Prayer for a job

Dear God
I thank you for your love and care, and ask that you might help me in my search for a job (new job).

Frankly, I’m at the end of my tether with this job search lark and could do with a positive result soon. I know you can open doors where there are none so guess I’m after a miracle!

Please would you guide me when I write and submit job applications and when given opportunities at an interview. Help me to give a good and fair account of myself. I am not in the business of showing off, I just want to land an honest job where I might be fulfilled and be fairly paid.

Meanwhile, please give me patience to deal with the uncertainty of it all.

Amen.

A more formal prayer for a job / new job

Lord God
Thank you for everlasting love. I acknowledge, Lord, that Your love for me is deeper that the ocean and bigger than the biggest need in my heart.

All my longings and dreams I lay before you and I commit myself as well as my need for a new job into Your loving hands.

Lord God, I ask that you might fulfil the desire of my heart and bless the work of my hands so that I may find work that is fulfilling and meets the financial needs of our family. I have stood and sat before you many times before in petition and in thanks for the way you have miraculously provided for us. Once again I come, completely trusting in you and your ways at this time. I am certain that you can make a way through the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. I am confident also that you can open a way where there seems to be no way! And indeed an opportunity where there is no current opening

Lord, as I continue in my job search and as I persevere prayerfully and wholehearedly through various selection procedures and interviews, I pray that your Your mighty hand might rest upon me and grant me Your grace and mercies in the eyes of all interviewers and would-be employers. Please perfect everything that concerns me and grant me your wisdom and knowledge and put the right words into my mouth for all interviews and into written words when completing application forms..

I acknowledge that my ways are not Your ways, neither are my thoughts Your thoughts. Your ways and Your thoughts are higher than the heavens above and you alone have a perfect plan for my future and that of my family.

May your will be done.  Amen.

The need for ethical Sales People

Even though I am not in sales myself I deal with a number of Sales people. If you are looking for a new job in Sales, or deciding on the sales strategy for the next Quarter… look out… and think and act ethically!

An established sales coach recently identified some of the bad habits displayed by (some) sales people. I don’t know how scientific or broad ranging this was, but he did go onto highlight some of the more serious short comings attributed to Sales people, and said that anyone doing 3 or more on the following list should be FIRED!

This should be taken seriously, because not only are they costing you and your company, sales and profit. Such individuals leave a trail of disasters and disgruntled colleagues and customers in their wake…

The 7 deadliest sins of sales people are:

1. Over-promising, and under-delivering in respect to delivery times
2. Missing rapport building opportunities,
3. Assuming you know what the potential customer wants without uncovering their key needs, wants or desires,
4. Habitually asking closed rather than open ended questions which get the customer talking,
5. Talking twice as much as listening, versus listening twice as much as you speak,
6. Talking to all the features of the product instead of spending time on the 3 main features which meet their needs!
7. Failing to make people feel special and valued

I know someone who does ALL on the above list and particularly excels at 4, 6 and 7. Somehow, amazingly he has survived thus far!

Fulfilled or Frustrated?

‘In due season he will honour you with every blessing.’ Psalm 37:34

I understand that there is usually a gap between a dream and the achievement of that dream. The question worth considering is whether it is a fulfillment gap or a frustration gap – for you and I!

I know I suffer the frustration gap – where I recognise that I am unhappy while i’m in it. Especially at work. The consequence is that most days I’m frustrated instead of fulfilled, and the dream (as such) stifles me while I seek to move forward toward the dream.

The difference, or gap between dream and fulfillment is a dip, which  represents the adversity we face, the learning curve,  and the hard work we must be willing to invest between conception and realisation.

Sounds easy, but it’s not. Especially when the ‘dip’ you are in seems to be a road without end…

Here are some verses from the Bible which might help spur us on. ‘Don’t be impatient for the Lord (God) to act! Keep travelling steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honour you with every blessing.’ ‘Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded…’ (Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV).

‘So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal’ (2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV).

God has promised us more than just the fulfilment of our dreams; He has promised joy in each step you take toward it.

I don’t feel particiularly joyful at present, I feel worn out, out of ‘ideas’ and lacking ‘job search stamina’.

Even so…. I won’t give up my efforts, so much at stake…

Interview in a hurry…

Traffic was bad and it was raining. With 20 miutes to go I was stuck in traffic wondering if I should park up and hot foot it to the meeting place.

I spied an empty parking meter and started feeding it cash after a helpful Parking Attendant told me If I could wait until after 6pm parking would be somewhat cheaper. For me this was no real help, my interview was due at 6pm and I had precisely 6 mins if I was to arrive on time.

After changing my shirt and spraying something vaguely pleasant smelling in the rough direction of my armpits, I fed coins into the pay machine and ran. Thankfully in the right direction.

