November 04, 2005
Careers Update Issue #006 November 2005
As always, I'm delighted to send you this months new newsletter; I am sure you'll find the subjects interesting and the content useful. There is quite a lot to read this month so... take your time and enjoy!
DON'T FORGET - You can still claim your free 7-part email course 'Get Your Dream Job in Only 90 Days'
right here.
I have just returned from a 10 day holiday on the island of Malta in the Mediterranean thinking more about how I can help you retake control of where your career is going and what you should be doing about it.
If its not as good as you know it could be, use my guidance and take the first steps to complete your career change.
If you like this e-zine, which I sincerely hope you will, why not do a friend and me a big favour and "pay it forward", e-mail it to a friend and let them have the benefit as well.
Did you receive this newsletter from a friend, if so and you like what you've seen, subscribe yourself by visiting my Careers Update page where you can sign up for your own FREE copy.
In recent issues we covered:
- The Interview;
- Dealing with Interview Nerves;
- Assessment Centres;
- Psychometric Tests;
- Body Language;
- What do you look like?
- Presentations;
- Assert yourself and how to
- Avoid Your CV Ending Up in the Bin
Just follow the link at the bottom of this newsletter if you want to check out the back-issues
And this month's issue is devoted entirely to the most important issue of taking back control of your career. So we're going to talk about:
• Put Yourself Back in the Driving Seat
• Commando Tactics for Job Hunters
Favourite Quotes of the Month
"Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so that they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then, do what you need to do, in order to have what you want."
- Margaret Young
"I went into the academic world under the illusion that it was a place where people cared passionately about ideas, about teaching, about discourse, about reflecting critically. What I discovered was a world of small-minded, partisan professionals, many of whom where there because they couldn't figure out what else to do. So I created a life inside the academy that reflected the life I wanted to lead."
- Benjamin R. Barber
Get Yourself Back into the Driving Seat
If your career is not what it should be, retake control now and drive back to job satisfaction.
You must change the way you think about your career, so you can get back in the driving seat.
How can you do that?
Your Attitude is Everything
Everyone goes on about positive mental attitude, don’t they? But what does it mean?
To some extent we can all have some influence over what happens to us, so try to hold an attitude of expecting things to go right
If we expect things to go badly they probably will.
If we expect things to go well they’re more likely to.
So even if everything doesn’t go right we can get past the things that go wrong so much easier. This is what I mean by positive mental attitude.
So Change the Way You Think
- Instead of thinking they’re in charge, why not try ‘I’m in charge’
- Instead of waiting to be chosen, decide what you want and present some proposals;
- Instead of dreading interviews, think of yourself influencing key decision-makers;
- Instead of scouring the adverts, read them as sources of inside information;
- Instead of worrying about vacancies, think of them as needs waiting to be met;
- Instead of having to accept the offered terms, think how you can negotiate;
- Instead of them getting what they want, you both get what you want.
Job banks, search engines, job listings, and job guides are all useful tools in your employment search; however they won’t find you the unadvertised jobs. Statistics show that perhaps up to 60% of all jobs are unadvertised and are found informally - that is to say through networking and the direct approach - so the unadvertised jobs are what you really need to uncover.
You can uncover these unadvertised jobs and get back into the driving seat by putting together a carefully crafted direct approach letter.
This direct approach is no more and no less than a ‘marketing’ exercise to a specifically qualified target audience. It is NOT a mail-shot and certainly NOT ‘speculative’ letters that some people would have you waste your time writing.
Compared to a direct approach letter, the speculative letter or mail-shot is a complete waste of time, effort and possible opportunity. Find out how to write the most effective direct letter http://www.your-career-change.com/Direct-Approach.html
Now think about the ADVANTAGES YOU HAVE
- What Have You Got that Others Haven't?
- What Can You Say About Yourself Without the Need for Bragging?
- Who do You Know? You Might be Surprised Who They Know.
- How do You Get the Best CV or Resume Ever?
- Applying by Letter? Could You Use Some Examples?
- Working the Market Place With Strategies You Can Adopt.
- Winning the Interview Game Is Easy With Answers Included.
If you're not sure of the Answers go to http://www.your-career-change.com/7-steps.html
Don't know where to start when you need to change jobs or even your career? It's just a matter of following these 7 steps that will mean you know what to do and when.
Stage 1 - What Have You Got to Offer?
That piece of knowledge or bit of experience that others haven't got can make all the diference. Take time to sort out your unique difference.
Stage 2 - What Can You Say About Yourself?
If you have done something that you're proud of there is no need for bragging; just tell it like it is. Talking about yourself isn't easy but a little practice will get you there.
