Discouraged in Job Hunting? Powerful Tips for the Best Job

 

Few things in life are as shattering to an unemployed person’s self-esteem as the inability to draw a paycheck. In this downturn, good jobs can be difficult to get. And most job seekers are weary from their character-building trials. Under-employment is another result of this economy.

Whether unemployed or under-employed, a person needs two things: A sense of hope and the right tools to negotiate a job.

More than 100 years ago, Oscar Wilde wrote: “What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise.”

Unconvinced? Try the philosophy of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale: “What seems impossible one minute becomes, through faith, possible the next.”

You can get faith from the action of using the right tools in your job search.

How much money do you want to make? Take my word for it, Roy Chitwood, of Max Sacks International, has the right tools, which are worth whatever you want in a salary. He’s also an advocate for positive thinking and he’s been successfully training salespeople the art of selling for more than four decades. And now, he is providing free-of-charge, his “Seven steps on how to ‘sell’ yourself to get a new job.”

I agree with him when he says the best-selling takes place as the result of the power of listening. To help you remember the concept, think of Marlon Brando in “The Godfather.” Remember the scenes of him listening to the downtrodden folks as they unloaded all their troubles? The godfather had all the power.

To gain job-negotiating power, Mr. Chitwood provides this example:

“The typical job interview goes like this: The interviewer says something like, ‘Tell me about yourself’ or ‘What are some of the projects that you worked on in your last position that you’re proud of?’ From that point on the interview goes downhill. Why? Because the interviewer will be bored stiff by whatever you say.”

So, he advocates taking control of the conversation. “The only way you know what someone is thinking is when he or she is the one talking – not you,” he says.

He explains further:

“Think about how differently the interview would go if you responded to the interviewer’s question, ‘Tell me about yourself,” with, ‘I’d like to tell you about myself. However, could I first ask you a couple of questions regarding the position?; Now you have control of the interview and you know what the interviewer is thinking. Using this one phrase, you have put the interview on track.”

Here are Mr. Chitwood’s steps for a successful job interview:

Step one — approach: In this step, you’ll introduce yourself, smile, be engaged and interested in what the interviewer is saying. You’ll use the interviewer’s name when addressing him or her and you’ll develop rapport by using what we call the FSQS (friendly silent questioning stare). This is body language that shows you’re listening intently, inviting the interviewer to tell you more.

Step two — qualification: This is the portion of the interview where the “Tell me about yourself” question occurs. Get the interviewer talking with a response like, “Mary, I would like to tell you about myself. However, first I would like to ask a couple of questions. Is that all right?” When she agrees, you’ll ask a series of questions to gain the information you need to assess whether the position is right for you.

Step three — agreement on need: This where you’ll ask the most important question of all: “What are some of the things you are looking for in a candidate for this position?” This is how you’ll determine whether the job fits you. If it doesn’t, this is the time to gracefully terminate the interview. Say that this position isn’t what you’re looking for, thank the interviewer for his or her time and politely excuse yourself.

Step four — sell the company: This is normally the step in the selling process where you extol the virtues of your company. Since you are the “company,” share your own attributes. “John, let me tell you a little about myself.” Make sure that the things you talk about relate to the job, such as your education and experience. You could share information about your goals, travel or family situation if they are relevant. Finally, ask, “What questions do you have about my background?” to get the interviewer talking again.

Step five — fill the need: In this step you’ll drive home why you’re the one for the job. Say something like, “There are several important experiences I would bring to the company and this position such as …” and then relate how your education, experience, goals, etc. will benefit the company in a series of feature/benefit/reaction sequences. These sequences should be specific. “My fluency in Mandarin Chinese along with my five years of experience selling in China (feature) will help me increase your company’s sales in Asia (benefit).”

Then, ask a “reaction question”: “How would that help with your sales goals for this year?” Limit your feature/benefit/reaction sequences to three. Now transition to the next step by asking a release question such as, “What questions do you have?” Once the interviewer has asked any clarifying questions, this is the time to ask about compensation and estimated start date for the position. “When would you like the new person to start?”

Step six — act of commitment: This is the close of the “sale.” Make a statement such as, “If I can arrange my schedule to start on the date you would like and my references check out can you think of any reason why you wouldn’t hire me?” Unlike most interviews that end with the interviewer saying, “We’ll call you,” this closing approach allows for honesty between you and the interviewer. You’re communicating your interest in the position and if he or she is interested in you, you’ll most likely get an indication at this point.

Step seven — cement the sale: This is your graceful exit from the interview. Say something like, “Thanks very much for meeting with me. I appreciate you taking the time to give me the information on the position and the company. I look forward to starting on Jan. 15.” This confirms the specifics of what you and the interviewer discussed and it’s a friendly, professional close to the interview. Remember to shake the interviewer’s hand as you leave.

Follow up the next day with a handwritten, mailed thank-you card. The process of landing a job can be much easier when you know how to sell yourself.

(NOTE: I’m proud to say Roy Chitwood is a friend of mine. We were introduced by Gerri Knilans, who is the noteworthy president of Trade Press Services, www.tradepressservices.com. Trade Press Services gets your company in the news by writing bylined feature articles and guaranteeing their publication in trade magazines.)

From the Coach’s Corner, my sense is that the principles in Mr. Chitwood’s strategies are applicable if you want to negotiate a raise.

For more job-hunting power, here are two more suggestions:

• For Mr. Chitwood’s selling tips, visit www.maxsacks.com.
• Short of buying the book, “The Power of Positive Thinking,” try strengthening your resilience by constantly reviewing quotes on optimism. Here’s a link to more inspiring quotes by Dr. Peale.