With 2 minutes to spare the guy on reception had phoned my interviewer and I could relax breifly. After a short pause it was up 21 flights of stairs for my meeting. (I jest). The lift delivered me to a security door on 21 and after pressing a big plastic button entered the lobby.

It was now after 6pm and I was soon joined by my interviewer who thrust some registration forms towards me. A few moments later while the ink was still drying the meeting was underway.

She was, how shall I say, efficient and not one for small talk, she was in a hurry. At least she had my CV with her, but as the discussion ensued it was little more than a prop…

By 6.35pm (I checked)  the appointment was over and I was descended the numerous floors at high speed, this time with another traveller. Within a further 5 minutes I was starting my car engine for the trip home. I felt strangely time warped?

Oh my, that was a swift interview, my shortest yet. Let’s hope the effort was worth it!

Job search depression?

In Summer of 2007 redundancy came my way, the next few months were a mix of job hunting and taking a well earned break. 18 years with one employer is a long time.

I signed up with numerous recruitment companies and online job boards. I had a handful of interviews but it was a couple of years later that I got another job, even so it was not what I really wanted and the wages were awful, and still no where near what we need as a family. But hey, I got work and I still have a roof over my head, and food to eat. I can continue my job search in the evenings.

Did I expect it to take so long? No.

Was it a frustrating uphill climb day in and day out that felt like it might never end? After a number of months, yes of course.

The moment you realize that your job search is taking longer than you expected is the moment so-called job search ‘depression’ can rear its ugly head.

Does ‘job search depression’ really exist?
Secondary stressors of job loss such as financial strain and loss of personal control are some of the true culprits that can lead to low feelings and even depression. Studies seem to indicate that elevated levels of depression may reduce the likelihood of reemployment. Mmm not looking good eh.

In other words, it can be consequences of losing your job that lead to problems, not necessarily the job loss itself.

 Possible Causes

1. Loss of control – sudden, traumatic change of having a great job one day and no job the next.
2. Uncertainty of not knowing when the job search will end.
3. The ever-continuing quest for acceptance that is a job search.
4. Feeling of insignificance stemming from a lack of replies to your job applications.
5. Overwhelming ratio of rejection letters and emails, to more positive replies.
6. Being forced into this rather daunting and alien situation with no choice in the matter.
7. The unease of having to do something that you were never taught about or prepared for. (job search).
8. The strain of managing personal finances after your main source of income is gone.
9. Having to continue to support a family or other dependents during a rough moment in your life.
10. The realisation that you might be stressing out or struggling in another way.
11. The need to deal with these feelings while still appearing upbeat in interviews and when networking.
12. Seeing others enjoying their lot while you continue the unending search.
13. Pride. Being unemployment can for some be an embarrassment , and still a taboo for some.
14. Questions such as “What do you do?” reinforces the (false) idea that what we do for work is our identity.

What to do?
Here are some ideas, you might find others that work for you.

One of the most important factors for me was surrounding myself who are positive people who can spur me on, in the good and frustrating times.

Write and re-write your CV until you are comfortable it is a true reflection of you, your skills, aspirations. A good CV will help lift you and give you added confidence.

In tandem with all this, you should seek out job search professionals who will understand your situation and guide you along.  Maybe you can keep track of your concerns and worries can help keep them under control. Maybe you can…

1. Print out the list above and in terms of how much a cause is likely to affect you (or is affecting you) and rate it on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is “very little” and 5 is “a lot”.
2. Create priorities by sorting the list in decreasing order so that the 5s – the most worrisome causes – appear at the top.
3. Try to imagine actions you can take to block each cause.
4. Follow through with your recommended actions, especially for those top ranked causes.
5. After each month of your job search, take some time to reflect on the causes and evaluate what’s aspects of your job search are working, and what isn’t and what might need tweaking.
6. Pray!

Whatever your situation, there are people around who can help, try seek them out and speak honestly with them. They might be a trusted friend, co-worker or relative, a Church leader or Pastor, a Youth worker or staff at a job or drop in centre.

Anything else?
If you need professional help in regard to any health issues or possible depression, don’t shy away from considering your local GP, he/ she may be able to help. The Samaritans do a great job of getting alongside people struggling, and will always have someone you can talk to.

(UK) Telephone 08457 90 90 90

Or Email  jo@samaritans.org

Best foot forward

Brendan has been struggling to get work for some time now. At best he has held down jobs for a few months and until a few weeks ago he had all but given up looking, and his demeanor when I first met him gave this away.

Having been tipped off by a mutual friend that he was out of work and available for casual work, an approach was made to him. After an uncertain start he now joins us for a couple of days work each week. His general availability at a moments notice suits us perfectly, and he has become a valued part of our team often the first casual worker we call upon.

