Bounce Back

The economists are saying it will get worse before it gets better. (Could they stop talking until they have good news? Just asking.) Being resilient in these times is imperative. Being able to bounce back from a layoff or rolling with the punches of changes at work may mean the difference between surviving and thriving. Before anyone starts saying these times are too tough to “thrive,” remember this. The period of time that created the greatest number of millionaires in America was … the Great Depression. When people have less to lose. When they are desperate. When they realize the old ways no longer work. When they are willing to take a risk. Those are the conditions that create millionaires. The first idea might not be the one, but persisting until something starts working for you – that is success. Be Prepared “Luck is preparation meeting opportunity.” Oprah Winfrey said that. In slightly different words, so have many other successful people. In fact, it is part of the motto for Boy Scouts. Are you prepared? Whether you expect a layoff or just want to find a more stable opportunity or are laid off, being prepared now will enhance your chances of landing the next job. Job Seeker, Know Thyself The first step of preparation is to know yourself. Until you know that, you won’t know what job is right for you. I know, I know – you’ve lived with yourself for the last X number of years you say. I say, so what? As a person goes through life, people constantly give you feedback as to who they think you are. Some of what is said to you is true. Some is not. Some was true when you were 3 or 13 years old, not so much now that you’re X years old. Some things are just family assumptions. Some things are said out of jealousy or fear or carelessly. Some things are said wishfully. If the authority of the person is absolute (a parent, a teacher), we tend not to examine it all that closely, but take it on. Write down who you are in July 2009, and identify those jobs that are suitable for you. Narrow the list of jobs down to what you want to do. Voilá – your targeted list of employers. It is counter-intuitive but,

The more targeted your job search, the more narrow the focus, the more likely you are to be hired quickly.

Steps to Being Prepared

Sharpen your interviewing skills. Practice communicating what you have done, can do and the value you’ll bring to the job. Be succinct, but be sure to tell a complete story. Be enthusiastic about working for the employer. Practice making a great first impression. Learn and develop new skills. Pick up new skills that will help you stand out in the crowd and increase your value to an employer. If you are laid off, see what municipal resources are available to you. These are usually free or very low cost. Network like crazy. Looking for work is a job in itself. Talking to as many people as you can, will only help you. Follow up with thank you notes or an article that helps them out. Remember, networking is a two-way street. They help you; you help them. Build trust. Be factual about your circumstances, but don’t dwell on them. Add value and they’ll remember that. 80% of the job market is “hidden.” That means you will only find out about these jobs through networking. I know employers who have openings. They don’t want to advertise, because they don’t want to deal with the flood of applications. Do your research. Who is your ideal employer? Find someone at that company to talk to. That is networking. Network, network, network. Ensure your résumé is ready. There are many great opportunities out there. You can only take advantage of them if you are prepared. List your best accomplishments for each job in your history. Is your grammar consistent? Is it readable? Be realistic. Being laid off is hard. Don’t think, “It can’t happen to me.” Or, think the employer will “wake up and call me back.” It can happen to you and the employer will not call you back. These times are hard for employers too. It probably wasn’t personal when they laid you off. It was all about the money. I know it feels personal. Step back to get a larger picture, let go of the anger. Take time to grieve so bitterness doesn’t creep into your job hunt and poison it. Regroup. Being laid off is bad, not dealing with it properly, is worse. Believe in yourself. Being laid off is a great opportunity! This can be a fresh start for you. Or, you can find work that is more rewarding. The key is to stay positive, be persistent. Surround yourself with people who know you, love you and believe in you. This will boost your health and self-esteem. The better you feel about yourself, the easier it is to impress others. It isn’t you, it’s them. Job hunting is all about rejection. Because once someone says, “Hired,” we generally stop. Understand that fundamental fact. They aren’t rejecting you; they are rejecting your résumé. They aren’t rejecting you; they are rejecting the performance you gave during the interview. Learn to hear the rejection, learn from it, make the corrections and move on to your next opportunity. Think of job hunting as a game; connecting the dots between you and the next job. If you need help on your job hunt, give me a call at 916.803.1494 or send me an email to eal@EALCoaching.com. We’ll get a strategy together for you to thrive. A dream with a plan is a goal. A goal without a plan is just a dream. Warmly, Elisabeth Elisabeth Adler-Lund www.EALCoaching.com

Coaching from the Heart eal@ealcoaching.com 916.803.1494