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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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!
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