Recession! Run on the Banks! Fire and Brimstone!
Newspapers, nightly news, Internet message boards, and CNN tell us every single second that the country is on the brink…of foreclosure, instability, job losses, and total economic collapse. I have the guts to tell you the truth the big guys are hiding from you, the specific ways you can turn your life and dreams into a reality in this so called downturn.
Cast a Wide Net in a Small Pond
Here’s what the Greeks wrote about the pursuit of success: ‘Know Thyself’. Learn about the friendships that give you the most pleasure. Find out what type of work, from architecture to zoology, makes you truly happy without being just another chore. If you fail to dedicate serious thought to work that will give your life meaning, the job search is off to a terrible start. Discover which ’small pond’ you want to fish in. For me it is a career in sales because I love the thrill of meeting new people combined with the challenge of presenting relevant solutions that show people how to achieve their life ambitions. First find the pond, then cast your net.
Your ‘net’ is the effort you put into finding the best opportunity in your chosen field. Real life example: Me.
Recently I left a position with an advertising company in metro Chicago to move with my wife Casey to Vermont. We wanted to be closer to her family so I left my position without a backup. Crazy, right? No way, I know the pond I belong to so I went on a crash course to find a new job…
HOW? TELL ME NOW!
Create a game plan, it’s completely necessary and the only way to track the progress of your goal. I put together a spreadsheet containing every employer, every contact at each employer, each position applied for, and when to follow up. I applied for every position that sparked an interest in my mind, put together a resume with specific achievements and customized it for most positions I applied for. After two weeks I had applied for 70 positions, called each company to determine the correct hiring contact, and landed 5 interviews for the following week in Vermont. I took calls from recruiters, telling them whether the positions they offered up were a fit or not. Once I came to Vermont I continued making and taking calls to schedule interviews.
Result? I finished with three job offers that interested me, a few that did not, and decided to accept the job from the first company I interviewed with. Be tenacious, know what you want, and don’t settle for anything you don’t want. Give yourself one month to make it happen. You will, I know you will.
Send me an email if you need help, I’d be more than happy to!
firstcollegenowwhat@gmail.com
