The Monday Morning Motivator

What if you wake up one morning without a job, where would you find your next role? This week’s podcast is with Michael Gill, New York Times best selling author of “How Starbucks Saved My Life”. At age 53 he was taken out for breakfast, or what he would call his Last supper, and was let go from his position. Michael’s identity and purpose came very much from his work. It gave him a place, title, income and status. As with others who are defined by what they do and are fired, there was an extreme loss of identity. He spent the next 7 years in a consulting trying to find a work role and organization, that aligned with his professional and personal identity and which rewarded him in the way that he was accustomed. Then one day while standing in line at Starbucks, he was approached by a store manager and asked if he would consider applying for a job. Shortly after he joined Starbucks, finding a place that was well suited for him and giving him a whole new start in his career and life. Michael shared “Some of the best things in life happen by accident”. Finding your new role is much more likely when you are open to circumstances, opportunity and people who can help you.

The global credit crisis and flat-lining domestic economy could make this one of the most challenging times to be looking for a job in recent history. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of unemployed increased by 3.6 million between December 2007 and December 2008, and the December 2008 unemployment rate hit 7.2 percent. For January 20009, the unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent, the highest since September 1992.

To be a successful job seeker in this climate, you have to be calm, patient and proactive — and try any (or all) of these tips.

Pick and Choose Your Targets

When Jack Hinson was laid off in mid-2008 from his job at a large Internet content company in Austin, he prioritized his search. “It’s important to put your time and energy into opportunities that you’re the most interested in and that have the best chance of coming to fruition,” he says. “Pick a few companies you’re interested in and pursue them, whether they have current openings or not.”

Concentrate on Growth Industries

Brent Berger, a Las Vegas-based scenario planning and strategy consultant, suggests focusing on growth industries and areas. “Look at energy,” he says. “With oil costs where they are, the need for cheap fuel and cheap heat is ever-mounting. And any job that alleviates pain is recession-proof. Similarly, the National Guard, Border Patrol, homeland security and the defense industry in general will continue to thrive as the next stage in the war on terror continues.”

Work Your Network

Hinson’s new gig came from an old connection. “I’d spoken to the company’s founders about a year ago and stayed in touch,” he says. “Then I ran into one of them at a networking function.” So flip through your Rolodex or business social media contacts and let them know you’re looking.

Sell Yourself

San Francisco PR account executive Samantha Rubenstein launched a job search just as the economy began to flag. After three months, she got a great offer from Atomic PR. She attributes her success to doing more than learning about the company. “Preparation [includes] learning how to talk about yourself in a meaningful and powerful way,” she says. “I created a list of potential interview questions and typed up bulleted answers to create speaking points.”

Consider Freelancing

Russ Carr, a designer and writer in St. Louis, has twice had a line on a job only to see it slip away when the employer lost a key account or decided to distribute the duties among current employees. To keep some money coming in, Carr started freelancing. “I haven’t stopped trying to shop myself for a full-time gig again, but freelancing certainly has kept food on the table,” he says. “If you’re in a field that supports it, don’t think twice — just do it.”

Take a Temporary Position

If freelancing isn’t practical, try temping. “Consider interim staffing to fill a temporary slot for work that needs to be done despite the economy,” advises Ronald Torch, president and CEO of the Torch Group, a marketing staffing firm in Cleveland. Or temp with a company that interests you. “Many of these options pay well and can carry the burden of bill-paying until a permanent position comes along,” he says.

Sweat the Small Stuff

“Don’t forget the personal touches,” counsels Felicia Miller, assistant director of career services at the Art Institute of Las Vegas. “Don’t use a template cover letter — make sure each letter addresses specific skills or qualities the company is looking for. And always send a thank-you note or email after the interview. Use this correspondence as an opportunity to revisit weak areas of your interview.”

Stay Positive

The most important thing when searching for a job in tough economic times is to retain a positive attitude, says Carol Vecchio, founder and executive director of Centerpoint Institute for Life and Career Renewal in Seattle. “Even in a job market with 10 percent unemployment, there’s 90 percent employment,” she says. “There is an average of over 3 million jobs available in the US per month — and each job seeker is looking for one. Those are pretty good odds.”

Struggling to find a great job in a bad economy can be a drag, but undertaking even a few of these tips will improve your chances of landing a gig. “Remember it doesn’t matter how many jobs are or aren’t out there,” Vecchio says. “You’re just looking for one — the right one for you.”

Our hope at fatekeep.com is that we can assist in making it easier for you to find a great job/career.

Finding a job is one of the most challenging tasks we have to face at many points in our life. It is very important to stay positive during the process and not to become discouraged. You must work hard at applying to as many relevant jobs you like and/or feel qualified for.

Early in my career before email and online applications was the norm. I used to fax my resume to as many places I could. I told myself that I would send my resume to a minimum of 60 different companies a day. At one point I became so obsessed with send my resume to companies I stopped looking at the available jobs. I decided that it was up to them to see if I were qualified for their current openings.

In today’s job market that would not work very well as companies get hundreds of applications a day. The lesson that can be applied from my story is to give yourself a target number of relevant applications to submit everyday. It is a numbers game to a certain degree, you will find a job eventually it all depends on how hard you try to find/apply for one and how well you have made your resume. The most important thing is constant vigilance. Keep your chin up, there is a job out there with your name on it.