Job Hunting
BACK to BASICS
Many job hunters today get scared and forget to do the basics.
They forget to smile. They forget to dress for success. They forget to confirm their appointment. They forget to allow enough time to arrive at an interview early. They forget to sign in upon arrival and ask where the bathroom is so that they can check their appearance. They forget to do research about the company and the person they are visiting. They forget to review their notes about the company and the job they are considering.
Organizing Your Job Search
Disorganized and undisciplined people can be successful, but our chances of finding work increase dramatically when we use systems to organize our job search.
The current uproar that Amy Chua and her opinions about disciplined Chinese mothers have caused illustrates my point perfectly. Too many people today believe that the world owes them a job and a living. It doesn't. And we all need meaningful work to be happy and productive human beings.
NEVER Give Up!
There is always a job - for someone who wants to work. With the loss of over 8 million jobs in our economy over the last two years, there are almost 16 job applicants for every job opening today. Don't be discouraged. Use that information to manage your expectations and to plan the exact work you need to do.
Eye Contact
Proper eye contact is a vital skill that needs to be practiced.
When we talk to people, where do we look? If I look from eye to eye, or can’t look into someone’s eyes at all, I look nervous or shy. When I avoid eye contact, it makes me seem untrustworthy. That is not a way to instill confidence in the people we meet.
“The eyes are the windows of the soul.” Many years ago someone taught me that I should always look into someone’s right eye when I had a conversation. They explained that the right eye is the “eye of truth” and that the left eye is the “eye of deception.”
Finding a Job is a Full Time Job
I can’t tell you how many people I speak with who tell me that they make a few phone calls a day or spend an hour or two every week looking for work. It’s no surprise to me why they aren’t finding jobs.
People who want to work don’t sit around waiting for the phone to ring. I tried that when I was an actor – it just doesn’t work.
And you can’t spend your days online submitting your resume blindly expecting good results. Our economy doesn’t work that way.
