The
challenge of pursuing a new career opportunity can be exhilarating, exciting,
adventurous, frustrating, disappointing and just plain terrifying. There
will be moments of great joy and happiness and many, many occasions where
you may experience rejection, confusion, anger and depression.
While
the light at the end of the tunnel may appear dim, ultimately the challenge
usually opens doors to exciting new experiences and new friends that give
your life meaning, purpose and satisfaction. It can be a rewarding, enriching
experience that you should view with eager anticipation. Your positive
attitude, desire, dedication, and determination will enable you to realize
your goals.
Getting Started
Most
people in transition assume that the first thing you do is write a resume.
WRONG! The end result is usually a poorly written, disorganized, confusing
display of jobs, responsibilities and education. First, and most importantly,
it is imperative to have a clear understanding of your goals, experiences,
accomplishments, skills, personality style, strengths, and (yes, we all
have them) weaknesses. You can then begin to define industry/position
objectives, develop credentials of distinction, create personal marketing
tactics, prepare for interviews, and hone techniques for negotiating compensation.
This
manual will take you through all the steps and provide insight into numerous
key issues and concerns you will encounter in the career search process.
You
will discover the CorporateWarriors.com program is unique throughout the
industry. There are dramatic departures from the traditional "job
history" approach. Emphasis is placed on your ability to empower
yourself to succeed through interaction in the marketplace, effective
presentation of your credentials, demonstration of your professional expertise
and ability to make a positive impact within the organization you have
targeted.
This
first section deals with some of the issues in the career transition process
and getting organized in order to make your search as time- and cost-effective
as possible. We will then move progressively through every aspect of career
transitions with numerous worksheets and examples.
Suffering
the loss of a job can be an emotionally wrenching experience. Regardless
of the reason, it is usually difficult to understand. Extensive research
has demonstrated a consistent pattern that most people experience. It
is exhibited in the following diagram:
What is
more important than anything else is that you move as quickly as possible
through the emotions. You can then put the experience behind you and become
focused on your career pursuit.
Remain
positive, upbeat and demonstrate a winning attitude. Do not allow yourself
to take the job loss or rejection for jobs as a personal shortcoming. Remember,
if they don’t hire you, it’s their loss, not yours. It takes time to find
the right job and your self-confidence is a key to success. If you let the
frustration get to you, it will be perceived by prospective employers and
hinder your likelihood of finding a job quickly.
Telling
you to remain positive and optimistic is easier said than done. You will,
of course, experience emotional frustration and concern. There is no way
to hide it. Seeking a new position creates stress. So don’t just sit there,
do something about it. Here are a few suggestions:
Do
what you enjoy the most.
Frequently, after the loss of a job, people withdraw from activities
they love and normally do on a regular basis. If anything, you should
do them more often. Pursue hobbies, sports, and entertainment with
zest and enthusiasm. Many activities are low cost and they can really
help get your mind off the job search. Plus, there are some additional
side benefits we will discuss later.
Exercise,
exercise, exercise. If you play sports or simply enjoy
walking, get out there and do it. Exercise will help maintain your
weight (and you might even lose some). Research indicates that active
people are successful people. An active body helps stimulate an active
mind. Exercise is one of the best stress relievers available—and it’s
cheap.
Proper
diet. Don’t fall victim to the refrigerator syndrome! Now
that you have more time at home, it is easy to get caught in this
trap. Stay away from snacks. Stick to fruits, vegetables and carbohydrates.
By the way, you will not find a job in the liquor cabinet—stay away
from it.
Be aware! Lack of exercise and proper diet leads to colds,
flu and other illnesses. You want to stay healthy in order to have a successful
job search.
You
are not the first person, nor the last, who is forced to look for
a new job. From janitors to CEOs, there are thousands of people in
the job market. They are going through the same emotions and career
pursuit challenges that you are experiencing. Share your experiences
with others in similar situations. There is strength in numbers and
you can help each other.
You
are special. Don’t let this experience take away your self-esteem.
You have experience, education, skills, accomplishments and personality
strengths that can be of extraordinary benefit to many organizations.
Your determined search will turn up the right opportunity.
Generally
speaking, in time, this experience will result in a position that
pays more money, is more fun, and has greater opportunity for growth.
Every life experience adds to your maturity and professionalism. Take
advantage of this opportunity to enrich your life.
If you have the luxury
of a home office, great! If not, set up an area in your home or apartment
that can be dedicated to your job search. This area should be yours and
yours alone so that you can organize it for a job search. Here are a few
tips:
Have
a separate phone line if it is within your budget. When you are out
looking for a position (which will be most of the time), leave a positive,
enthusiastic invitation on your answering machine for callers to respond
with a message.
We
are in the computer age. If you don’t have one, if at all possible,
get one. Prices today are very reasonable. But if you can’t invest
the money right now, it is possible to rent them on a short-term basis
at a relatively low cost.
You
can also use on-site rental computers at many copy or office product
stores. This can be inconvenient, but satisfactory if you have no
other alternative. Your computer is a real asset to customize cover
letters, modify resumes for particular situations, maintain databases,
and track your search activities.
Develop
an inventory of necessary supplies. Examples include resume paper,
envelopes, file folders, dictionary, thesaurus, calendar, phone directories
(and other reference sources), calculator, miscellaneous office supplies
and the all-important coffee pot.
Create
a schedule of activities. We will expand on this as we proceed through
the search process. It is important to recognize that a regular schedule
of activities and functions will make it easier for you to stay focused.
A few examples include: a minimum number of letters to be written
each week, a minimum number of phone calls each day or week, attendance
at networking opportunities, visits to the library, etc.
Be
dedicated to your search. Finding a job is a full-time job. The more
hours you dedicate to your search, the faster you will be successful.
Avoid the many distractions that can take you away from your task.
Upon losing a position,
one of the most difficult problems facing the individual is what to say
to friends and, most importantly, potential employers about why you lost
your job. It is not as difficult as has been perceived. The people you speak
with, including employers, will be understanding. Remember, they have probably
been through similar situations themselves. Here are a few suggestions on
how to respond:
"The
company is consolidating operations and downsizing its workforce.
My position was one of those eliminated and therefore I am now seeking
a new, challenging opportunity."
"My
supervisor and I had strong differences of opinion on management techniques.
Therefore, I felt it was in my best interests to find another organization
that can benefit from my expertise."
"The
opportunities for professional growth are extremely limited. Therefore
I am seeking a new position where I can more effectively utilize my
knowledge and capabilities."
Before
you begin your search, it is imperative to understand your financial situation.
Your job loss will probably have a dramatic impact on your cash flow (unless
you just won the lottery). By getting grasp of your income sources and
expenses, you can more effectively plan your search strategy in terms
of how quickly you must find employment and the compensation package that
is desired.
The
following worksheets will assist you in defining your financial situation.
It is important to know that the expenses you incur in your job search
are tax deductible. Advise your tax accountant that you are in a job search
and he/she will advise on appropriate record keeping and legal requirements.
