Thanks to Dave O'Farrell, of JobSeekers of Peachtree City, for today's devotional and job search advice:
Jobseekers of Peachtree City
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: How to Make Your Job Search 40 Times Easier
2. Success Story: Snauwaert Negotiates Higher Salary
3. This Week's Meeting: Deal or No Deal: Evaluating and Negotiating the Offer
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JobSeekers of PTC was featured on 11Alive, the NBC affiliate here in Atlanta, a couple of weeks ago. Thanks to Chris Sweigert for putting this story together. Click here to view the article and video, and then go get your one job!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Inspiration: How to Make Your Job Search 40 Times Easier
Sometimes I get tired of hearing folks say, "My accomplishment this week was applying for 20 jobs." Here's another one: "Dave, I don't know what's wrong, I've sent out 50 résumés and haven't heard a thing back." Friends, if you "want to hear something back," you'll need to send out about 1,950 more résumés before you do!
AD RESPONSE and DIRECT MAIL PRODUCE ONLY 5% of JOB SEARCH RESULTS!
About 10 years ago I documented the story of a client who tried the direct mail approach to no avail. This happened when I worked for a large career management firm on the north side of Atlanta. The client happened to live in Peachtree City, so we were both 50 miles from home.
Jeff had read Rites of Passage at $100,000 Plus. The author, John Lucht, basically says to wallpaper the country with résumés. Jeff believed this lie and demanded that we send his résumé and cover letter to over 2,000 companies. He said he didn't need any of our other services because he'd read Lucht's book. The cost to us was high -- we calculated $1.25 per letter with the stamp, envelope, paper, toner and administrative time -- but we agreed to do it if he wouldn't burden our other resources.
He sent 2,000 letters and got six responses.
Only one resulted in a face-to-face interview; it was in Houston. He didn't make it to the second round. When you think about it, we paid $2,500 for one interview.
You might have better luck than Jeff did, but even if you did four times better, that would still be 500 résumés. If you've only sent out 50 so far, you've got ten times more work to do!
Make it easy on yourself. Pick up the phone and start networking.
Networking is 40 times more effective than ad response or direct mail. If you are spending more than four or five hours per week on this almost useless activity, Satan has won a victory over you.
The cosmic battle for our hearts begins in our minds. It begins with temptation, negative thoughts or harmful words. Satan's strategy is to get us so distracted, so insecure and so hurt that our job search takes months or years longer than it should. This impacts our self-esteem, our finances and our relationships -- especially our marriages. Ultimately it affects our relationship with God.
Watch out for these three ways the devil gets a foothold:
1. Temptation
Temptation can be so subtle that we don't even realize that we are giving in to our human nature or our sinful self. One definition of temptation is anything that keeps us from doing the good we know we ought to be doing. James 4:17 says, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." It happens to me sometimes. I go on the Internet to get a company description off of a website, for instance. How long do you think that would take? I'd say two minutes or less. Guess how long I meander on the website? I'd say 20 minutes or more. As an entrepreneur, I'm a permanent job seeker. The price I paid for the meandering was one sales call; one call could be worth thousands of dollars to me, just as it could be to you.
Distractions are one of Satan's favorite weapons. You could make your own list; here are a few things you've reported to me: the Internet in general, FaceBook specifically, TV, errands, chores and projects. When you are wasting time, you are flirting with the devil himself.
2. Negative thoughts
Negative thoughts invade our minds. Fear. Worry. Self doubt. We are afraid of rejection, we're worried we won't find a job before our money runs out; we're filled with thoughts that we are too old, or overqualified, or in the wrong industry. Negative thoughts enter our minds and they roll off our tongues. Negative thoughts lead to negative words, tone and body language in interviews. We don't get the job. Satan wins this battle.
One time I was speaking to a client who'd had a disappointing interview. At the end of the interview, the interviewer said he noticed my client had a negative attitude toward his last two employers. I told him that's great news because now he knows exactly what he has to work on in order to succeed in the next interview. He sent a very appreciative thank you note to the interviewer the next day.
3. Harmful words
Harmful words can send us even farther down the spiral. "We chose another candidate," are some of the most difficult words for us to hear. However, if you look at it in a positive light, you won't have to waste your time on that lead; you can focus on other opportunities. You can look at rejection as one step closer to your goal, or you can look at it as another reason to feel defeated and depressed. The choice is yours.
Harmful words can come from those who love us most. They don't intend to hurt us, but they do; and the consequences can be eternal. For example, when Peter told Jesus he shouldn't go to Jerusalem for Holy Week, Jesus said, "Get behind me Satan" (Matthew 16:21-23).
- - - - - - -
Solution: Don't lose heart. Don't lose hope. Don't give the devil a foothold. Recognize the enemy. Submit yourselves to the Lord. Here are three behaviors you can use to make your job search faster and easier:
1. Recognize the enemy.
If you are a Christian, the best the devil may be able to do is make your life miserable -- to steal the abundant life God has planned for you. Recognize these things for what they really are. They are Satan's deceptions. "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." -- John 10:10 NKJV
2. Submit yourselves to God.
If you are not a Christian, God is saying to you that there is a better way. He is the way, the truth and the life. He wants you to live an abundant, joyful life. If you are a Christian, walk by faith and not by sight. "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you." -- James 4:7-8
3. Fight back.(
You want to change your luck? Fight back. Prayerfully resist temptation, negative thoughts and harmful words. Recognize the enemy. Submit yourselves to God. You want to change your luck? Quit surfing the net. Get focused on high pay-off activities. Do something different. Reach out to as many people as you can and ask for help. You will improve your results by a factor of 40.
When people start coming to JobSeekers their "luck" often changes. We have a three-part, 30-second introduction where everyone tells what they are seeking, a little bit about their background, and one accomplishment for the past week. We get an informal survey of what's working and what's not every week. A newcomer learns that the people with the most activity and the most interviews are the ones who are doing the most networking. A wise job seeker is not only a hearer of this advice, but a doer as well.
This week we will learn and practice skills that will make you a more effective networker and job candidate. You will be on your way to making your search 40 times easier (and maybe four times faster).
See you tomorrow at JobSeekers, where we not only hear God's word, but act upon it as well!
Copyright © 2010 / Dave O'Farrell / All Rights Reserved
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This Week's Meeting: Deal or No Deal: Evaluating and Negotiating the Offer
The purpose of this session is to help you get what you're worth when the offer finally comes in. We'll help you avoid some potential landmines along the way, give you a broader perspective on what a total compensation package is, and we'll discuss having that delicate conversation about compensation and benefits.
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!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 12 October 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 6 November. This is a community service of Living Hope Christian Fellowship, 5885 Mallory Road, College Park, Georgia 770-306-9922.
New Hope Baptist Church
Career Transition Workshop at North Campus Missions Center
Wednesdays, October 13-27 6-8PM
***Must register for class and complete online assessment prior to class***
To register call or email Lesley Deyton at 770-461-4337 x884 / lesleyd@newhopebc.org.
If you are looking for work or considering changing careers, this workshop is for you. Free gift assessment and workbook will help you discover how God has equipped you. Résumé assistance and interview skills are also extensively covered. This workshop is designed to help you find the job(s) that you are gifted for and make the best first impression to land that job! Workshop led by Bruce King.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Published by:
Dave O'Farrell
O'Farrell Career Management
Career Coaching and Outplacement Consulting
21 Eastbrook Bend, Suite 217
Peachtree City, Georgia 30269
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."
# # #
Click here to unsubscribe or change your e-mail preferences.
No comments:
Post a Comment