Motivation Monday

Motivation Monday Someone wants to hire you.   They just havent found you yet! It is possible, even probable, that a company needs someone exactly like you.   They just dont know it or they havent found you yet! How will they find you? It is a game of odds and chance. Be crystal clear about what you are looking for when you talk to people. Be passionate and confident about your experiences and the skills and talents you bring to the table. Know that there is no one better suited for that next great job. Believe in you. Believe that it is possible. Make it happen this week. Motivation Monday It is here againMonday.   Either love it or hate it, this week is what you make of it.   Here are some ideas to convert your job search to a proactive initiative, where you are in control! Wear Your Consultant Hat Treat your next interview like you were being hired to be their consultant.   Do your research and be prepared with questions to better assess where their problems are and how you might solve them. Market Your Services Instead of waiting for job postings, get ahead of the curve by identifying employers that would benefit from hiring you.   Build a list of 30, 40, or even 50 employers that hire people to do what you do.   Follow them on LinkedIn to see what they are doing.   Create Google Alerts with their company name to see what is being said across the internet. Follow them on Twitter and Google +.   And most importantly, tell everyone you know that you would like to meet someone who works in those companies to learn more about what they are doing and if you may be a fit. Take Action You have been given names of people to follow up with dont slack.   Just because you havent heard back from them yet, doesnt mean they arent interested in speaking with you.   Give them a really really good reason to want to speak with you and be persistent.       All you are doing is asking for 30 minutes of their time (or less over the phone).   Make it easy for them by proposing a place and time.   Always reference the person who referred you. And by all means, be polite.   Keep asking if you dont hear back.   No response does not equal no it only means they havent responded.   Keep pursuing. Lose the emotions Your emotions are preventing you from moving forward.   I dont care how you do it, but youve got to turn yourself around. Stop being negative. Stop the self-talk that sets you spiraling downward. If you cant do this alone (which you may not be able to, get professional help!) Motivation Monday This is Thanksgiving week, and to celebrate, lets get out our gratitude journals! Each day this week, write down what your are grateful for in your life. Simple. Yet, I know I find many many things every day that piss me off.   It is easy for me to let these negative thoughts impact my ability to advance and take positive steps forward. On Thursday, when you are surrounded by friends and family, take the extra step to tell them why you appreciate them or what you are most thankful for at that moment in time! Let your positive juices flow and lets see what happens! Motivation Monday This week, starting today, I am hoping you can try to incorporate 3 new behaviors/practices that will alter the way you conduct your job search. Contact several recruiters They do not work FOR you, but with you.   Recruiters often specialize by industry or occupation so ask around and find the names of several.   Why recruiters?   Because, some companies do most of their hiring through these 3rd parties. According to CareerXroads most recent study:   65.7% of survey respondents report they have ‘Master Contracts’ with vendors to supply hourly P/T or professional contract.   Would you be open to taking a contract/temporary assignment?   Consider it one of the best ways to get your foot in the door.   CareerXroads also reported that 50.3% of ALL hires were filled from internal movement. Limit your computer time to off hours Because you have to contact people while they are at work, you will want to maximize the time to allocate for these activities.   Simply put, all your follow up, phone calls, informational meetings, etc has to be done during working hours (8 to 5).   Therefore, submitting resumes online, LinkedIn or other social networking activities, thank you letters and other administrative tasks should be done any time besides 8:00am to 5:00pm. Play matchmaker What better way to leave a lasting impression than to introduce two people whom you believe would benefit from knowing one another.   It could be a personal or professional interest these people share.   Send an email   and address it to both of them.   In the body of the email, indicate how you know each person and why you think they might enjoy meeting each other. You may even want to include in your email a link to each of their LinkedIn profiles.   Your job is done.   They can decide to contact each other or not. It is a new week!   Try and incorporate at least one new strategy! It might just work! Motivation Monday Not only is it Monday, it is also Halloween (and the last day of October)! Gear up for a new month of activities and strategies! What will you add to your job search tool box in November? Update your LinkedIn profile Reach out to family and friends to remind them of what you are looking for Identify people you should be talking to and schedule meetings with them Develop your interviewing skills Assess your job search Change what you are doing Have fun handing out candy tonight and remember how fun Halloween isit is about giving! Motivation Monday It takes so little to make an impact.   Like the metaphor of a drop of water and its ripple effect. It all starts with one single and often simple act (of kindness). So often, during job search, I see and hear of people in isolation.   Isolation that often leads to depression or immobility. When money is tight and things seem bleak, dont turn inward.   Push yourself and practice giving. It doesnt take a lot.   In fact, it may not cost you anything accept your time.   Time is a precious commodity, especially this time of year which makes an even bigger impact. I was touched by this video yesterday.   It said so much and struck a chord with me. At 10 minutes, it may be longer than it needs to be, but watch it and see what you think. ; Video produced by Sharon Wright. It has gained popularity on Unofficial Google + Film Festival. It may be painful or too close for comfort for some but that is exactly why I am sharing it.   No matter how much you have or dont have, you can always help others. Many of you do already, I know.   But there are still many who dont.   It isnt the quantity we give but the quality of the intent with which we give. There are people richer and poorer than me.   But their personal wealth is not the measure I use.   It is their generosity, kindness, selfless giving, concern for others, and awareness of it all that leaves an impact. No matter how much or how little you think you have to give, you can always, always help others! This week how can you give selflessly? What small act of kindness can you perform that will make an impact?