Thanks to Dave O'Farrell and the leaders of JobSeekers of Peachtree City for today's newsletter. Read on:
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: God is at Work in Our Careers
2. Success Story: Proactive, Positive and Prayerful – Roach Lands a Job
3. This Week's Meeting: Improving Your P&L (Probing and Listening) Skills
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, three 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: God is at Work in Our Careers
This week I will share my testimony of how God was orchestrating a wonderful series of events that led to where I am today: running my own business and leading the JobSeekers ministry. Throughout it all, God was at work in my career.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -- Jeremiah 29:11
Starting my search. Someone quoted this scripture at my first JobSeekers meeting on 11 February 2000. I'd read it before, but when you have a good job, you tend to gloss over a passage like this. When your world gets turned upside down, it takes on a whole new meaning!
Actually, I missed an important word that Ward Hunter, the speaker, said. What I heard was, "For know the plans I have for you …" Notice that I missed the personal pronoun "I." This was key to the lesson I was to learn that year: God knew his plan for me and was at work in my career, even when I couldn't see what he was doing.
I came to JobSeekers of PTC as a participant; two months later I moved into a leadership role. When Ernie Childs announced he had to step down, the other leaders turned their heads in unison and looked at me. For several months I held the dual role of participant and facilitator. Like the guy who runs The Hair Club for Men, "I'm not just the president, I'm also a client." Late that year (November) I won a great contract assignment that allowed me to continue in the leadership role.
A season of disappointments. Leading the group was a great experience, but I suffered many disappointments in my own job search along the way. The first one came a few days after the NASDAQ crashed on 10 March 2000. My former boss was looking to hire me into his new company; I was to be a key player in developing a new division of a dot-com. He called me on 13 March to say they were going to have to delay my written job offer. It never came, and by the end of the year he was forced to leave this once red-hot company.
The rest of the spring and summer brought many other disappointments. One gentleman, the managing director of the Atlanta office of a well-known training and consulting company, said I was the most polished and professional person he had ever interviewed, then he gave the job to someone else! It was one test of faith after another.
JobSeekers gave me the spiritual lift I needed to face another week. No matter how bad I felt, I could count on JobSeekers to pick me up. As the facilitator of the meetings, I admit that I feigned cheerfulness and enthusiasm more than once, but by the time the meeting was over, I never left JobSeekers feeling down.
After that first disappointment six weeks into my search, I spent the rest of the time looking for what I believed was right for me: another job selling training and consulting services to HR or sales executives. What I didn't realize -- and couldn't see -- was that God was working in the background all along. I teach folks to ask God for what they want, but to be willing to take what God gives them; it will be better than what they asked for.
A gentle nudge.
In October (10/12/2000) I called a friend to do some networking. Debbie said they had a position with her company that was just what I was looking for. The only problem was that the person needed to be located in Portland or Seattle. I ditched that right away. After pausing for a few seconds, Debbie said I would be perfect for another position that was open: senior training consultant. I interviewed in Philadelphia on the day Bush and Gore tied. The interview included an "audition" for Linda Richardson, the CEO. It was, at that point, the most frightening experience of my life.
The key to Debbie recommending me for the position was the fact that she had seen me present many times at the local ASTD meetings -- an association of trainers. The lesson here is to get involved in professional associations; but don't just go -- take on a leadership role!
God was at work in my career.
The key to me winning that job was the fact that I'd been leading the JobSeeker meetings for about six months. Each week, I had an audience of about 20 professionals, which happens to be the same size and level of group that Richardson works with. I didn't realize it, but God was giving me a rehearsal each week in preparation for that audition. When the Linda Richardson walked out of the room after my audition, the COO said, "Oh she loved you!" She went on to explain that Linda had interviewed thousands of trainers and only a handful had ever been hired. Upon reflection, I doubt I would have made it if I'd interviewed even six weeks sooner. As I led those JobSeeker meetings in the summer of 2000, God was at work in my career.
My time with Richardson made me a much stronger career coach and outplacement consultant; I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I've taught consultative selling skills at companies like Dell, Bank of America, Sears, GlaxoSmithKline and KPMG Consulting. I have incorporated what I learned at Richardson into my ministry and my business. As I traveled all over the country in 2001, 2002 and 2003, God was at work in my career.
The contract job was a stepping-stone to something better.
Little did I realize that working for Richardson was merely preparation for running my own business. I led a lot of role-plays at Richardson, and one thing that was sorely lacking at my previous outplacement company was rehearsals for networking and interviewing. The sales and communications skills I taught at Richardson are very easily transferred to job search. Turns out it was ideal training for me and my new business.
As I mentioned, the job allowed me to be in town more Friday's than not. Without any effort on my part, I often found myself flying back to Atlanta on a Thursday night. The contract work also allowed me to do career coaching on an ad hoc basis; nothing dangerous here, the majority of my income was coming from Richardson. But I was developing my own strategy, tools and skills to start my own business.