Over the months as we’ve got to know him, aspects of his story has unraveled, it has become clear that holding down a full time job has been a real issue for him. He is certainly a good worker, well liked and has transferable skills he can exploit. What he doesn’t have if he is to achieve his goal of full-time work is a hardworking CV… or rather he didn’t. Over a week ago a colleague and I helped him rewrite it. The original wouldn’t have been taken seriously by any potential employer or recruitment professional as it was full of glaring errors, mistakes, incomplete entries and with a work history that was presented backwards.

(We struggle to understand how this hasn’t been picked up by others, especially those at the Job Centre).

Once the CV was finalised a spring in his step has been apparent, he is growing in confidence. Now he can apply himself to uploading, emailing and posting it in response to vacancies as they appear. He has a lot to offer and in time we hope to hear some good news.

Good news came in another guise last week when a colleague announced she was leaving, moving on after one year. She is obviously delighted having landed a senior marketing role in the cosmetics/ personal care industry. Ironically her opportunity came about, not via a CV in the first instance but through her own efforts of networking and then a personal recommendation.

We wish her well and look forward to the cake at the leaving do!

Personal recommendations can pay dividends in other areas of life too. It’s the same for all of us I’m sure. In my own experience this has included suggestions of where to shop, which trades people to approach, which music to listen to, the best family days out, churches to visit, books to read, paints to try, food and drinks to sample and more recently health professionals to call.

Having called on the NHS for the required help and not received it, I recently conceded that I should consider seeing a specialist even if it meant going for private treatment. A few years ago I would have baulked at the idea but due to the ongoing pain and condition of my left foot – I felt it necessary. Last Wednesday at the consultation my feet was given a careful once over, measured, manipulated, and my Metatarsus bones bent every which way to locate the source of pain. Even though the appointment didn’t conclude with a single proposition on the way ahead (next step?) I felt better for going.

Under no pressure to make a second appointment I will weigh up the options available to me. Going under the knife for a small operation which may not improve things doesn’t hold much appeal. Plan B then?

Jobs – The New dawn…

With the evening (and computer) pretty much to myself I spent another hour or so checking out the football headlines, before turning my attention to what is available on e-bay and other randomness…

It’s all to easy to get embroiled in whether a sacked football captain should have been relieved of his duties earlier – or at all. All to easy to be taken in by the media / celebrities stories which appear to be flimsy in depth or truth.

Finally I got to job searching online and managed to fire off another application ever hopeful of a positive outcome. If anyone were to ask how many jobs I’d actually applied for over the last year or so, I couldn’t honestly say.

Fortunately I have a Recruitment Agent, who appears to understand my particular situation and is on my case, and pro-active in tracking down opportunities with me in mind.

When the upturn in the UK economy eventually arrives and new jobs become available there is likely to be a huge movement of workers all seeking better opportunities.

Armies of workers toiling in less than satisfactory jobs, will be on the move, migrating away from employers who have been exploiting the situation. We could well see the emergence of a ‘job seekers market’ when there is little need to ‘take any job’ just because as they are desperate for cash.

Good employers will have nothing to fear of course, they and their reputations will stand firm with their workforce staying loyal and appreciated. It will be the disillusioned job seeker will have the last say as they, in time will find cherry pick suitable roles with realistic job descriptions, salaries, terms and conditions. When the new dawn arrives, and unless things improve, I would expect my current employers to lose to up to 6 staff members, all seeking better.

For now the Champagne is on ice.

Christmas job search shut down?

Job hunting in December is seen by some as pretty pointless exercise but between the office party and finishing for the year there are some things you might be able to commit to trying…

Private Review
This time of year is a great time to review your objectives to ensure we are clear headed for the coming new year. Might be worth thinking afresh of your goals and motives for seeking change. This might be obvious in most cases but worth consideration.  Is this what you are thinking about really what you want? If you landed a new job tomorrow – how would you feel? December holidays is an ideal time to think the unthinkable, explore radical ideas and, if necessary, completely revisit your job objectives for the coming year. Write it down and keep it handy!

Clean up your act
Over the Christmas period you should make some time for doing the things that you have been mulling over the past year. This might include updating (or completing) your Linkedin profile, or replacing that unflattering photo you posted up in a rush. It might be a good time to re-read and then tweak your main CV, and consider if it can work even smarter for you. When the new year arrives you should be ready for the next assault on the job market…

Network
December and Christmas in particular can be a great time to network with old colleagues, friends, and relatives and anyone else you’ve neglected during the past year. It doesn’t mean you need to over indulge and spend over the odds either. Very often a chat over a coffee will be sufficient. I recently caught up with three ex colleagues who were able to share some ideas almost as we took our seats in the pub to eat! I would not discount the value of informal (or otherwise) catch ups as they are always useful and can be a good source of encouragement and information. It is fun too!

