Jobseekers of Peachtree City

Thanks to JobSeekers of Peachtree City, who allow us to share their weekly newsletter:

Helping People Find Good Jobs, Close to Home, in Minimum Time

Get out and about. Come to JobSeekers this week. Bring a friend.
If you're not looking, forward this message to someone who needs it.

In This Issue
1. Inspiration: Five Principles for Job Search Success
2. Success Story: Neptune Finds a Job in the Hidden Job Market
3. This Week's Meeting: Declaring Your Position Objective
4. Networking: ABC from 10:15 to 11:30
5. Job Leads: Leads and Links in South Metro Atlanta
6. Contact: Chaplain and Ship's Crew
7. Donate: You Could Help Save a Career, a Home or Even a Marriage

JobSeekers of PTC Website | JobSeekers of PTC on LinkedIn

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1. Inspiration: Five Principles for Job Search Success
A few years ago a client said, "I want to find a job so I don't have to work so hard!" I applauded her for realizing a simple truth. She did do the hard work it took to win a new position in the minimum amount of time. As a result of her hard work, she accepted a great position here in Peachtree City three months after she left her last position. She's doing well there too; she's earned a promotion to vice president.

One of my former colleagues liked to say, "Finding a job is a full-time job -- with deferred compensation!" The project you are working on right now will have a payday at the end. How well you manage your project will determine your pay. Here's the point: finding a job is hard work; make sure that the hard work you do is focused on results, not on activity. That means doing lots of networking (results) vs. responding to online ads (activity). Either one can tire you out. Use your energy to your best advantage.

God expects you to work hard. You will earn your pay. Consider the words of King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9:10a, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."

With all this in mind, I've been thinking of people I've spoken to recently who are working hard without success. I offer the following five recommendations to them and to all of you:

Avoid insanity. I think all of us are familiar with Einstein's definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. My question is: "If job boards aren't working for you, why do you keep looking at them for hours and hours every day?" The same is true for your resume, your cover letters, your position objective, your target companies, your interview responses, etc. If any of these aren't working for you, if you've been looking without success, change your approach.

Pray specifically. Try this: instead of praying, "Lord I need a job now. I pray that I'll have one by the end of next week." Pray something like this: "Lord put people and resources in my life to show me where I am and where you want me to be; and help me map out a strategy for getting there." Imagine a farmer who prays on a spring morning, "Lord I need some corn now. I pray that when I go into the fields today the corn will be ripe for picking." Then when he goes into the fields he exclaims, "Prayer isn't working! I don't see any corn!" If he were to pray specifically, what does he need to pray for? Think about this and apply it to your search.

Heed wise counsel. As a career coach and leader of the JobSeekers group, nothing makes me crazier than people who hear the truth (what works) and do the opposite. I've dealt with extreme cases of people who knew where they were, knew where they wanted to be, knew how to get there (through networking) and yet they did not do what it took to achieve success. Friends, every book and every career coach in the U.S. will tell you that networking is the number one way salaried people find jobs. We can't all be wrong.

Work diligently. In Philippians 4:13 Paul says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I use this well-known verse in the meeting several times a year. At the Atlanta Bread Company one time, someone said the key word in that phrase is "do." In other words, it doesn't say, "Christ will do all things for me." Don't pray to God and wait for the phone to ring. Discipline yourself; keep to a work schedule every day of the week; do the right things; work wholeheartedly.

Trust wholeheartedly. Sometimes it's a test of faith. Job search is tough on you, your ego, your relationships, your finances, and your health; it can even be tough on your relationship with God. Don't give up. Don't give in. Remember that you are a child of God; as your loving parent he wants you to have the very best he has to offer. Learn everything you can from this experience and be ready, willing and able to move forward as he guides you. As rough as it is now, job search is a temporary state; there are brighter and better days ahead.

The bottom line is that to be successful in search you have to work smart and work hard. Trust in the Lord and work wholeheartedly, and you will succeed.

See you tomorrow at JobSeekers, where we trust in the Lord -- and work wholeheartedly!

Copyright © 2010 / Dave O'Farrell / All Rights Reserved

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3. This Week's Meeting: Declaring Your Position Objective
Stephen Covey says to "begin with the end in mind."

