Lexington, KY - For most of us, job change was assumed to be a natural part of career transition, a necessity as we advanced to better paying jobs and more rewarding opportunities.
Then, the tsunami known as the Great Recession came ashore. It wreaked havoc as workers were unexpectedly terminated, even those with lengthy seniority. Downsizing and rightsizing were only part of the deluge; company closings were in the forecast almost daily.
As thousands were forced to face the aftermath, many discovered that the standard job search is no longer effective. The problem is finding what does work.
Jay Block's "101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times," is a timely, superbly written blueprint to start constructing a new job and career. Block, a career coach, has drawn up plans that help you go far beyond the standard resume building. In fact, he suggests erasing the idea of a job search from the drawing board.
Politicians, he explains, are seeking to be "hired" for office. To do so, they do not conduct a political "search." Instead, they conduct a strategic campaign. This new way of strategic thinking is essential to gain control over your future, secure opportunities and, most importantly, enjoy the process, Block says.
Block suggests the processes he shares are appropriate for the laid-off seasoned professional as well as the new graduate. His ideas are both challenging and realistic. In sharing his own story of near-bankruptcy and renewed success, he comes across as both an empathetic teacher and someone who has also been in the trenches.
The strategic campaign he recommends is a five-step process: (1) learning how to ride the emotional roller-coaster; (2) defining your goal; (3) using value-based resumes and self-marketing tools; (4) creating a meticulous action plan; and (5) taking action.
Even if you are not currently looking for employment, read the first section of this book. Block tells us that the most valuable asset an individual has (including during difficult economic times) is not a job, a savings account or skills and qualifications. Your most valuable asset, he says, is your thoughts - "your ability to think, and, more importantly, your ability to change how you think."
Beliefs are the most important indicator of outcome, he argues. When experiencing a job loss, many see the event as "devastating, humiliating, and painful," he says. Changing your belief about job loss is the first step in redefining your future and improving your income. Controlling how you think will affect your life more than almost anything else, Block says. Becoming aware of beliefs allows you to determine whether they are empowering or limiting yourself. Once you have accomplished that, you are ready to begin the rest of Block's proposed process.
Awareness of your beliefs lays the foundation for effectively managing fear and emotions when adversity strikes. Losing a job is among the most painful occurrences in life, Block says, and landing a new position is possible only when you begin to manage your fears and emotions. This is not simple positive thinking, Block says; it is also proactive action.
Emotional state affects your performance, just as it does a world-class athlete, the author suggests. Superior skills don't always win; usually it's the individual with stronger character and an unstoppable mindset. Invoking the use of a variation of Socratic method of inquiry, Block suggests utilizing what he terms, "courageous questions." These are questions that inspire appropriate action, no matter the economy or job market. Courageous questions result in "life-enhancing" answers.
Once you've asked the right questions, you can take the next steps to identifying meaningful career goals. These include knowing your signature life and career values and determining what jobs interest you. This is not the stuff of standard testing. It is an in-depth process of introspection that requires investment in you.
Block's discussion of value-based resumes and self-marketing tools is also not the standard protocol of job placement. His design suggestions for tools that communicate an individual's core strengths, values and results abilities are novel and refreshing.
Block concedes that finding a job in troubled times is not easy. Life itself is not about doing what's easy.
"It's about purpose, meaning, passion, love, contribution, sacrifice and hard work," he says.
With teachers like Block, we can also learn that we can come to know ourselves better and enjoy the journey, no matter how difficult it may be.
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