"The Job Seeker's Guide"WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO?
Well, what would you like to do for the rest of your working life?1) Do you have any idea of what you want to do?
2) Do you have any idea of what you need to do to achieve it?
In the last section I illustrated the need to think laterally to enable you to build up a list of occupations you think you would like to do and believe you would be able to do.
Now commit these to the printed page and build your list of prospective occupations. Start with anything from your past that leads your thoughts to the job, or type of job, you would like to do.
Think of what happens "either side" of it. Imagine what is done before and after the activity you have in mind; the part of the process at which you would like to be involved.
Resist the temptation to put Airline Captain, Brain Surgeon etc. as the learning curve is a long one. Unless of course you have unlimited resources, in which case you would not need a job in the first place.
Set yourself a target, say ten occupations, and don't stop until you have reached it. Move on to:
Think about the geography of the occupation, where it is thickest on the ground; think about what training you would need, what qualifications you may require. Are they obtainable by part-time study or correspondence course? If so at what cost and how long would it take?
Take them one at a time; think of the exercise as one of following a clue to some buried treasure. In this country we have a natural leaning towards secrecy and you may find obstacles in your path that you did not anticipate.
They seem to believe that giving out of information is a felony punishable by death or at the very least deportation. They are from the old school of receptionists and there are ways of dealing with them.
Because you will have a number of research projects in hand at the same time it is of paramount importance that you are meticulous. Dates, time, and next action should always be recorded in diaries.
Basic rules still apply.
Small ads are a useful source of information. For a small outlay you can obtain information that may give you an idea that in turn leads to a completely different type of job and career.
I once spent a fiver on a guide to working on cruise ships. It was fascinating, and the market is growing by sixteen percent per annum in the U.S. with similar growth here. One day perhaps? The exercise is not difficult. Remember the "either side" technique and apply your mind to it. Look at the loaf of bread on your table, imagine how many different jobs are involved in putting it there. Skilled, semi skilled, manual, clerical, administrative, professional, consultative to mention a few.
Growers, transport drivers, millers, warehouse workers, bakers, distribution workers, clerical, sales, marketing, design, display, cleaners and many more. Not to mention all the managers involved and the back up that every one of these occupations requires.
Now commit these to the printed page and build your list of prospective occupations. Start with anything from your past that leads your thoughts to the job, or type of job, you would like to do.
Think of what happens "either side" of it. Imagine what is done before and after the activity you have in mind; the part of the process at which you would like to be involved.
Note it down under: Prospective Jobs.
Never mind the doubts and fears, write it down.Resist the temptation to put Airline Captain, Brain Surgeon etc. as the learning curve is a long one. Unless of course you have unlimited resources, in which case you would not need a job in the first place.
Set yourself a target, say ten occupations, and don't stop until you have reached it. Move on to:
What's needed.
Up until now you have been able to let your thought processes move forward unhindered. Now you have to put in the hurdles. You need to anticipate what obstacles lie, or may lie in your path.Think about the geography of the occupation, where it is thickest on the ground; think about what training you would need, what qualifications you may require. Are they obtainable by part-time study or correspondence course? If so at what cost and how long would it take?
Think laterally: remember the "either side" principle. Move on to:
Contacts needed.
Enter the names of the individuals you need to talk with to progress your enquiry. Remember, you may have to go through a number of people to get the information you need.Take them one at a time; think of the exercise as one of following a clue to some buried treasure. In this country we have a natural leaning towards secrecy and you may find obstacles in your path that you did not anticipate.
A typical example, thankfully in terminal decline, is the dragon lady.
I refer of course to the now near extinct "receptionist".You need to click here and find out how to deal with "Receptionists"
These dreaded old dears, who call themselves receptionists, protect their masters with all the vigour of a mother protecting her offspring. They are usually identified by their blue rinse and badly fitting false teeth.They seem to believe that giving out of information is a felony punishable by death or at the very least deportation. They are from the old school of receptionists and there are ways of dealing with them.
Complete the entry with:
Contact Location
The information you require may be anywhere. What is important is that you know where to look. Record here the location of where your next contact may be found.Because you will have a number of research projects in hand at the same time it is of paramount importance that you are meticulous. Dates, time, and next action should always be recorded in diaries.
To summarise
- decide what it is you want to do
- followed by what it takes to do it
- move on to who you need to talk to
- the location of the person who will give you the information
- or tell you where to look for it
Basic rules still apply.
- Get out into the community, talk to people in the same or a similar situation
- ask about the techniques they are using to try to find a job
- Don't tell them too much about what you are doing
You must take care not to tell others how you are going about your business as you might let slip some vital piece of information that leads someone to a job you were after.
Remember at this stage you are simply examining what options you have and what occupations you are to try for. That is all: don't complicate the issue.Small ads are a useful source of information. For a small outlay you can obtain information that may give you an idea that in turn leads to a completely different type of job and career.
I once spent a fiver on a guide to working on cruise ships. It was fascinating, and the market is growing by sixteen percent per annum in the U.S. with similar growth here. One day perhaps? The exercise is not difficult. Remember the "either side" technique and apply your mind to it. Look at the loaf of bread on your table, imagine how many different jobs are involved in putting it there. Skilled, semi skilled, manual, clerical, administrative, professional, consultative to mention a few.
Growers, transport drivers, millers, warehouse workers, bakers, distribution workers, clerical, sales, marketing, design, display, cleaners and many more. Not to mention all the managers involved and the back up that every one of these occupations requires.