The Position Objective Statement (POS) is used in networking communications. For some, this is one of the most difficult things they have to do in their job search — decide what they want to do next. Without an objective you are like a wave of the sea — blown and tossed by the wind. With it, you have a sharp focus that helps you sift through all the clutter and work toward a specific goal. Come tomorrow to develop and practice your POS.

Who: All are welcome; the topics are targeted for professionals, managers and executives.

What: JobSeekers is a nondenominational career ministry.

When: Friday mornings from 7:30 to 10:00 am.

Where: First Baptist Church in Peachtree City; 208 Willow Bend Road.

Why: We work with you to find a job, and we walk with you on your journey of faith.

Attire: Business casual.

Agenda: 7:30 coffee / 7:45 welcome and devotional / 8:10 introductions and announcements / 8:45 job search training module / 10:00 adjourn to the Atlanta Bread Company

We look forward to seeing you on Friday!

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4. Networking
Atlanta Bread Company

After the JobSeekers meeting, we go to the ABC from 10:15 to 11:30 for an informal gathering. There's no agenda; we just have fellowship and help each other out.

Newnan First UMC Job Networking Ministry

Come join us at our next meeting on Tuesday 13 April March 6:00 PM.

Meetings are always held the second Tuesday of each month in the Parish Hall of Newnan First United Methodist Church. The church is located at 33 Greenville Street in Newnan. You may reach them by telephone at 770-253-7400 or click here and select "Job Network" under "Resources" on the left side of the home page. We look forward to seeing you there.

College Park Job Seekers

Have a family member, friend or neighbor concerned that they may lose their job, and they cannot take time off to attend a job seekers group? Attend the College Park Job Seekers Group which meets the first Saturday in every month from 9:00 am – 11:30 am. The next meeting is Saturday 1 May. This is a community service of Living Hope Christian Fellowship, 5885 Mallory Road, College Park, Georgia 770-306-9922.

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5. Job Leads
For Employers

Our goal is to help our members find good jobs, close to home, in minimum time. Most of our members are salaried employees from the professional, technical and supervisory level all the way up to general managers and other senior executives. If you have a job lead with the three criteria below let us know.

Please send a brief position profile and tell us how you would like to be contacted. We run the lead for three weeks unless we hear from you to remove or extend the listing.

This service is FREE!

1. The position is salaried; or it is a higher-level hourly position

2. The job is located on this side of Atlanta, especially in Fayette or Coweta County

3. The compensation is not 100% commission-based; this includes MLM's

If your job lead meets these criteria, please submit it before noon on Wednesday.

For JobSeekers

Leads are updated each week, or when I get a chance! Please forgive me if they are a little out of date. Click on this link (or copy-and-paste the following one into your browser) to view this week's jobs:

http://jobseekers-ptc.org/js/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=49&Itemid=71

For more leads go to: JobSeekers of PTC on LinkedIn; go to the 'jobs' tab.

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7. Donate to the JobSeekers' Ministry
You could help save a career, a home or even a marriage.

Job loss puts stress on our health, our finances, our relationships, our churches, and our community. Ultimately is affects our walk with the Lord and the kingdom of God. Your donations have helped save marriages, health, homes, college educations, and cross-country relocations. You can help alleviate these challenges for someone else by donating to the ongoing ministry of JobSeekers. Please send your tax-deductible donation to:

JobSeekers of PTC
P.O. Box 2124
Peachtree City, GA 30269

There's another way to donate: with the generous gift of your time. We are seeking to add to our Ship's Crew. We need a group of dedicated men and women who can come to most of the meetings on Friday and establish relationships with our new and existing members. Let me know if you are interested.

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Published by:

Dave O'Farrell
O'Farrell Career Management
Career Coaching and Outplacement Consulting
21 Eastbrook Bend, Suite 217
Peachtree City, Georgia 30269

http://www.linkedin.com/in/daveofarrell
dave@ofarrell-cm.com
www.ofarrell-cm.com
770-486-6289 office
770-823-2710 cell

"Helping people put their lives back together and get their careers back on track."