Stage 3 - Who do You Know?
You might be surprised to find that someone you know, knows someone else that needs you. So get talking! Everyone knows someone who could be a vital link in your network.
Stage 4 - The Best CV or Resume Ever.
Is the one that shows you to be the right choice. Don't let it knock you out of the running. Keep to what is relevant and don't try to include everything you have ever done.
Stage 5 - Applying by Letter.
Keep it simple, the best letter is one page with a beginning, a middle and an end. Include examples of how you match up; best done with 4 or 5 bullet points from the original advert.
Stage 6 - Working the Market Place.
Don't just be a busy fool - use your time according to the payback you can expect. For example adverts only account for 25% of all successful job moves; therefore only allow 25% of your time on adverts.
Stage 7 - Winning the Interview Game.
Certain types of questions will always crop up. Get answers to these interview questions prepared check here for help . Take some time to do this, advice is everywhere so take some.
Then make sure everything is in place and you haven't overlooked even the smallest detail detail.
See how you can get the the answers that help get YOU back in the Driving Seat http://www.your-career-change.com/7-steps.html
Commando Tactics for Job Hunters
Commando Tactics for Job Hunters
By Jason Adams
According to current Department of Labor statistics, today's college graduates will, on average, have 8 to 10 jobs and as many as 3 careers in their lifetime. In addition, in today's job market with downsizing, rightsizing, layoffs, mergers and acquisitions, etc. your job skills and job-hunting skills need to be constantly updated and refined.
The job market is getting tougher and your competition is getting smarter. That's why you need to gain every advantage you can. You need to become a Job-Search "Commando". Commandos commonly use guerilla tactics to win. What I am about to share with you are tactics that have helped me find good jobs over the last 28 years.
Commando Tactic #1 - Problem solvers get jobs!
All companies have problems. Demonstrate that you can solve a company's problems and the world will beat a path to your door.
What type of issues do companies have?
* Sales are down
* Expenses are up
* Market share is decreasing
* Layoffs are coming
* The company is in acquisition mode
* New departments/divisions are being formed
* Someone is retiring or going on leave
* The company is entering a new market
* A new product has been developed
* New ad campaigns are being discussed
* A department that was outsourced is now being brought in-house (ad agency, Public Relations)
* They are in need of new leadership
* Assignments/goals/objectives are not being met
* The competition is continuing to gain market share.
At this moment, dozens of companies in your surrounding area are in immediate need of someone like you to help solve their problems; you just need to find them. That leads us to broadcast letters.
Commando Tactic #2 - Broadcast letters uncover positions in the "hidden" job market.
A Broadcast or Marketing letter is an excellent way to uncover positions that have not been announced yet. Many people call this the hidden job market. Once you tap into the hidden job market, your chance of success increase dramatically.
Why? Because you are not competing with a "million" other people that answered the same ad. There are no other people because there was no ad!
Broadcast letters can help generate leads for you because companies always problems that need to be solved. As they say, timing is everything so if your letter arrives at the right time, you may find yourself with a job interview.
In addition to solving a problem (see list above) that the company currently has or will have in the near future, considering you might actually save them money.
How? If you are the right candidate to help solve a problem or address a specific issue, they will not have to pay a recruiter, or place any ads on Monster.com, or in dozens of newspapers. - Everyone wins!
Commando Tactic #3 - Answering blind ads lessens your competition.
Many people think that answering blind ads opens yourself up to the possibility that you might be sending your cover and resume to your current company. While there is that possibility, the ad hopefully gives you enough information to recognize it as your won company.
What most job hunters don't realize it that blind ads will usually only get about 50% of the responses that a traditional ad would get. What that means is that you are competing with half the number of people you normally would. This essentially doubles your chances of having your resume and cover letter selected for a follow-up phone call.
Commando Tactic #4 - The best time to answer an ad?
Be the last resume received. I made it a habit of sending in my cover letter and resume 2 weeks after the ad ran. By then I knew I was not competing with 500 other resumes that were sent in right away. My information got more time because the hiring manager did not have to read 499 other resumes the same day.
Commando Tactic #5 - Answer ads twice
If you never hear from a company where you sent in your resume, send another cover letter and resume in about 2 months. Many times, the position was not filled because there was no qualified candidate or the company and candidate could not come to terms on a compensation package. This means they have to start from scratch. Your resume may arrive just at the right time and get a second look.
By following some of these Commando tactics, you chances of finding the job you want will increase dramatically.
Jason Adams is President of Street Smart Sales and Marketing and author of the highly acclaimed book The StreetSmart Job-Changing System. For more information visit http://www.JobChangingSystem.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/