Mark Hirschfeld

Early in my career I was looking for ways to showcase my leadership skills. I had some experience at work, but strengthened my case with volunteer activities.

I wasn’t paid for this work, but that didn’t mean the experience was without value. In one of my volunteer activities I learned a lot of getting a group of people with different ideas to work together and to manage the conflict that naturally arises from the collaboration.

If you have these experiences, highlight them when they help you tell your story.

Don’t have any volunteer experiences? Not to worry. Even in the midst of the pandemic, you can find ways to volunteer and help out.

Importantly, volunteer where you feel you can make a difference and do so because the cause is worthy, and as a benefit you gain some skills as well.

Where I live there are thousands of nonprofits who need help, and I bet where you live there are plenty of good choices.

There are training videos on the web site of my faith community. This content is free: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources

I’m not mechanically inclined… at all.

But when our vacuum cleaner quit recently, instead of asking for help I sat down, took my time, and figured out what needed to be done.

It wasn’t easy, but rather than saying “that’s something I can’t do”, I changed my mindset.

Researchers have learned that our mindset can impact how we deal with change. Some of us have a “fixed” mindset, and feel we often can’t make changes in our life. Others have more of a “growth” mindset, where we are open to learning and new experiences.

In the job search, a “growth” mindset can be a positive asset.

Some “fixed” mindsets that could hurt your search:

“I don’t know anyone at that company.”

“I don’t have the right qualifications.”

“I could never learn how to network.”

You CAN change, you CAN grow.

Check your mindsets, and then get out there and make this day productive.

Want to learn more about these mindsets? Go to: https://tinyurl.com/y2s4l7m5

There are free training videos on the web site of my faith community. Please pass along: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources

As part of the hiring process you may be asked to complete an assessment by a prospective employer. In some cases these assessments are conducted early in the process, while in others they may one of the final steps.

The objective for the employer is to gain additional insights about whether you will be successful. The quality and use of these assessments varies, and hopefully the prospective employer is acting responsibly in their use.

As a job seeker, here are a few things to keep in mind:

~ Take this seriously. The decision to hire you will weigh, in part, on the results.

~ Don’t worry about what “you think they want you to say”. Answer in a way that is reflective of you.

~ To the degree you can, keep your accomplishments and strengths in mind.

~ Also keep in mind the job for which you are being hired.

Are these assessments perfect? No, but they can helpful to a company in getting a sense of who you are. They are a part of telling your story.

It’s a new day. Let’s make something of it.

There are free training videos on the web site of my faith community: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources

You’ve seen these books, right? There is now a series of “Chicken Soup” books, but that wasn’t always the case. Jack Canfield reportedly got 144 rejection letters before he finally got a yes.

And the rest is publishing history.

I hope you don’t get 144 rejections before you find your job, but rejection is part of the process.

It never feels good.

So what can you do?

• Ask if an employer who rejected you will offer some feedback, and keep what they say in mind.
• Ask networking contacts for feedback, including what they know about you and what they know about employers you are targeting.
• Continue to work your plan, every day, recognizing that you are taking steps that are within your control.
• If you have difficulties that impact your health, seek help.

There are training videos on the web site of my faith community and a handout. This content is free: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources

As a guy who grew up in a railroad town, I learned there was more than one track that can get you where you want to go. When it comes to your job search, you too can have more than one track.

Here are examples of job search tracks:

~ Same job, same industry.

~ Same job, different industry.

~ Different job, same industry.

~ Different job, different industry.

~ Self-employment.

With each of these tracks you would develop a different plan, approach different networking contacts, research different topics, and prepare your communications differently. For example, with “different job, same industry” you might use a functional resume to highlight your strengths, where with “same job, same industry” a more traditional chronological resume might be fine.

You could have two tracks to your job search, and can advance both at the same time.

Determine you goals. Make your plan. Do your homework. Tell your story.

Make it a great day.

There are free training videos on the web site of my faith community: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources

Dr. M. Scott Peck said that delaying gratification “is a process of scheduling the pain and pleasure of life in such a way as to enhance the pleasure of life by meeting and experiencing the pain first and getting it over with. It is the only decent way to live.”