Learn something new
Learning a new skill or tool might be another way of increasing your visibility in the job market. Alternatively you might pick up a skill or technique that you’ve struggled with in the past. If you need advice, there are many online resources available to draw on too. Practising interview techniques might be another consideration. Whatever efforts you expend will hopefully help to build your confidence and ‘appeal’ come the new year.

Refresh
Ok, you can relax too! We all need to take time out to refresh ourselves and re-energise. Job searching can be tiring as well as being stimulating at times, so give yourself time out to enjoy being with friends and family, maybe a good walk will do you good too. Enjoy!

Have a really Happy Christmas and here’s wishing you success in the year ahead…

When is a job offer really a job offer?

Upon the completion of any interview process the successful candidate should receive from the hirer/ hiring company a formal job offer. This is usually in the form of a letter, which gives a start date and initial salary… If you are offered a job outside the usual procedures, it is important you still request the offer in writing. Without it you are in a vunerable situation…

A job offer?
Unless arrives in letter form or lands as an email to your inbox, any promised offer is not worth the paper its printed on. You need any offer in writing.

If you have not heard anything from the companies HR department after two weeks, it is fair to assume that you are no longer under consideration for the job. Some companies are known to take their time deliberating after a round of interviews for a number of reasons. They could be uncertain about the budget for the job, they could be gathering input from a great number of sources, they could have a highly structured or somewhat cumbersome selection process, or they could just be plain inefficient. But assume for our purposes that you actually did not get the job.

Unfortunately things can change even at the eleventh hour as I can testify. Recently I was advised that an offer letter would shortly be on its way to me. I had spent 4 hours in interview and according to the recruitment agent their client were keen to get me working for them as soon as possible. The feedback from the client was glowing, and I was similarly impressed with them. A week later I was still waiting for the letter or email to arrive. We all assumed that the HR department was being inundated with work or very slow and my efforts to get an update on the situation was fruitless.

Out of the blue, one Friday evening the news was broken to me that even though I was the strongest candidate by a country mile at the time, an internal candidate had actually been appointed. I felt gutted, shocked, yet also angry and disappointed. The next few days were not my best as I brooded with the injustice of it all. Maybe my interview performance wasn’t that compelling after all.

The moral from the story, is clear. Even if a recruitment agent leads you to understand you are the best candidate they’ve ever encountered this side of planet earth, be cautious. You need any job offer in writing, in ink, on paper, in your sweaty hands before jumping to quit your current job or splashing out on a shiny new something or other to celebrate…

The offer when it comes
A job offer that comes your way can be a huge encouragement. If you by some quirk find two that appear at the same time you could briefly allow yourself to feel supremely chuffed and smug wondering if such things happen to mere normal people. They do, and you are not above normal. Whatever, you do still however have some work to do before the deal is signed and sealed.

You still need to decide whether the job is what you’re after,  so sit down with your Starbucks coffee to ponder a variety of factors including: the job itself, the company, the location, the working conditions, the salary, training and career development, and your own values and needs.

Remember:

• In the present climate (if it’s not stating the obvious) jobs are in short supply and good jobs are even shorter. If it’s not quite what you were after you may opt for the one that will  ‘do-for-now’ in order to get back into the market, earn money and gain experience. Few people find their ideal job (if they know what it is) straightaway

• Every job can open unexpected doors into other career options and provide you with a valuable network of contacts as well as new skills;

• If you find that the job doesn’t quite suit you, discuss the issue with your manager or the HR department to try and resolve it. If it cannot be resolved you can leave giving the appropriate period of notice. In an ideal world it is in no one’s interest for you to stick with a job that you are really unhappy in. Depending on your circumstances, (money?) if you can’t land another job immediately you may have to keep the job until another is found.

Accepting an offer
If you decide to accept an offer, phone the employer to state your acceptance and follow this confirming this in writing stating that you agree to the terms and conditions of employment as outlined. Your reply constitutes an important part of your contract of employment so keep a copy filed away with the offer letter.

When your offer of employment is confirmed, you should immediately decline any other job offers or invitations to interview and inform any intermediary (Recruitment Agent) working on your behalf.

Declining an offer
Think carefully before deciding to reject an offer. Give yourself time to weigh up the pros and cons.

Send a written response as soon as possible to the person who sent the offer, so that the employer has time to offer the job to an alternative candidate.  Be sure to thank them and give your reasons for declining it, if you feel confident in doing so.

Such an approach will reflect well on you and brings the matter to a suitable closure. Be polite, you might be back in touch with them one day.