How to Get the Job You Want in These Tough Economic Times
What to do to Make Sure You Get the Job You Want
Not long ago, I read a statement by Earl Nightingale that stuck with me. He said:
“The biggest mistake that you can make is to believe that you are working for somebody else. Job security is gone. The driving force of a career must come from the individual. Remember: Jobs are owned by the company, you own your career?”
Read more about creating your job security: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/jobs.html#XXXg18mzEHZ11C60.99
If you are anything like the 4.8 million long-term unemployed Americans who are looking for a job, maybe you’re concerned about how difficult it seems to be to get a job----or even get an interview. Recently, I became aware of the competition in our current job market when I retired from full-time teaching in our state’s community college system and started trying to find a job----part time, full-time, almost anything! I realized that jobs were scare, and the few available jobs seemed to have dozens of people applying for that one position.
If you’re one of those Americans who has a family and you need a job now, maybe these suggestions will help.
First, be assertive and go after the jobs. You must make yourself and your talents known to as many people as possible. A few days ago, I read an article on how to get a job you want in any economy---no easy feat----and one point remained with me days after I read the article. The main point that Brian Tracy, the author, made was that the job searcher today has to be actively involved in making himself or herself known to the world. The jobs are not going to come to you----you must go to them.
Connect with friends---emails, Social networks. He details several methods for letting others know of your talents, such as sending out emails to Facebook friends and other networking techniques. Of course, the old-fashioned word of mouth is always a reliable way for news about your talents to get around. One particular example appealed to me. Tracy suggested picking a company you would like to work for and then select one person within that company for an informational interview. To get the interview, he suggests sending the person an email or making a telephone call requesting the interview. He believes that this action can result in a positive response from the interviewed person. Ultimately, Tracy says, this situation could lead to a job. Again, the job seeker initiates contact and meets as many people as possible, whether they are promising work at that time or not.
Be perceptive and look beneath the surface. Another pointer for the job seeker is that it’s important that people looking for work remember that most of the available jobs aren’t really advertized. These jobs are there---unadvertised and unknown to many people. The average person who isn’t extremely perceptive may never see these jobs. Meet people, put yourself in a position to talk with as many people as possible, and make them aware of your job needs. When many friends as possible know of your job interests, word eventually gets around and opportunity knocks. The eager job seeker may go after the “hidden” jobs, the ones that often are frequently “hidden” and aren’t advertised. Maybe you got there before they placed an ad, or maybe they didn’t even realize they needed another hand---until you volunteered to help out one day, and from then on, they begged you to stay.
Consider a career change and visit your local community college. A final suggestion---if you haven’t found the job you want after weeks, or maybe months, of search, meeting people, talking to friends, and you’ve just about given up---don’t do that. Instead, visit your local community college and talk with the director of the department that specializes in training people for specific jobs. Some colleges give this department the name of Workforce Development, while other colleges may call it something else.
In a January 2013 speech, President Obama called on the community colleges to be available for the training of America’s workers even more in the future. Community colleges are pairing with businesses that need workers. The colleges train the workers, and almost immediately after completing a program or course of study, most of these students step into a job
Not only are these jobs readily available, but many require little training. Some require only 6-8 weeks of training. For example, a nurses’ assistant position requires the student to complete that coursework in only a few weeks and those with these credentials are in demand as soon as they complete the course. Another lucrative field is that of power company linemen. Power companies frequently hire linemen for jobs, which require a training period of about 9 weeks.
Right now, healthcare seems to be one of the fastest growing job markets in the country. Students can return to school, study to be an LPN, and in less than 2 years, they have their LPN license. Not only is the nursing field one of the most sought after jobs, but in some schools, those who have an LPN license are given priority for entrance into the RN program, which is a two-year program with even higher pay.
Other healthcare jobs abound---physical therapy, which requires a B.S. and in some states, a graduate degree. However, if getting a four-year degree isn’t on your list of priorities, the physical therapy assistant is an excellent choice for a job that provides benefits and excellent working conditions. That program is a two- or three-year program. Respiratory assistants are another field in demand as are emergency technicians and ambulance drivers, which require a short course to get a license. Then, there are the plumbing, electrical, and welding jobs, which are usually in demand. I read once that Albert Einstein said if he could return to the world after death he would select a different occupation. He would come back as a plumber.
Conclusion.
It never hurts to try strategies that revolve around helping people. Try to locate the job you want using these first methods that I suggested for job hunting. And remember, the best jobs may be the ones that haven’t been advertised. Finally, visit your local community college, peruse their website, and consider finding a new career. If you’re thinking of a career change but are unsure, try volunteering for several days. The regular workers will appreciate your help, you’ll realize the good feeling that goes with helping others, and you just may meet the job of your choice.
Once you find the job you want, be consistent and persistent. Do remember what Malcolm Forbes said: "A diamond is simply a chunk of coal that stuck to its job."
