Finding the Work You Love

Moving from Fired to Fired Up

The days following those fateful words, "We have to let you go," are dismal ones indeed. Some mornings, it's tough to even get out of bed. It's a sobering reality and one that Jon Gordon, speaker, consultant, and author of The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy (Wiley, 2007) says that unemployed job seekers must confront. "All to often, as one scours skimpy classifieds and job boards, grim scenarios play like an endless over and over: We'll lose the house...We'll have to move in with my parents...I'll never find work in this economy."

How to overcome this downward spiral? How to transform lemons into lemonade? Gordon says that the right approach and a well-defined plan pay big dividends. I recently caught with him and here's his advice for coping with tough times and a challenging employment market:

Q: It's easy to say "stay positive" but it's tough to maintain a bright outlook with a crumbling economy and a tight job market? How can a person really move forward and stay motivated?

A: By knowing that history is on their side. If you study people who thrived during past recessions and even the depression they all shared the same characteristics. They stayed positive. They focused on opportunities, not challenges. They turned misfortune into fortune. They refused to participate in the negative economy. The alternative to staying positive is not an option. It doesn’t mean that you’ll get the dream job you want if you stay positive but I can guarantee that your probability of finding a great job or a job at all is much lower if you are negative. You have to believe in your ability to find a job and you must believe there are jobs to be found. So often the difference between success and failure is belief. Positive beliefs lead to positive actions which leads to great results. Life is often a self fulfilling prophecy.

Q: Individuals who fall into the 50+ category may find it even more challenging to find work in today's environment. What steps can these older job-seekers take?

A: First, they need to believe it’s not too late to create success. If you believe that it’s too late to find a job you love then it is. Next they need to identify their strengths, talents and gifts. They need to identify the need in the marketplace for these gifts. Finally, they need to focus, work hard and improve every day and see themselves as life-long learners. I was speaking at an event in Dallas and Zig Ziglar was taking notes. Eighty-two years old and he’s taking notes. Zig is a life long learner and that is the key to success.

Q: How common is fear, anger, and depression? How can someone avoid being dragged down by these issues?

A: Fear, anger and depression are very common. I was depressed and angry when I lost my job. The fact is, we all get down. We are human. The key is knowing how to turn it around so you don’t allow the negativity to bring you down a spiral staircase of despair. I believe one of the best ways to counter this fear is with faith. After all, faith and fear both believe in a future that hasn’t happened yet. Fear believes in a negative future. Faith believes in a positive future. If neither hasn’t happened yet then why not believe in the positive future. One of the habits that really helped me was a walk of prayer and gratitude every morning. I was filled with so many ideas and inspiration and insights during these walks that it lead me to create a much better future for myself after being laid off. 

Q: In the book you talk about people creating their own reality. How do we create our own reality? Can you illustrate what you mean by this?

A: I mean that one person looks at a job loss as the worst event in their life. Another person looks at the same job loss as a blessing and an opportunity to find the job and work they have always wanted. Same event. Two different perspectives. Two difference responses that I bet will lead to very different results. We can’t control the events in our life but we can control how we respond to these events and this so often determines the outcome. Your perception is also influenced by the story you tell yourself and the role you play in the story. You have decide if you are telling  yourself a drama, horror story or inspirational tale. You have to decide whether you are the victim or overcomer in the story.

Q: Why should someone consider a mentor? How can this help?

A: Someone should try to find a mentor in the field of work they want to pursue. These mentors offer a model of success that you can emulate. They show you how success is possible and they provide a blue print for making it happen. If they can do it so can you.

Q: What does it mean to be humble and hungry? What is the net effect of this?

A: Humble means that you see everyone as a teacher and that you are willing to learn new skills, seek new opportunities and be open to change. You are flexible. You are also hungry in that you have a passion to be your best and bring out the best in others. If you are humble and hungry you will always find success.

Q: How can a person who still holds a job help family or friends who have been laid off?

A: You can be there for your friends and family. You can encourage them, support them, love them and let them know you are there for them. You can’t drive anyone else’s bus but you can help people drive their own bus.

