Coaching for Success 2010
Some more tips for finding a new job quickly.

Happy New Year To You & Thank you for being a subscriber to my Coaching for SUCCESS newsletter.

This time I want to talk about some more tips for finding a new job quickly by thinking about what you do in a different way.

If you can't change what's happening in the jobs marketplace, then you MUST change your approach to it. I explain more about this below.

Probably the hardest thing any of us has to try to do is change our thinking - but try, it will make the difference.

When you’re looking for the new job or career move it’s easy to think that ‘they’ hold all the cards. But I want you to try and change the way you think about it. This one simple statement is the job search secret that will power you to truly deserved success: Change Your Thinking!

Try thinking about these:

"They don’t hire you for the sake of it; they hire you to help them make a profit!"

"You’ve got something they want and after all, this is your career we’re talking about."

So try this:

• Instead of thinking they’re in charge, why not try ‘I’m in charge’

• Instead of waiting to be chosen, work out what you want and go and present some proposals

• Instead of dreading interviews, think of 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.

If you’re now thinking “I can’t do that” then stick with me and I’ll show you how you can with my Coaching for Success 2010 Tips.

A Personal Account

When I got over the initial shock of being urged to "seek alternative employment" I found myself, like so many others, out beating the bushes looking for a job. I found that I was just another one of the sheep following the same traditional job-hunting procedures as everyone else.

I wrote resumes, mailed them to the same prospects that everyone else was sending theirs to and found little comfort knowing that mine was included in a pile that was growing bigger every day.

To be successful amid all this competition would be tantamount to winning the lottery! It sure looked like the odds were stacked against me; especially after enduring the long non-event waiting periods that never ended. I got the same frustrating non-results and suffered the same heartaches, delays and disappointment as did all the other sheep.

This didn't seem right !

I began to realize that I was being victimized by a "me-too" situation. I was awakened to the fact that I was offering essentially the same thing the same way at the same time to the same people. My situation became dependent upon someone else in a system over which I had no control. I had yielded the control of my future to a system that made me an impersonal pawn in a game that didn't really care whether I won or not!

This was totally unacceptable!

I did some deep soul searching. I got "me" out of the way and took a cold, hard, impersonal look at the facts. I was shocked at what I found It was this:

EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO GET A JOB !

That didn't sound shocking on the surface, but then it hit me: All these sheep (myself included!) are out there focusing on looking for work, but trying to get a job which was:

1) a highly competitive "something" that was in short supply that everybody else was competing to get and

2) a "something" that most prospects didn't even have to give.

I couldn't afford to play this game! I had to start working. I'm darn good at what I do. I deserve better than this. There MUST be a better way. Read what he learned and did about looking for work so that you can do it too.

More Coaching for Success 2010 Tips For Finding A New Job

1.) Making networking phone calls:

Effective job searches begin and end with networking. Start by making a list of everyone you know: family members, extended family, friends, present & past co-workers, faith community colleagues, barber/hairdresser, dog groomer, neighbors. Even list the clerks who work in your favorite grocery or video store, bank tellers and gas station attendants. Everyone! Call or talk to each person on your list (most people can easily produce a list of 50-100 people). Target: Make 3-5 new networking phone calls weekly.

2.) Contacting employers before openings occur:

The process of applying for a job before an opening is known to be present is referred to as "accessing the hidden job market" - and doing so is critical for job search success. By using a great on-line tool such as Reference USA to access employer information, you can mail targeted resumes and cover letters to companies that match your size, focus and sales criteria. Target: Mail 5-10 targeted but unsolicited resumes with cover letters weekly. How to do it with the Direct Approach

3.) Responding to online postings:

There are literally hundreds of sites like Monster.com, and you can pour hours and hours into searching them for job opportunities. Remember to search on multiple titles or portions of titles and to post your resume at every opportunity. Target for your employment search: respond to 3-5 postings weekly. Check this Job Finder for job board lists.

4.) Responding to newspaper help wanted ads:

This is the favorite job seeking strategy of searchers everywhere, but guess what? Out of every 100 resumes an employer receives, they will throw away 92-95! Target: Submit only 3-5 resumes and cover letters weekly in response to help wanted ads.

5.) Identifying new employers to contact:

Find employers the old-fashioned way: in phone books, through networking leads, through word-of-mouth, in reference sources and online databases (such as Reference USA, mentioned above), through articles in local papers and through the Yellow Pages of your local phone directory. Target: Identify and research 5 new employers weekly and use them to fill your quota for #2, above.

6.) Contacting recruiters and employment agencies:

It's not appropriate for every job seeker to contact recruiters and employment agencies, but if this strategy makes sense for you, then by all means make use of them. Target: Contact 1 new recruiter or agency weekly.

7.) Making follow-up phone calls & sending thank you letters or cards:

Sending out resumes and cover letters is only the first step in the process of your employment search and developing relationships with employers. About 1 to 2 weeks afterward, call them to verify they received your materials and to inquire about next steps. Always follow-up on interviews and make is a habit to send thank you letters or cards afterward as well. Target: Make 5-10 follow-up phone calls weekly and send a thank you letter or card for every job interview or informational interview you participate in each week. Check this page: free cover letters for examples of cover letters you can use.

8.) Managing your references:

How do you "manage" references? Supply each one with a copy of each version of your resume. Keep them up-to-date on what is happening in your job search. You don't need to call them weekly, but you should generate news every few weeks at least. Give your references a copy of all the references you're using so each one can refer an employer on to someone else on the list if asked. Prepare your references by giving them background information, adjectives and descriptive words that "sell" your best stuff. Target: Contact each reference at least once per month during your active employment search and contact everyone when that perfect opportunity comes along to prepare them.

9.) Practicing interview answers:

Don't just practice the night before an interview. Target: Practice your interview answers and questions at least 1 time per week. Get help here with all those tough interview questions.

10.) Practicing the salary negotiations process:

Ditto with salary negotiations. Target: Practice your strategies and responses at least 1-2 times per week. Read more on negotiation strategies you can easily adopt.

11.) Staying socially connected with employed others:

Job searching is extremely lonely, so make sure you stay socially involved with family and friends. Target: Get out of the house at least 2 times weekly to see friends or extended family.

12.) Managing your attitude and energy:

This is the most important building block of all, because without a positive attitude and high, focused energy, you won't achieve the result you want.

Targets:

Do at least 1 fun and creative thing outside your house weekly.

Wishing you the earliest success with finding the job you so richly deserve. Thank you for reading.

Best Wishes

Peter Fisher

www.your-career-change.com