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In recent issues we covered:

The Interview – what to expect and what not to do?

Dealing with Interview Nerves;

Assessment Centres - what are they?

Psychometric Tests;

Body Language - the Unspoken Clues;

What do you look like?

Take the worry out of presentations.

Assert yourself.

Avoid Your CV Ending Up in the Bin

When You Get the Offer

Just follow the link at the bottom of this newsletter if you want to check out the back-issues

And in this month's issue we're going to talk about:

• Overcoming Inertia in Job Change

• The first 100 Days in a New Job

• Serious Business Networking

Quote of the Month

"Those are a success who have lived well, laughed often, and loved much; who have gained the respect of intelligent people and the love of children, who have filled their niche and accomplished their task, who leave the world better than they found it, whether by a perfect poem or a rescued soul; who never lacked appreciation of the earth's beauty or failed to express it; who looked for the best in others and gave the best they had."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Overcoming Inertia In Job Change

If you can hold on to an optimistic belief in the possibility of success, you have a very powerful motivator of change. But not everyone can, or will need help to do that as some are naturally more optimistic than others.

It can be especially difficult to be optimistic if you are feeling a little hurt or bruised following redundancy, but even when you know you need the change it can be difficult to get going.

Just take a look at the stages:

Stages of Change

1) Thinking About Thinking About It

2) Thinking About It

3) Preparing For It

4) Acting Upon It

5) Maintaining It

1) Thinking About Thinking About It

You do not really want to consider a new job at all and you will actively resist if you feel pressured or coerced into changing. You perhaps know you should be looking but you aren’t really committed to job hunting.

You may be giving it some half-hearted thought because of pressure from others – “you really ought to get another job” but you do not want to take it any further.

“I’m not going to bother with job hunting. I’ve got my redundancy money now, so I’ve no real need to work.” This response is OK if you’ve got enough money for the rest of your life or until your pension kicks in.

2) Thinking About It

You do see a need for change and you may be considering making a change “sometime” or perhaps when you’re quite ready. Which isn’t yet?

You are starting to contemplate and weigh the pros and cons of change. “I suppose I should look for a job, I could get bored doing nothing” “I need some mental stimulation to keep the old grey cells working” “If someone offered me a job I’d consider it. I just can’t face the thought of job-hunting”

3) Preparing For It

You’ve made a preliminary decision and you’re preparing to make a change and look for the new job.

This stage involves both the psychological intention to change and the initial practical steps towards the change. You now need to develop and enhance your plan and consider the consequences.

4) Acting upon It

You now start taking concrete behavioural steps, seeking information and following advice on practical strategies and activities.

You are now actively job-hunting. You are thinking about your skills and experience as well as getting your CV up to date. You start a file to chart your applications and other activities.

5) Maintaining It

You have started your job search process and are now making efforts to maintain the momentum of your campaign. You are applying for jobs, networking with contacts and attending interviews.

You soon recognise that it can be disheartening and that your confidence can waver after the initial enthusiasm. Try not to lose heart, a lack of early success can lead to a loss of motivation; but persistence, patience and perseverance will always pay off with the result you want.

Summary

Motivation is necessary for successful job hunting. No-one but you is going to make you job hunt, and no-one but you can make it successful. However if you use good advice carefully, you will get the result you need.

The way you think about your career will ultimately affect your success; to change the way you think read my Job Search Secret

The First 100 Days

Your first 100 days are crucial in any new job.

First of all, although you will be seen as an outsider, you will also find people willing to make allowances because you don’t know your way around.

But you can’t afford to rely on that for very long.

Secondly, if you’re an outsider and still making blunders after a week or so you will never make up lost ground and worse still your days will probably be numbered.

Sounds gloomy, doesn’t it? So what should you concentrate on?

First Impressions

People will form their own impressions of you, so aim to influence them by making contact, talking to them and asking lots of questions about them and the new organization. This will help you to understand the culture or the ‘way things are done’ and establish you as someone who wants to learn and contribute.

Don’t Look Back

Don’t fall into the trap of looking backwards and talking constantly about “what we used to do at XYZ Limited was…” instead ask for advice and suggestions from your new colleagues.

Expectations

Find out what is really expected of you in terms of delivery and performance and how your new boss wants to be involved and informed. This relationship is the most important one in affecting your success. Agree the what, when and measurement factors.

Feedback

Go out of your way to ask for feedback; people hold grudges more firmly if you seem to be ignoring their opinions and failing to acknowledge your errors. Hold your hands up and accept input from others, even if negative is the best way to establish your own position.

Positive Attitude

Remain positive; demonstrate a ‘can do’ attitude and always be willing to help out your colleagues (this doesn’t mean being put upon) as this builds relationships and team working.

Keep Learning

Although you secured your new job, remember it’s like passing your driving test; it proves you can do something but you still have a lot to learn. You must focus on your own job performance if you want your career to progress. You owe the company a quality job. Try to think strategically and move with the times; show your willingness and commitment by accepting or suggesting training that will help.

To remind yourself how you can contribute fully to the new organization click here.

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Serious Business Networking

As they always say “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Of course just knowing people doesn’t necessarily get you the job, or the promotion, or the contract you wanted, but it certainly can help; so long as people don’t think you are using them.

It’s true that networking is extremely important, so finding new contacts is the key to your success; you need to learn out about networking meetings or events in your area.

Before you go to an event you should think about what you want to achieve. Who will be there? Decide who you would like to meet and what information you would like to take away. This will ensure that you remain focused and have a successful meeting.

Use your Capsule Profile from the ‘Presentation Statements’ that we discussed in the self-marketing section of the website. You have about thirty seconds to get a person’s interest or you lose your chance. Planning this beforehand is absolutely essential. You need to sell yourself before you can ask for the information or contacts you want.

Consider the impression you’re making and don’t repel people by your (bad) jokes or (bad) manners or the way you smell (tobacco, garlic or aftershave / perfume).

It isn’t always easy to talk to people, but if you don’t at least try you may lose out on an opportunity keeping a positive attitude and keeping smiling will increase the positive results.

If you spend all your time with contacts you’ve already made, you limit the value of the event; so the majority of your time should be spent meeting new people.

Networking meetings enable you to expand your contact list if you use your time well.

Remember the new contacts’ names; we only tend to hear our own name when introductions are made so repeating their name will help you to remember it. And they like to hear their own names. Furthermore people will be most impressed when you remember their name the next time that you meet.

Only collect a lot of business cards if you have good reason for each one and they allow you a follow-up action. Make notes on the back so you know where they came from and what follow up you intend to take.

Although crucial to talk about yourself, but you don’t want to spend all of your time explaining what you do. Find out what the other person does. People love to talk about themselves and it will give you time to understand them and how you may be able to help them. If you can help them, they will be more likely to help you.

Dress for Success at a business networking meeting as you would if you were going to an interview or a meeting with your most important client.

Comments, ideas or feedback?

I'd really love to hear from you - just reply to this e-zine and let me know what you think.

Best Regards

Peter

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90 Days to Your Dream Job

To help you make the most of your career change, I've written a book '90 Days to Your Dream Job' which you might want to take a look at - see the e-book here. Don't forget to claim your 7-part email course 'Get Your Dream Job in 90 Days' - it's FREE and based on my book. Just click here.