Drive Your Career Change ? A Direct Approach
If your career has gone off the road, take control and drive back to job satisfaction with a direct approach.
When you're looking for that new job or a career move it's easy to think that 'they' hold all the cards.
But if you can change the way you think about it, you can get back in the driving seat, and after all, this is your career we're talking about.
Remember 'they' don't hire you for the sake of it; they hire you to help them make a profit!
So two things first - how you are (attitude) and how you react (the way you see things)
1 Attitude
Everyone goes on about positive mental attitude, don't they? But what does it mean?
To some extent we can all have some influence over what happens to us. I don't mean to say that we can make everything go right all the time, but we can hold an attitude of expecting things to go right
If we expect things to go well they're more likely to.
If we expect things to go badly they probably will.
So even if everything doesn't go right we can get past the things that go wrong so much easier. This is what I mean by positive mental attitude.
2 The way you see things
? Instead of thinking they're in charge, why not try 'I'm in charge'
? Instead of waiting to be chosen, decide what you want and present some proposals;
? Instead of dreading interviews, think of yourself influencing key decision-makers;
? Instead of scouring the adverts, read them as sources of inside information;
? Instead of worrying about vacancies, think of them as needs waiting to be met;
? Instead of having to accept the offered terms, think how you can negotiate;
? Instead of them getting what they want, you both get what you want.
Job banks, search engines, job listings, and job guides are all useful tools in your employment search; however they won't find you the unadvertised jobs. Statistics show that perhaps up to 60% of all jobs are unadvertised and are found informally - that is to say through networking and the direct approach - so the unadvertised jobs are what you really need to uncover.
You can uncover these unadvertised jobs and get back into the driving seat by putting together a carefully crafted direct approach letter.
This direct approach is no more and no less than a 'marketing' exercise to a specifically qualified target audience. It is NOT a mail-shot and certainly NOT 'speculative' letters that some people would have you waste your time writing.
Compared to a direct approach letter, the speculative letter or mail-shot is a complete waste of time, effort and possible opportunity. So don't do it!
Why do I say that?
Because:
? A speculative mail-shot aims to cover as many possibilities as you can, so inherently it's not specific to any particular reader.
? A speculative letter labels you as a jobseeker and gets sent to the Personnel Department (if they have one and it gets past the waste-basket).
? Unless you want to work for the Personnel Department (if they have one) that's the last place you want your letter to go.
? Mail-shots in general usually have less than 2% response rate so to generate some interest, (even before an interview is offered) you'd have to spend maybe £300 on postage alone.
? This approach at best will bring you what 'they' think you should have, not necessarily what you want for yourself.
And the most important reason:
? Because you try to cover all the possible employers you then make it virtually impossible to approach them again or in any other way. (Oh yes, you already sent your details in to us didn't you?)
So what should you do?
- Each direct approach must be tailor-made for the reader;
- Your letter must include a business proposition;
- Only address to the decision-maker who can employ you;
- Research the organisation in detail;
- Be businesslike and professional;
- Do NOT include your CV
You should also:
- Make it clear you would like to arrange a meeting;
- Be prepared to follow-up quickly once sent;
- Be persistent - they need you.
You already know there is so much more to job or career change than waiting for the right advert to appear so if you want to get back in the driving seat prepare a good direct approach.
Remember - fail to prepare - prepare to fail
Use your research and personal achievements to pack real benefits into your letter; the research you do will show you exactly what proposition you need to develop.
When a need exists because of?
? expansion or new locations;
? departure or retirement of employees;
? new product launches;
? new markets at home or overseas;
? downsizing (businesses often lose people they'd rather keep);
? change in legislation.
?somebody has the problem to solve.
You simply present yourself as the solution, and so remove their headache.
Use this direct approach as one of the main tactics in your overall career change strategy; your time is better spent on this and networking than scouring the papers for adverts to reply to.
With over 25 years running businesses; as a Career Coach and Consultant in many sectors; Peter Fisher is well placed to guide job seekers through the steps needed in order to achieve that all important new position.
He has personally coached thousands of individuals to career success.
His distillation of these years of experience with all the essential facts and actions you must complete in order to achieve your own success is outstanding. He is very clear that you shouldn't be misled into thinking of "acing interviews" or "finessing" your way into a business; the most sustainable and fulfilling roles are gained through understanding your own specific needs and creating your strategy accordingly. For specific guidance on how you might produce your own direct approach letter go to http://www.your-career-change.com/Cover-letter-examples.html
You can learn more about his dynamic and comprehensive approach to career change, with every page dedicated to helping serious career changers if you go to http://www.your-career-change.com/index.html
Latest News
Wall Street Warfighters Foundation Selects First Wounded Vets for ... MarketWatch - "During their military careers, Staff Sergeant Jones and Master Sergeant Holmes demonstrated every day that they are disciplined, loyal, responsible leaders ... |
Cagle announces Lanier Charter Career Academy funding Access North Georgia, GA - The academies are unique centers of learning that provide Georgia's high school students with exceptional pathways to rewarding jobs, great careers and an ... |
Recession-proof your career - Employment expert offers job ... MyWebTimes.com, IL - ... understandable to be concerned about employment, there are steps workers can take to help them be more indispensable and “recession-proof” their career. ... |
Universities key to Michigan’s economic recovery Detroit Free Press, United States - ... but now many universities are in tune with emerging employment trends. Educators can provide invaluable guidance for workers seeking new career paths. ... |
‘Brain drain’ grant supports effort to prepare students for ... University of Indianapolis, United States - A substation of the university’s Office of Career Services will focus on employment opportunities for older students who have returned to higher education ... Butler to Use Grant to Deal With "Brain Drain" |
 Boston Globe | Losing jobs in unequal numbers Boston Globe, United States - (Robert E. Klein for The Boston Globe) By Robert Gavin The careers of Neal Boyle and Scott Hacker couldn't be more different. Boyle, whose education ended ... |
Sara Boyns named director of law firm The Salinas Californian, CA - We welcome information and photos regarding people, events and other aspects of Salinas-area business, including housing, careers and personal finance. ... |
Applied Marketing Science Research Study Instrumental in ... PR Web (press release), WA - Thus far, MIT has graduated two classes from the program, and nearly all have found suitable employment within their field. According to Jenny Stine, ... |
State agency posts personal data online Sun-Sentinel.com, FL - For 19 days in October, the sensitive personal information of at least 250000 Floridians was posted on a state government employment agency Web site, ... |
JA distributes guide to jewelry careers National Jeweler Network, NY - "Our industry offers countless employment opportunities for young people." The effort is part of JA's long-term strategy of examining and increasing ... |
Resources
-
Sorry there are no resources available at this time