How did you get your job?
• What are ways, other than the formal way, to get into this job?
• Have you any tips that might help me get into this type of work?
• What do you like most?
• What is most challenging?
• What do you like least?
• What advice would you give someone getting into this work?
• Any job specific questions, such as what accounting software do you use/ is most widely used in this work?
• What is the salary range? Or, what is a good starting salary?
• Are there any short courses I could take that would make me more employable?
• Is there anything else you think it would be helpful for me to know?
• Do you know of anyone who is hiring at the moment for this work?
  

And the last questions, never to be missed:

• Can you tell me two other people I can talk to about this type of work? and
• Can I mention your name?

Leave when you're time is up, even though you haven't finished your questions ... just jump to the last two ask them, thank the person for their time and their help and leave.

Send a thank you letter within 24 hours, and if you end up through one of the people they recommended, send them another note then to let them know you appreciated the referral.

Remember that you are talking to someone in the same position as you want, or their immediate supervisor. Unless the work you want is in Human Resources, so the people you are interviewing are also in human resources, the person to whom you are talking cannot hire you.

If they say their company is hiring, ask if you may mention you spoke to them when you apply officially to HR for a job.

Keep going. Ask everyone you speak to for 2 other names, and then ask these 2 for 2 other names, etc. This not only has the best chance of landing you a job, it also builds you a network, that properly nurtured can last you a lifetime.

Informational interviews work. Yes, you may get a few rejections, but so what. Keep on going till you find the job you want.

More help finding work.

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What is an Informational Interview?

What is an Informational Interview?

Well, yes, obviously it's an interview where you get information.

But how, where, when and why do you do informational interviews?

You can do them for any of three reasons.

If you want to decide what training or education to get.
If you want to know if a particular job is for you.
If you want to find a job.

An informational interview involves talking to the person who already knows what you want to know and asking them the questions to which you want answers.

How do you set up an informational interview?
You just phone, or e-mail and ask if the person could spare 10 -15 minutes to speak to you, and tell them what you want to speak about.

More detail in exactly how to go about this on other upcoming posts, but for now, just be working out who knows the information you want. Make a list and you're ready for the next step.

Need more help to find that ideal job?

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Soft Skills most in demand by Employers

In a regular government publication the following soft skills show up regularly.

1. Effective Communication Skills
   
   
2. Excellent Interpersonal Skills
   
   
3. Leadership Potential
   
   
4. Team Player
   
   
5. Organized
   
   
6. Problem Solving/ Analytical
   
   
7. Customer Service Oriented
   
   
8. Self Motivated
   
   
9. Willingness to make decisions
   
   
10. Accept Responsibility
    
    
11. Learn new tasks willingly
    
    
12. Show flexibility/ ability to handle change
    
    
13. Committed to the job
    
    
14. Willing to grow in the job
    
    
15. Ability to handle personal problems
    
    Decide which of these are your strengths, and make sure they are on your resume, and that you mention them in an interview... whether or not the employer is asking for them!
    

Hard Skills and Soft Skills, and how to show them on your resume

Have you heard the terms hard skills and soft skills?

A hard skill is on you can see, feel, touch and measure.

Keyboarding speed, abiity to us a specific software program, ability to use any specific machinery or tool. These are all hard skills.

Soft skills are more part of your personality, and so are harder to measure, and more difficult to teach. After all, how do you teach someone to have a good attitude, and how do you measure how good (or bad) it is?

Attitude is only one of the soft skills that employers are actively seeking.

When you apply for a job, both your cover letter and resume should highlight soft skills as well as hard skills.

And because soft skills are difficult to measure, your resume should also make a statement of how you have used that specific skill successfully.

"Hard worker" appears on so many resumes. Anyone can write that down on the resume, and because so many people do, it means almost nothing.

However, add a statement showing when you used this soft skill and it become more believable.

How about this on your resume:

- Referred to as "go to guy" by employer, due to consistency of hard work and problem solving ability

Doesn't that give it more credibility?

So include your soft skills in your resume and add a statement that proves it's true.

Help to find the job that fits your skills.

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What is the Hidden Job Market?

What is the Hidden Job Market?

It is every job that is not advertised. Between 85% and 93% of all jobs are considered to be in this Hidden Job Market.

How do you find these jobs?

Basically by talking to people. Networking.

That doesn't just mean talking to people you think might be able to hire you. It means talking to everyone you know or meet.

We all know approximately 300 people. So your hairdresser, for example, probably can't hire you, but s/he may know someone who can.

Your aunt's coworker's brother may be looking for someone with just your skills, but if you don't tell your aunt exactly what is it you are looking for, in words that she can then pass on intelligently, then her coworker's brother is never going to hear about you.

You can tell employers directly by calling them on the phone and introducing yourself and your skills.

However, it's best to sidetrack the "We're not hiring" speech, by not actually asking for a job.

Instead ask if they know of any where that is hiring. That way you are asking them if they can pass you on to any other business that is hiring and not putting them on the spot.

If they are hiring and like the sound of you, presumably they'll tell you. But if they're not hiring, they might tell you of another company who is.

If they do this, you can then phone the other company and tell them that xxxx from xxxx company told you about this position.

You are not using the first employer's name as a reference, just as a source of information, but it still has the power to make this second door open more easily for you.

So get out there and network. Speak to everyone you know. Ask them to tell others. Contact every employer you think might have work for you, or know of anyone else who has.

It's all about your network. Online and offline, your network in your main support in job seeking.

Want more help to find that ideal job?

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How many jobs are you missing by only looking at the job ads?

How many jobs are you missing by only looking at the jobs ads?

Estimates vary, but advertised jobs only comprise somewhere between 7% and 15% of jobs that available.

So if all you do is look at the job postings you are missing between 85% and 93% of all jobs.

Hmmmm.

If that's what you are doing, perhaps it's time to access the Hidden Job Market, which is where you'll find the rest of the jobs.

More help is available to get you to that great job.

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