15 Tips to Improve Your Odds for a Job

 

If you are unemployed, you are probably feeling desperate. Your lifestyle is threatened. You are reevaluating your spending, where you shop and comparing prices on private-label food products.

Even if employed, many Americans been living paycheck to paycheck, and they are fearful about unemployment. In addition to spending all they earn, millions have been victimized by those predatory 38 percent interest rates and exorbitant fees charged by some credit card companies for frivolous excuses. With the negative-savings rate, the U.S. has been piling up consumer debt – published reports indicate at least 36 percent of Americans’ expenditures are regularly made with borrowed money.

So, countless others have problems, too.

If it is any consolation, before becoming The Biz Coach with prior experience as a manager, I also endured trials of unemployment and involuntarily helped coin the phrase, “corporate downsizing.” I worked for companies from the Fortune 500 to small businesses and I was laid off 14 times. So, I write from experience.

Here are 15 strategies:

1. Lean into your pain from being laid-off or being under-employed. Understand grieving is part of the process for growth and it takes time to heal. The three stages of healing: Shock-denial, anger-depression, and understanding-acceptance.
2. Get out of the house daily. Continue to exercise and perform community service. Both will increase your morale. The reward of high morale, alone, is worth it.
3. Assess your strengths and weaknesses. Be sure to analyze your interpersonal skills, too. Employers prefer teamwork and soft skills.
4. Market yourself effectively. By building on your strengths, you will be prepared to tell prospective employers how they will benefit from hiring you. They want to hear how you will save them time and money while helping them to make a dollar.
5. Polish your resume. Your contact information should be at the top of the page and then followed by a realistic objective, and a summary of why you’re qualified. Think like a recruiter – why should someone hire you? Employers want to know your skills, experience, and successes. Mention specific achievements that would be important to your prospective employer. Subdued, easy-to-read font on white or off-white, good quality bond paper is preferable.
6. Hone your career-management skills. Make a list of people to see and include your public officials at all levels. They are great centers of influence and are cognizant about economic development efforts. Personally visit each office to make an appointment. Seek the opinion of managers two levels above your skill level. They are not intimidated if you have great skills and your worth. If they hire you, they likely will take you with them up the employment ladder. As a college student and disc jockey, I once called the program director of a TV station seeking career advice. He immediately invited me to audition for an announcing job. Be sure to treat each receptionist with maximum respect. You’ll be amazed by the power and influence of a receptionist. (And make networking a lifelong career practice.)
7. Be open-minded and consider all options. If you are mobile, consider working abroad. In this age of globalization, future employers will be impressed that you know how to conduct yourself in a foreign country.
8. Consider a new field. The best available jobs include information technology, medical and retail sectors. And great employers can never get enough good salespeople. I went from being a disc jockey and broadcast journalist to sales, marketing and management in multiple industries.
9. Make it easy to contact you. Take advantage of wireless e-mails at coffee houses and libraries, but be security-minded. Don’t use a device containing personal information and make sure it isn’t ever connected to your computer with sensitive information. Forward calls to your cell phone.
10. Use the Internet. Get online – not to search job boards, but to go on offense. Applying at job boards is probably a waste of time. The competition is too great. Create an edge by building a Web site, blogging, and leveraging social networks from LinkedIn to Twitter.
11. Consider temporary employment services or freelancing. If you can avoid collecting unemployment, take work either at a temporary service or freelancing gig – you will be better off emotionally. Not to be gauche, but standing in line at the unemployment office will only put you in a position to network with other unemployed folks. Benefits will include networking, building your resume, maintaining your work ethic and best of all – earning a paycheck. Even after a college education and broadcasting experience, I once worked between jobs for a temporary service as a day laborer. It was a lot of fun getting exercise and having a place to work in fresh air. A short time later, after I landed on my feet as a newscaster, I won two awards.
12. Accept any opportunity until you get the right job. You will attract options you never thought possible. Once, when out of work, I called a former colleague who became the director at a state agency. She shared about her problems about coping with malingering union employees and getting enough funding from the state legislature. So we met over coffee and I was able to share my experience in similar circumstances. Unexpectedly, one day after returning from a six-mile run, there was a telephone message for me: “We want to hire you to solve our problems.” 
13. Get a mentor. Find someone who has the success you want for personalized one-on-one strategies.
14. Body language. When you land the big interview, remember the employer thinks you’ve got the necessary tools. It is your opportunity to assure the company that you will solve its needs and that you’ll fit into the culture. You only have a few seconds to make a favorable first impression with a warm voice, direct answers, a smile, and good body language. To err in being too formal is preferred over being too casual. Sit erect, feet on the floor, comfortable hand-placement in your lap, and maintain good eye contact.
15. Attitude of gratitude. A well-written thank you letter will help you stand out in a crowd. Write anyone who helps you. Mail a thank you letter immediately after each interview so that the employer hears from you the next business day. Mention a specific topic from the interview and include a bonafide compliment for the company. Reiterate the benefits of hiring you. Thank the interviewer for her or his consideration. Prevent buyer’s remorse by reassuring the reader you will provide the necessary results the company expects. If you have not heard from the employer, it is businesslike to make a follow-up telephone call in five business days. Your odds will be enhanced once the company has had five positive contacts or interactions with you.

Being unemployed is not easy, but as long as you make an effort to stay productive and keep open to new opportunities, you will be fine – you might even come out stronger.

The moral: Layoffs are really stepping stones as opportunities for personal and professional growth.

From the Coach’s Corner, if all else fails and if you always wanted to be the boss, consider entrepreneurship. Some people are destined to be entrepreneurs. Start a business by filling a need.