Let your fingers do the walking ... but you do the talking

The Yellow Pages, although used less now that we can just "Google" whatever we want, still have their undisputed uses.

One of them is to help you find companies that can hire you.

So let your fingers do the walking ... but be well prepared to do the talking!

First look in the index of the Yellow Pages. Mark or write down every index heading that suggests companies of the type that would use people with your skills and experience.

Then go to the pages for each of these headings and go down through all the individual listings for each heading and phone every one of them, unless something in their Yellow Pages entry suggests they are not likely to hire people like you.

Yes, I said, every single entry.

But before you do ... take the time to write down a script of what you will say when you phone.

For this you need your 30 second commercial.

If the employer doesn't ask for your resume or invite you in to see him/ her, always ask if they know of anyone else who might be hiring in this area.

Do not ask if you can call in a few weeks to check if anything has come up. The employer might say "no"!

Instead, just write down the phone number, name and anything useful you found out and phone again in a few weeks anyway (assuming you are still looking!)

It may seem tedious. And it is. But it's also one of the most successful ways of finding work. So if you want a job, it's worth it.

Also read...
Finding work in the Hidden Job Market

Jobs can be found in News Stories

What is the Hidden Job Market

How many jobs are you missing if you only check the Job Ads

Network you way to a job

Just because you are looking for a job in accounting doesn't mean it's not worth while to tell your plumber, your hairdresser, your friend's friend who's a salesman.

Most people have heard of the 6 degrees of separation, which stated that you are never more than 6 contacts away from the person you want to find.

Have you also heard that most people have a network of around 200-300 people. That is, most people know 200 - 300 people.

So just because the person you are speaking to can't hire you, doesn't mean s/he doesn't know someone who can, or at least know someone, who knows someone who can.

It doesn't make sense to ask your mailman if he can hire you as an office manager, but it does make sense to tell your mailman you are seeking a position as an office manager and can s/he think of anyone you could talk to, who may know of any position of this type.

You have to explain in easy to understand language what your job is - and this is easier for some than for others (specifically those in the computer world), but you have to if you want to get the names of people to talk to.

So get out there and network. Ask everyone you know if they know of anyone you can talk to. Make it clear that you do not necessarily expect that person to be able to hire you. You just want to talk to them and find out if they know of any companies that are hiring etc.

Job search is hard work if done right, but the rewards are worth it.

Work and LIfestyle

When you are choosing what job you will do, consider the lifestyle that will go along with it. I don't mean just money, although obviously that is part of it.

Consider whether it involves shifts, overtime, travel etc. Then consider where you are in your life. Travelling a great deal may not be a problem right now, but if in the near future you intend to settle down and have a family, it may present problems in the not too far distant future.

Alternatively, if you are getting older, perhaps too much travel will soon seem too tiring, or take you away from homw more than you want.

Yes, of course, you can always look for another job when these things happen, but it's always worth looking ahead and considering if the job you are thinking of going after today will still be a job you want, not tomorrow, but a few months or so down the road.

Studies have shown that people who try to maintain a job that is contradictory to the lifestyle they crave, are unhappy, do not do as well in the job, and ultimately move over to something more compatible.

So when choosing what type of work to pursue, don't forget the lifestyle element.
.

Finding a job in tough times

With the downturn in the global economy, more and more people have lost their jobs and are out there looking for work.

This also means that when you find a job advertised, there are even more people in competition with you than might have been the case in more prosperous times.

So it is time to consider other methods of finding work.

The number one way to find work is through networking, which just means talking to people.

In smaller towns this is the normal way for many people to find work. They just go and talk to everyone they know around town, and find out who is hiring.

In larger centres this is done less. But there is no reason you can't do it, no matter where you live.

Start with people you know. Ask if they know of anyone you can talk to who might know of the type of job you are seeking. Get names and phone numbers.

Call up and tell this person who gave your their number, and ask if you can come talk to them briefly about any possiblities they may know of. If absolutely necessary, do it all by phone.

If they know of some work, great. If not, ask if they know of anyone else you can talk to about this. Get names and numbers, and continue in this way until you have created a wide circle of contacts and ulitmately find work.

Obviously, hard times mean that there are less available jobs, so even this means of job search will not necessarily turn up anything instantly, but keep going. If there is work out there at all, you will eventually find it through your network of contacts.

.

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.

.