The figure jumped off the Television screen at me the other night--16.2% unemployed in the USA. That figure includes an estimate of the folks not on unemployment compensation but still not working and people unable to work for whatever reason.
However, by re-framing that statistic, we can say the USA has an 83.8% employment rate! That might not comfort many of you; however, it is hope and should make us optimistic that we can find work. I talked about attrition in a previous post and 83% employment rate creates lots of attrition; thus, hundreds of thousands of job openings. Most of these attrition job openings never find their way to an Internet job listing site so you have to be in the right place at the right time. It is simply a matter of timing, of numbers, and luck. Luck is defined as when opportunity intersects with preparation. You have to put in the time and do the preparation so you are ready when opportunity presents itself. Preparation is not sitting at a computer going over job listings; it is a lot of work; but, it's not preparation.
What I'm about to tell you will get you multiple job offers; however, most of you won't do it because it is hard work; much harder than sitting at a computer and sending out countless resumes and cover letters that are never seen by human eyes.
Searching for online job listings is mostly a waste of time because millions of others are doing the same things; therefore, each job listing is getting hundreds or thousands of resumes along with yours. The odds are terrible. You all know the definition of insanity: doing the same things the same way and expecting different results. It's time to try something different.
For those of your serious about finding work, This is a great model. I first found this model in a book called The Consultant's Calling by Geoffrey Bellman (1990). His model is teaching new consultants how to find business. I used it and it was so successful in building my business to the point I take on very little new business now because I just don't have the time. I have modified it for the job seekers. Those job seekers who have used it received multiple job offers, you can too.
Here is what you do:
Identify around 30 to 50 (you pick a number) organizations you'd like to work for, or you have the skills they prize. Do not contact Human Resources (HR).
Call and find out the name and number of the hiring manager in the department you are qualified to work. The receptionist will give you her/his voice mail in most cases.
Leave a short message with your name and that you have a free service to offer and you want permission to send her/him the information.
Sometimes, you will get a call back, sometimes you won't; however, be persistent and make the offer once a week until you can talk with the hiring manager.
Once you get the hiring manager on the phone, you tell her/him you are out of work and have some free time while looking for work.
During this free time, you are keeping your skills sharp and on the cutting edge by attending conferences, workshops, seminars, reading journal articles, and news on the latest innovations in your field.
With this information you are writing summaries and would be more than happy to send the summaries and articles, or just summaries to him/her. This shows your enthusiasm, your listening and writing skills, and your character.
Odds are there are no openings at the time; however, when an opening does pop up due to attrition it won't be posted on an Internet job site; I am sure that the hiring manager is going to call that ambitious person keeping him/her up on the cutting edge of that industry or job field--you. You'll go in for an interview with no competition for the job. You have already stood out to that hiring manager and you didn't have to play any silly tricks trying to get someone's attention in HR (they don't even do the hiring). The hiring manager will instruct HR to hire you.
Sadly, many of you will not go to this length so tell me what is stopping you?
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