Five clear signals.
Five things happened in quick succession that proved to me beyond a reasonable doubt that God wanted me to take the plunge into my own full-time business. (1) In the post 9/11 economy Richardson's business changed; their instructor-led training business began to taper off. They had the class to call me and the other consultants to let us know that less work was on the horizon. (2) Dave Rottschafer, who leads the devotional at JobSeekers three or four times a year, asked me if I wanted to look for office space with him. (3) My brother-in-law gave me a bunch of office furniture when his company upgraded. (4) More people approached me and asked if I could help with their job search (or the search of a departing employee). And (5) A friend gave me a book, "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat" by John Ortberg. It's about doing something bold; it's about responding to the call that God places on our hearts. Another friend gave me "Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance" by Bob Buford. With God orchestrating these five things, I had little choice but to do something bold. I rented an office and incorporated my business.
God was -- and is -- at work in my career. By God's grace, it's been a very rewarding few years. The reward comes when someone says I made a difference in their journey of faith, or when they say they found a job that is ideal for them, or simply that they have received hope and encouragement from the JobSeeker ministry. This has happened 20 times in the past 15 days – no joke, no exaggeration – clients (9), former clients (3) and JobSeekers (8) are finding jobs. I told some friends recently that I serve at God's pleasure -- and I hope he wants me to do this for a long time to come!
Here are three key lessons I've learned and want to share with you:
1. Pray. Pray for wisdom and discernment. God will speak to you through others, through assessments, during times of quite reflection, or in the middle of a parade (this really happened to a JobSeeker in July 2004 at the PTC Independence Day parade).
2. Work hard. Work hard at what you believe God wants you to pursue. Ecclesiastes 9:10a says, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might."
3. Be open when God leads you in a different destination. If you are on the wrong path, he will lead you where he wants you to go -- as long as you seek him with all your heart.
God is at work in your career.
Friends, I can assure you that God is at work in your career. He has a plan and a purpose for your life and career; plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a future with hope. I know that no matter where you are now, no matter where you think you are going, he can lead you to where he wants you to be. Whatever he has in mind for you is better than what you've asked for.
See you tomorrow at the place where we experience God's abundant grace!
Copyright © 2010 / Dave O'Farrell / All Rights Reserved
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. Success Story: Proactive, Positive and Prayerful – Roach Lands a Job
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.
Last week five of our 48 members came to JobSeekers to say "farewell and good luck." Linda was one of them. For those of you who couldn't be there last week, here is her story. Congratulations, good luck and God bless you Linda!
- - - - -
Hello Dave!
Good news, yes, the torch has passed to me – I received, and accepted, a job offer...Work begins Monday...
I lost my job on July 29th and the very next morning I attended my first JobSeekers meeting, based on a recommendation from two people I knew. It made the difference from spiraling downward to remaining positive. Little did I know that I'd also become friends with some very cool people, and that we'd form a small accountability group; accountable for meeting goals that we set each week. Thank you for encouraging everyone at JobSeekers, Dave, and for all you and the Ship's Crew do to help job seekers. You have an outstanding program, an outstanding crew, and the messages and exercises are always very meaningful. Linda Wells is also to be thanked for her continued presence, and willingness to provide free classes. Everyone needs to attend them!
Above all, God was with me, and I praise and thank him for being able to even share this news. I received a text message from a friend the first few days after the loss of my job. She knew I was feeling down and she confirmed that the King of all Kings had a plan for me and was on my side and that His plan would be revealed when He was ready. I believed it and read it whenever I was tempted to feel "down." I was diligent, daily, in my job search for two solid months, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM. Every Monday through Friday, I got up, showered, dressed for work and went upstairs to the home office. I kept a positive attitude...I was busy networking, researching, responding to some ads, networking some more, and learning more about LinkedIn – an invaluable tool, by the way! I didn't rest much outside of job searching. I started volunteering more at my church and met some awesome people who have been praying for me as well.
God rewarded me for my diligence, my faith in Him, and my servant heart. Yesterday I sat down to have my lunch, and before I asked for the blessing of the food, I said the Lord's Prayer and prayed about my job search and asked God to forgive me for starting to feel some frustration again. I said I knew that He had a plan and only He knew when and where this job would happen to be. I had interviewed with two companies almost two weeks ago and had not heard back from them, even though I had left email and voice messages. I needed to hear something – if I was being considered, or if I should cross them off my list. I prayed that God would send me some message today, if one of these jobs was meant to be. You know the rest. God is good.
My best to you and JobSeekers,
(name withheld)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. This Week's Meeting: Improving Your P&L (Probing and Listening) Skills
This week's session will make you more effective in your networking and interviewing of course, but it will also make you more effective in all your communications – as a parent, spouse, salesperson, entrepreneur or whatever. Come to JobSeekers tomorrow to become more effective at building rapport, questioning and listening. 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!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 9 November 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment