Excerpts from Looking Ahead - Preparing To Meet The Future
How to recover from job loss setback and emerge employed and stronger.
Hosted by Dr. Denis Waitley
A Video Initiative Production
Copyright 1993
(Richard N. Bolles, author of “What Color is Your Parachute?”)
Perceive yourself as if YOU ARE the business – your are the CEO of YOU, INC.
Know your skills and services
Today people will change jobs 4-5 times. New grads 7-9 times.
Set your objectives.
2 questions plague job seekers
Am I too old? (No, today’s workforce values ethics and experience that comes in older workers.)
How do I describe being fired or laid off? (Be brief, be honest, and don’t worry.)
(Dr. Michael Holmes, Holmes Associates, San Diego, CA)
Improve yourself.
Take inventory of your career.
Make lists – be objective.
You are your CEO.
Know your product and believe in it.
Who is your market? Position it, prepare a polished presentation.
What are your five strengths?
What are two weaknesses?
(Richard N. Bolles, author of “What Color is Your Parachute?”)
Look at small companies versus large companies
Small ones can grow – find ones that are!
Large companies are often downsizing.
60% of all new jobs are created by small companies.
Benefits are often 28-40% of salary.
Large companies are reluctant to hire older workers due to ongoing expenses (pensions, etc.)
(Drs. Anthony Baron and Sandra Wilder-Padilla, clinical psychologist specializing in job loss persons)
Maintain emotional stability – remember, “it’s just a job.” It’s not your identity.
Process of job loss:
1- Shock
2- Grief (then getting defensive)
3- Guilt (forgive yourself – don’t isolate yourself)
4- Fear (“we’ll lose everything!”)
5- Anger (emotional wounds heal, it takes time)
Brighter side…
1- Your still productive – maintain your self esteem
2- Open yourself to others – don’t shut your family out
3- Lifelong security is a myth – use this job loss for the better
(William J. Morin, Drake Beam Morin, author, “Parting Company”)
1) Know yourself – what do you want?
2) Focus on a primary career, but develop a second career as well.
3) What is your 5-year plan?
4) Have a resume ready and a 200+ person network.
5) Have transferable skills – what are you a pro at?
(Eileen Hahn, HR Director, Culver Personnel)
You can’t sell what you don’t know.
What is your greatest professional achievement?
Can you describe your strongest attributes?
What did you accomplish on your last job?
Preparation:
Do you know about the company you want to interview with?
How do you qualify to fit the job?
Show that you did your research
Why do you want to work for our company?
What could you do for us?
Why did you leave your last job?
Can you show a record of success?
What are your career goals?
Search your background for weaknesses and prepare solid answers to explain them.
Poise:
Wear a conservative suit – regardless of the dress code.
Be well groomed.
Have polished shoes.
Arrive 10-minutes early – shows promptness and allows you a moment to catch your breath.
Stand up, extend hand, firm shake
Also…
Don’t fear silence
Don’t rush answers (especially to a question you are not prepared for)
Don’t ramble
Be a good listener
Address them how they address you (first name or Mr…)
Watch body language – sit with hands in lap
Use gestures, nods, smile
Presentation:
Guaranteed question: What is a weakness?
Tip – use this to show commitment to self improvement
Tip – don’t say “I’m a workaholic” they will see past this kind of stuff…
Never say anything derogatory toward a former boss or employer
Rule #1
Frame answers to show job effectiveness – give examples, statistics, proven achievements and how they can apply to the new job.
If you’re a manager, how did you help subordinates become more productive and satisfied?
The later this is discussed, the better
Don’t you initiate this topic, if you get pressed, say…
“I’m open to the salary range and I’m sure you’ll offer a package equal to my qualifications.”
At the end of the interview, if the interviewer asks if you have any questions, be ready with some, such as…
What are the company’s growth expectations?
What are the results you expect to achieve from this position?
Be optimistic – it takes several tries to get to “yes.”
WRITING
(Fred Dickey, novelist, university teacher)
4 Goals: Short, Sincere, Readable, Persuasive
Resume:
Keep it clear
Uncrowded
Use white space
Start with a summary paragraph of what you will offer to a company
Use chronological style
Use bullets (for brevity)
Emphasize achievement, not Responsibility
List only significant achievement – don’t let them think lesser duties are “highlights.”
Update resume when needed
Accuracy is a must
At least one full page – and no more than three
Do NOT list career objectives – that’s for the cover letter
24# watermark white or pastel paper with matching envelopes
Do’s and Don’ts…
Don’t start with “I saw your ad for…” Rather, open with a “grabber” such as “Your opening for X is right in line with my career path.)
Don’t repeat the resume
Don’t try to be funny
Don’t claim saintly qualities
Don’t exceed one page
Stick to what’s important
Explain a problem if you skill doesn’t match the position
Add in “thanks for reviewing my materials, my hope is it will sufficiently impress you to lead to more communication between us”
Send a thank you to all that interviewed you. Don’t mix business with it. Thanks is most sincere when it stands by itself
What’s written clearly is written well.
(Anne Boe, Career Networks, author, Is your Net Working?)
Questions and Answers:
What is networking and how do I start?
A process of developing and nurturing personal and professional contacts in order to obtain information, advise, support, and/or referrals.
How do I avoid “using” my friends?
Throw out the word “use”! Networking is giving and receiving. You earn the right to have friends and business associates. It’s win-win.
How do I organize networking information?
Get their business cards, write down somehting special about them on the card. Call later to thank them. Do this daily! Be consistent.
How do I overcome my fear of rejection?
Do what you don’t want to do to create momemtum.
How do I separate business and personal networking?
Don’t separate them at all! Integrate them!
How do I explain being unemployed?
Tell people you’re looking for new opportunities – the sooner you tell them the sooner you can get help from them.
(Richard N. Bolles, author of “What Color is Your Parachute?”)
Avoid the “job beggar” mentality, it is dehumanizing
This is why you have to know your strengths and skills so you present as being an asset to the company – high self esteem – you see yourself as a resource
Job-hunting is a series of no, no, no, no, no… Get used to it! We don’t like rejection, but you will go through it.
(Dr. Denis Waitley, author)
There is a rich reward now for those willing to take the time to know themselves and target where they want to be.