6 Steps to Ensure You Always Have a Job
by Deborah Brown-Volkman
Published on this site: October 6th, 2005 - See
more articles from this month
Did you ever notice that there are certain people who have
great jobs? They are always working on a consistent basis
even in shaky industries and uncertain times? And then there are those who
are either constantly
unhappy in their careers, or go for long periods of time
without work. They blame the world and wonder why bad luck always seems to “happen” to
them.
You make your own luck. Your career is great when you focus
on making it great. This means not waiting for things to happen;
but making things happen instead. It means being pro-active
instead of reactive. Rather than blaming others for past mistakes,
you are passionate about new possibilities. You are not afraid.
Instead, you are excited about what you do, and what you contribute
everyday. And, if you are excited about your job, you will
find that other people will be committed to having you stay
on as a member of the team.
So How So You Make Sure You Are Never Without A Job? Follow
These 6 Steps Below.
- Tell Yourself That You Will Always Be Employed
What you say matters. Your words have power, meaning, and
intention. When you tell yourself something bad will happen
to your job, this will probably happen. If you tell yourself
that you are marketable and confident that you will always be working, your words can make this
true.
- Anticipate Trends in Your Industry
If your job is being eliminated or outsourced, you want
to know about it before you are in the room with human resources
telling you that your job is going away. Research your industry.
Know what’s happening and what the experts say will happen. This way you can make informed
decisions. Look for trends. When you find them, start to
train yourself in these areas. Knowledge is power. Having
the right skills at the right time ensures that, no matter
what is happening around you, you will be needed and employable.
- Have an Updated Resume
Your resume showcases your skills and abilities to the world.
It is a selling tool that outlines your unique qualifications
so an employer can see, at a glance, how you can contribute
to the employer's workplace. When you are looking for work, prospective employers know immediately
whether you are a fit for a position. If you are not looking
for work, your resume reminds you of the contributions you
make on a regular basis, something you can easily forget
when you are immersed in the day-to-day. Whether you are
looking for a job, or you have one, an updated resume is
essential for your career.
- Create a 30 Second Introduction
Whether you are looking for a new position now or sometime
in the future, your 30-second introduction is an important
tool for your job search. It creates an impression, and
you want the impression to be a good one. Information to
include in your introduction is:
1) Your name,
2) Type of position you seek specifically,
3) Your skills and strengths,
4) Background or accomplishments.
Where job seekers go awry in the 30-second introduction
is they are not specific enough. Without a few brief and
clear details, the listener cannot understand what they
want and won’t refer them because they do not know
what they are looking for. Example: “I have a background
in finance and can do pretty much anything in this area.”
Versus “I am looking for a CFO job in a large manufacturing
company located in the NYC area.” The more specific
you are in your 30-second introduction the better results
you will achieve.
- Network on a Regular Basis
If you start to network only when you need something, you
will have a lot of catching up to do. Therefore, network
every day. Wherever there are people, there is an opportunity
to network. You do not always have to go somewhere to network
successfully. You can network within your own company. Are
there opportunities for you? Ask people and find out. They
are your best resource for information. Invite co-workers
to lunch. Take the time to walk by someone’s office
to say hello. In addition, who can you tap into outside
of where you work? Every industry has an association. When
is your industry’s association meeting in your area?
Check the date and go. Get involved in this group so more
people can get to know you. So, if something happens to
your job, you’ll have people to reach out to. Lastly,
send e-mail or call people you know already on a regular
basis. If you are always keeping in touch, then you will
not feel bad that you are bothering someone when it’s
time to reach out and ask for help.
- Always Be on the Look Out For New Opportunities
Read trade publications. Read memo’s not only from
your area, but others. Think about what you could be doing
differently. Get your creative juices flowing. Think positively.
Rather than “it cannot happen,” believe that what
you want is possible and is within your reach. Then, make
it happen.
So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it
might as well be a life you love!
Deborah Brown-Volkman is the creator and founder of
the Career Escape Program, a 4 week program that helps participants
find their dream job. Deborah be reached at http://www.career-escape-program.com,
or at http://www.surpassyourdreams.com
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