September 28, 2018
Finding Job Satisfaction 0
How positive do you feel about your job and your work?
Super positive … just great?
So, so … not bad?
Negative… horrible?
It doesn’t take anyone long to react to that question. We know whether or not we are happy with our jobs just because we can’t escape those feelings anytime that we are at work. And if we’re not positively charged up about going to work most days, then we’re not satisfied with our jobs.
You might be tempted to say, “Yes, but it’s so much easier for some people to be confident about their work than it is for others. If only I could look forward to going to one of those dream jobs every day, I wouldn’t have any difficulty with my attitude either.” But is that so? Let’s look at the so-called dream job a little more carefully.
Dream Jobs
Look at people with glamorous jobs– hockey players, dancers, rock stars and models. These people seem to have dream jobs– money, fame, excitement! But look again. Maybe it’s a case of the grass looking greener on the other side of the fence. Most jobs have certain duties that are boring, repetitious or jut plain hard work. Dream jobs may have exhausting travel and work schedules, hours of exercise and practice, and an image to live up to. That can be a drag! People with glamorous jobs got where they are through years of concentrated effort and sacrifice. They’ll stay on top only if they continue to work at it each day in a positive way.
Every job has its ups and downs. Having a fun job doesn’t mean experiencing boredom, anxiety, frustration and disappointment. Most people find some aspect of their employment unpleasant, whether it’s dealing with irate customers or clients, doing mounds of paperwork, cutting through bureaucratic red tape or working in the cold. There will always be days when we feel exasperated because we can’t change a situation or solve a problem.
But some people seem to enjoy their work most of the time. We assume it must be the nature of their work– they must have dream jobs. But … maybe not! The fact is, dream jobs are a myth– they don’t exist. There are no perfect jobs. What looks like an ideal job to one, maybe a dreaded job to another. However, some people will feel as if they have their dream jobs or have had one because they have found quite a good fit between themselves and their jobs and have a positive attitude about their work.
What we expect and what we get from our lives dramatically affects our attitudes. Unmet dreams, needs and values lead to negativeness; needs met can lead to positiveness. No one job will fulfill all of our needs. What our jobs don’t provide, we have to find elsewhere.
Knowing what we can realistically expect from our jobs can help us develop positive attitudes toward our work. It can help us avoid disappointment and disillusionment later on.
© Wordscapes ® (David Turner). All Rights Reserved.
September 30, 2018
How to Get Referrals from Warm Contacts 0
by Wordscapes® • Job Search Tips • Tags: getting referrals from warm contacts
However, there are times that your warm contact, particularly those who don’t know you well, may not readily provide you with the information. Some of your warm contacts may feel reluctant about vouching for you to their other contacts.
Because of this, you may find it difficult to use your network. To network and get referrals can be an easy task for you, here are a few tips.
* Nurture your warm contacts.
Before you even need your warm contacts or before you also ask for help, keep in touch with your warm contacts. You may send notes or greetings from time to time, call to “catch up” on them, invite them to lunch, be interested or help in their business or do anything to cultivate your connection with them.
In this way, by the time you need help, they can remember you and can more readily give information about their other contacts that will be able to help you.
* Be polite.
Since you might not have close personal relationships with some of your valuable warm contacts, it is inappropriate to give them a call and ask them for information about your field of interest.
Sometimes, sending a note in advance, or asking to meet them for lunch is a better way to ask for their help.
* Listen to them.
Most of the time, even if your warm contact knows little in the field where you are trying to find a job, they might offer you advice. Be polite and interested in what they are saying. Who knows, the information that they are giving may be valuable to you in the future.
There are times that your warm contacts may be telling you tips on what manner will work best when you talk to the persons that referred you. Your warm contacts may also imply what qualities and qualifications the person is required.
* Ask for at least two referrals.
Before you ask for referrals, make sure that your warm contact had said everything that he or she could say about your field of interest.
Even if they know little about that field, it is impolite if you cut them short while they are speaking to ask if they know somebody who will be able to help you.
Thoughtfully ask them why they couldn’t refer you to at least one of their contacts, They may give you answers that may include comments or suggestions. They may also indicate a lack of confidence in your work strategy. If this is so, you may have to make follow-ups with them to prove that you are indeed credible and match their requirements.
However, there are also times when they can’t refer you to their contacts because they don’t know anybody who might have the information or might be interested in the product.
In this case, ask them to keep their eyes open for opportunities that might interest you. You can also leave with them copies of your resume.
* Ask for only two referrals.
Two referrals are enough from each warm contact so to have another option in case the first one didn’t work out. Asking for more than two references could be impolite as it can take much time from your warm contact. But could also make your warm contact feel that you are relying mostly on them for your job search. So, unless they volunteer the information, don’t ask for more than two referrals.
* Nurture your warm contacts.
When your warm contacts give you referrals, there are times that they also call these people personally to provide more information about you. On the other hand, when you contact your referred people, your referrals may call your warm contacts to verify the information or to ask for more information about you.
Either way, you have to contact your referrals soon enough that these people can still remember their conversation with your warm contact or your warm contact can never forget that you have talked.
At times, after your warm contacts call your referrals, they anticipate your call and even prepare questionnaires and exams for you to take. Do not waste this opportunity by delaying follow-up on references.
Keeping these tips in mind will be able to help you in asking for good referrals from your warm contacts.