The essential movement of the flow chart is in a single direction, from YOU at one end to your next JOB at the other. But finding employment is really more of a juggling act. You're pursuing several different activities at once-researching companies at the library, networking to learn more about decision makers, planning how to reach them, following up on leads, preparing for meetings with hiring authorities, writing thank-you notes, and following up. The more balls you keep in the air, the more options you'll have.
Feedback from the Marketplace
In addition to doing all these things simultaneously, you'll be incorporating what you learn, as the Feedback from the Marketplace loop indicates. What is the marketplace telling you? Do you have what they need? If your head's red from beating against a brick wall, should you reassess your goals or reevaluate your plans?
Listening to the marketplace is a critical part of the process. Even wonderfully trained and skilled people, like physicists and aerospace engineers, can find themselves dead-ended by changes in the marketplace. By adapting to the needs of the marketplace, however, they can find new ways to use their many talents. That's something every businessperson must do. As you go through the process of exploring for needs and listening carefully to what potential employers are saying, you'll develop something very valuable-excellent antennae.
Post-Employment Loop
You will find a job. But don't get too comfortable when you do. There's no way to insure that you'll stay with that company for the rest of your days-unless it's your company. The word from corporate veterans on the "front lines" is: "Keep up your networks. Network actively. Stay connected with people outside your organization."
An out placed executive added the Post-Employment Loop to the flow chart. It's not suggesting that you begin looking for another job the minute you find one. But it reminds you to keep alert to what's going on outside, as well as within, your organization.
You Will Find Employment!
Take Charge
You're self-employed and recognize that the best way to find a job is to be positive, curious, and enterprising, a combination explorer / investigative reporter / Sherlock Holmes. Wearing those hats will make your job search much more interesting and open up many more options for you.
Use Methods That Work
Nothing works for everyone all the time. But some methods work most of the time. The techniques described here have proven effective for thousands of people like you.
Most job seekers hear the standard advice: You've got to "sell yourself." But no one explains what that means, or how you go about doing it. Even worse, it sounds pushy and conceited-not the sort of person you are or want to become.
That's an unfortunate stereotype. Selling is an honorable profession which is at the heart of the entire economy. When you think about it, you realize that nothing happens until somebody sells something to someone. Quality salespeople don't manipulate and deceive. They tell the truth attractively explains how you do that. The process is persuasive communications, which involves assessment, setting goals and planning, research, asking questions, listening carefully, presenting a good case based on the other person's needs, overcoming objections, and asking for a decision.
Now that you've "Incurred" yourself and need to think and function like a businessperson, you're selling your services. You have a great deal to offer your employer and this book explains how to do that professionally.
Be Systematic
You can dramatically shorten the time it takes to find a job by following our suggestions conscientiously and systematically. By working at it full-time (40 hours a week), you should be able to find employment within three months. If you have a clearly defined and attainable goal, it will take much less time. You may not find the job of your dreams immediately. But it will be employment (and not merely the "flipping hamburger" variety).
Be Flexible
Some of the recommendations in this book may ask you to stretch farther than you're accustomed to. Can you learn to be more proactive and positive about yourself? Tragically, many very competent, well-educated people waste months, even years of their lives, experiencing untold anguish, loss of income and self-esteem, because they don't fully understand the job-finding process or lack one or two acquirable skills.
What is each month of unemployment costing you?
- If you could shorten your unemployment by one month, what would you gain financially?
- How much is it worth psychologically to be employed?
- How much is it worth to know that you can cope effectively with unemployment not only now but in the future?
Learning and using these skills is a solid investment in your financial and emotional well-being. It's a policy that will pay you rich dividends. If you want a job within three months, follow these suggestions systematically and enthusiastically. They'll work-if you do!