When it comes to the job search, there is a lot of “pain” you should experience first:

~ Do some of the tasks you don’t want to do early in the week.

~ If you have a list of things to do for the day, do the unpleasant ones first thing in the morning.

Most job seekers don’t like to make cold calls, including networking contacts. But they’re essential to your success. Do those first.

A former colleague found some old seat belts. He clamped them to his desk chair and would strap himself in until he made all his calls.

So strap in, and do it early. Once you have those unpleasant tasks done you can celebrate and benefit from the effort. Delay your procrastination—you’ll be glad you did.

It’s another day. Let’s make it productive.

There are free training videos on the web site of my faith community. Please pass along: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources

There’s a joke about a man who was stopped for speeding. The police officer asked where he was going, and the man said: “I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m making record time”.

I see many job seekers who don’t know where they’re going and making record time.

You want to have a plan:

~ It should include the jobs for which you feel best suited and will pay what you are worth.

~ Your plan should identify employers you believe are good places for you to work, based on research about their cultures and employee ratings.

~ And you know who you should be networking with and how people you know can introduce you to others you don’t know who can help advance your search.

In your desire to get a job you might feel like you need to apply for every job you see. You’ll likely end up wasting not only your time but that of the recruiters who will think: “why in the world did this person apply?”

Don’t be aimless—take charge of your plan and work your plan. Make adjustments as necessary. You’ll be glad you did.

There are training videos on the web site of my faith community and a handout. This content is free: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources

While most of us want our dream job, the reality is we may have to settle for something less.

If an ideal job isn’t available, you can chose a “bridge job”, which I define as less than ideal but one you can be employed now and use to “bridge” to that better opportunity.

Sometimes a bridge job is just about getting a paycheck. But here are some other ways you can think about this tactic:

• Learn a new skill. Consider bridge jobs where you can learn a new skill or gain experience that would make you more valuable for your future dream job.
• Make new contacts. Choose a job where you could make some contacts that could help you in your career.
• Be awesome in your bridge job so that you earn a reference.

Not all bridge jobs are created equal. If you choose this route, pick a bridge job that helps you move forward, which gets you from one side of the bridge to the other.

It’s a great day. Let’s get out of our Hobbit hole and take a step toward finding that new job.

There are training videos on the web site of my faith community. This content is free: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources

I reached out to ten folks who’ve been in the job search coaching business to help identify the most commons mistakes job interviewees make:

1. Being unprepared, including not doing homework to understand the employer and the job,
2. Not using your understanding of the prospective employer to ask your own questions,
3. Being late,
4. Speaking poorly of a former employer or boss,
5. Lying,
6. Failing to give responses that showcase results you have provided that can help them contribute to their success,
7. Having a bad attitude,
8. Not following up after the interview,
9. Sharing too much information that isn’t relevant to the job, and
10. Inappropriate dress.

The good news is each of these mistakes can be easily avoided—prepare, prepare, prepare.

It’s a new day. Let’s make it a great one.

There are training videos on the web site of my faith community and a handout. This content is free. Please pass along: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources

Do you know the saying “you’re too far into the forest to see the trees?”

This can happen in the job search. You get so focused on all the tasks that you can’t see the trees.

You could be busy, but not productive.

At least every other week I recommend you stop and ask yourself the following questions, either on your own or with your coach:

• What feedback have I received about my search? How can I build upon that feedback?
• Has there been an “unexpected success”, where I got a positive advance that I wasn’t expecting?
• If I received a rejection, what feedback did I receive?

Based on those questions, amend your job search plan using this method:

• What will I START, where I begin something I haven’t done before?
• What will I STOP, because doing that is not helpful to my search?
• What will I CONTINUE to do that will help me advance my search?

This “start, stop, continue” exercise, done based on working “on” your search, can help align your efforts and keep you moving forward in your search.

It’s a new day. Let’s get started.

There are training videos on the web site of my faith community. This content is free: https://www.thetablempls.com/jobresources