Here's another great post from Dave O'Farrell, who directs Jobseekers of Peachtree City, GA:
"1. Inspiration: We Reap What We Sow
Todd called me on Tuesday to tell me he'd just accepted a job. Only 14 days prior, he'd called to say he'd been liberated by another company. Wow, a two-week job search. Naturally, he got the job through a friend. The timing was perfect; the timing was of God. The seeds of success were sown 18-24 months ago. Todd reaped what he had sown.
In last Friday's devotional at JobSeekers, Emily compared managing our careers to tending a garden. It sounds like we have a theme going here.
Several years ago another JobSeeker...wrote to me about some networking success he'd had. He said, "I'm convinced that networking is like planting seeds. Some will germinate, but it may take a while. The seeds need ongoing attention to help them grow."
It occurred to me that Jesus told a similar story; it's known as the parable of the sower, found in Matthew 13:1-9 and 18-23:
(1-9) That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop -- a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."
(18-23) "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
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Jesus was talking about those who hear the Good News in this parable. The way we respond to the call of God has eternal consequences. The cool thing about parables is that they teach truths about our time here on earth as well. I believe this parable is where we get the phrase, "We reap what we sow."
When it comes to job search, this parable teaches us that we experience the consequences of our actions. The seeds and soil represent the way we sow (use) our strategy, tools and skills:
1. Along the path.
Job boards may seem like the path of least resistance, but Jesus teaches us that the evil one snatches our seed away. Of the four places to scatter seed, this is the only one where Jesus mentions Satan. Satan loves it when we rely on ad response because thousands of birds are snatching our résumés away before employers get to see them. Responding to ads gives us false hope.
I hear those of you scattering seeds along the path saying, "Dave, I don't know what's wrong, I've sent out 50 résumés and haven't heard a thing back."
2. In rocky places.
This represents those of us who begin networking with joy, but when trouble comes we quickly fall away. We give it a try but quickly let it go when it fails to produce a crop. We get pumped up on Friday, but by the time the sun comes up on Monday, we revert to job boards or fall into depression or get distracted by competing priorities.
Those of you who sow in rocky places say, "I've tried networking; I called someone and left a message and they didn't call me back. Networking works for other people, but not for me."
3. Among the thorns.
Here we are networking hard, but worries and deceitfulness choke our enthusiasm out, making our efforts unfruitful. We try networking and have some success, but get bogged down for a couple of reasons: "analysis paralysis" and "all eggs in one basket." Sometimes we get so focused on one job that if it doesn't bear fruit, there are no other seeds that have broken the surface, so we have to start the cycle again by sowing more seeds.
Those of you who sow among the thorns say, "I'm interviewing for a job and I need to focus all my attention on this one so I don't blow it."
4. On good soil.
Those of us who sow in good soil produce a crop 100, 60 or 30 times what we sow. Like Todd and Ken, we "get it." We know that producing a crop a crop takes time and informed effort. We sow some seed every day. We nurture the seed we've already sown. We do our best to give it the right amount of sunlight, water and fertilizer. We pull weeds and prune. Over time our efforts yield a crop -- one or more job offers.
For those of you who sow in good soil, I hear you saying things like, "I met with my advisory board and they've given me some new ideas." "That call didn't go so well, but I'm not giving up." "I asked a friend for help and you won't believe what happened."
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Which of these four characterizes your search? When you look around at your garden, are birds snatching your message and flying away? Do you try networking but quickly revert to job boards? Have you zeroed in on one thing to the exclusion of all others? Or do you accept disappointment and failure as part of the process of success?
ACTION ITEM: As soon as you finish reading this message, I challenge you to call three friends and ask for advice, information and/or referrals (AIR). Plant some seeds like Todd and Ken did.
Come to JobSeekers tomorrow and let us know what happened.
Copyright © 2010 / Dave O'Farrell / All Rights Reserved
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2. Success Story: Collins Uses Lesson on Friday to Land Job on Monday
We love to hear from you when you land a new position. Please write and let us know how you found your job, what you learned from the experience, and how JobSeekers helped you.
People who come to JobSeekers learn skills that help them land good jobs, close to home, in minimum time. Last week our topic was "Improving Your P&L (Probing and Listening) Skills."
When asked what the secret is to impressing a recruiter, Diane Borhani, recruiting director at Deloitte said, "Display a great attitude as well as a strong work ethic. Understand who we are and what we do. Demonstrate your level of interest and preparation not only by emphasizing relevant strengths, but also by asking insightful questions."
Sounds like Brian C. asked some insightful questions. He learned how on Friday, used his skills on Monday morning and got a job offer on Monday afternoon. Come to JobSeekers tomorrow; you might learn something that helps you land a job next week.
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Hi Dave and Linda,
I'd like to say thanks to you and all the other members of the Ship's Crew at JobSeekers. You've helped me stay focused, determined and motivated for these five weeks since I was liberated. The sessions encouraged me to stay busy, and reinforced to me that sitting still is not an option between jobs.
As Dave was giving advice this past Friday about "P&L" skills in interviewing, I got a phone call to set up an interview for this morning at General Dynamics here in Peachtree City. I interviewed against two other well-qualified candidates. They called me a little while ago and offered me the position. The P&L session was very timely and was a great help.
All the JobSeekers sessions have been very helpful, and Linda's résumé class helped me get my résumé in proper shape.
The job is a contract position that will likely have me looking again in a year or so; I will be back at JobSeekers if necessary, because the advice and support from the Ship's Crew and from other liberated professionals is invaluable.
Thank you again, and God bless you.
-- Brian
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3. This Week's Meeting: Selling Yourself with Your Value Proposition
Recruiters and employers say that the O'Farrell résumé format is the best, or one of the best, they have ever seen. Come to JobSeekers tomorrow to find out what makes it so powerful, and learn how to make your résumé stand out against the hundreds of other candidates with whom you are competing. You'll be glad you did!
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 11 May 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."
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."
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