The Road Leading to Employment - Your Life's Work: Part 7 of 10
The road from Bolivia's main city, La Paz, to a region known as the Yungas was built by Paraguayan prisoners of war back in the 1930s. Every year it is estimated 200 to 300 people die on this stretch of road less than 50 miles long. In one year alone, 25 vehicles plunged off the road and into the ravine. That is one every two weeks.
The path we take in a job search reminds me of this treacherous route between these Bolivian cities. Unless we understand where to seek quality job leads, know the direction we are traveling, and are aware of the emotions like fear and discouragement that plague us when looking for meaningful work, we are capable of falling into the ravine of “job search annihilation.”
Let's take a look at these three critical areas you must face in your unique job search:
- First, understand where job leads come from, and don't come from, to avoid wasting your time. The vast majority of them don't come from the newspaper, employment agencies, or the Internet, yet this is where most people spend their job-search energy.
- Have a plan for the job search process. Get prepared, map your route, and execute. Choose companies you know and like, or like the sound of. Visit them, talk to people, send your tailored resume to specific managers or department heads. Don't just look at companies that are advertising positions.
-And, know how to deal with job search discouragement, fear, and laziness. Set your alarm for the same time every day, as though you're "on the clock." Create outlets like exercise and quality time with encouraging friends. Ask someone to hold you accountable to your job search plan.
Most important is to know yourself, and know what you are looking for; a job, career, or a vocation. Spend time seeking work that matches your gifting, abilities, experiences, passions. The employer that matches those will get a matchless employee in you.
 view all news
|
 add to rss |