How to Locate Possible Employers

The Internet has profoundly changed the way we identify potential employers. To find one--preferably the one--that's right for you in today's job market, you will need to wield a combination of paper and electronic tools.

Opportunities for employment now extend well beyond the résumé banks that reside--and often lie dormant--at major companies. Savvy job seeker can choose from several methods, detailed below, to increase their exposure and improve their odds of landing the job they aspire to.

Print Classified Ads

Although the traditional “help wanted” print ad has not disappeared altogether—yet—it is most commonly used within fields such as engineering or nursing, in which job openings are regular and ongoing. Employers looking to fill positions more quickly usually turn to online classifieds. The Conference Board estimates that U.S. companies now post approximately 4.2 million jobs per month at a variety of online sites, including newspapers, corporate websites, and online job boards. A few job seekers also take a guerrilla job-hunting approach and buy their own ad in a newspaper or trade magazine. It takes guts to go this route, of course. But according to David Perry, co-author of Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters, it can help a candidate stand out and produce positive results.

Trade Magazines

Many employers continue to place ads in highly specialized trade magazines as a way to “narrowcast” their open positions. Whether you’re seeking work as a corporate travel specialist or a university librarian, many trade magazines provide bona fide leads. Finding these magazines may require a bit of creativity; few of them are available at newsstands. In many cases, a Google search, such as “trucking magazine,” will yield results. You can also often find trade magazines by searching for a professional field (such as engineering or accounting) along with the word association. For example, you would search for leads in engineering by typing engineering associations. This search would yield a number of associations, including the American Council of Engineering Companies and the National Society of Black Engineers. Both of these groups display their magazines at their Web sites. You can also check the Encyclopedia of Associations, which is widely available in libraries. After you’ve identified industry associations, venture online and see if they publish a magazine or newsletter.

Corporate Websites

The official website of almost every company—particularly medium and large firms—includes an “employment” or “job seekers” link that’s a rich source of information about open positions, pay and benefits, career development, company information, culture, and education and training opportunities. Many sites also let you submit a résumé directly, as an attachment or via fax.

Submitting an application and résumé directly to a company has both pros and cons. The upside: Your information makes its way into the firm’s database immediately. The downside: Many companies are so inundated with online applications that your chances of being singled out can become a game of “keyword roulette.” After all, a company’s search is only as good as the person searching for the particular terms she opts to enter (see chapter 12 of "Finding the Work You Love" for more information about how to use keywords).

Executive Search Firms

For certain types of positions, particularly managerial-level jobs at medium and large firms, an executive-search strategy can produce winning results. However, as a rule, recruiters don’t specialize in career changers. They seek professionals with loads of experience and the fast-track to a new job (for which they earn a hefty fee). Keep in mind, too, that search firms work for employers and typically have specific job “orders” or “contracts” that they attempt to fill.

As a result, it’s wise to send your résumé to dozens of these companies and look for boutique firms that specialize in your area of expertise. For example, this might include Shelton Associates in science and engineering, the Howard-Sloan-Koller Group for publishing, and the Esquire Group for the legal field. Meanwhile, larger recruiting firms such as Korn/Ferry International and Robert Half now specialize in multiple areas, including medicine, technology, and finance and accounting. You can find numerous executive-search resources and guides online, including RileyGuide.com, Bluesteps.com, and RecruiterRedbook.com, which invite you to view directories, listings, and advertisements for hundreds of search firms. In addition, many industry groups include a roster of members who work as recruiters. If you’re interested in a particular field—accounting, engineering, medicine, you name it—consider checking with the appropriate association (you can search online or check the Encyclopedia of Associations at your local library).

Alumni Networks

Alumni groups have exploded in popularity in recent years for good reason. The Internet has made it easier than ever to leverage the power of the human network. Check past employers to see if they operate an alumni network. If so, create a profile and reconnect with past colleagues. Other professionals often have the inside scoop on top recruiters and employment opportunities.

Also, don't overlook job fairs and social networking sites such as Linked In, Facebook, and Twitter. The right information at the right place can lead to consulting gigs, freelance assignments, even a job offer.

Remember, there's no single way to find the work you love.