5 Keys to Finding a Job

I have talked to several people over the past few months that are in the unfortunate position of job searching. I am fortunate enough to be an entrepreneur and own my own business, so I don't have to worry about layoffs, cutbacks, or "fat trimming". I do know that if I was looking for work, I would apply to 5 Keys below. One thing I have noticed is that there are tons of jobs out there, but people just aren't looking hard enough and aren't looking in the right places. My degree (or piece of paper) says that I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce & Business Administration from the University of Alabama. More specifically, small company management. However, like I stated above, it's just a piece of paper. Going back to school for higher education is great and grand, but if you think that it's going to magically get you a high paying job, you are wrong. Job searching to me is about getting connected. Instead of thumbing the Classified ads or searching the internet for companies who are hiring, get out and meet people. Let the people in your networking contact sphere know you are looking. A personal introduction to someone is a lot better than calling and asking if you can drop a resume off and then hoping for an interview. I know people who have gotten jobs at companies that aren't even hiring, but the company was so impressed with the person and had a personal recommendation from a friend, that they gave them a chance. Once you're in the door, blow them away. Be self educated. Teach yourself new skills.

5 Keys to Finding a Job

1. Don't do the basic bulleted resume. That's boring and gets lost in the pile of others. A good friend of mine owns a company that does Video Resume's. His clients really stand out when they send a video resume before the interview instead of the basic Word document or fax cover sheet. Check him out: My OVR

2. Go to every networking event in your area. Attend local BNI meetings. Get connected with people and let them know you are looking. Don't be afraid to ask people to help you. If you have 20 people who trust you and are willing to drop your name, you'll be much more likely to land something big.

3. Get some part-time work. As much as it sucks, if you are in between jobs, go get a part-time job at Lowe's, Home Depot, Best Buy, etc. The company you are interviewing with will respect the fact that you are proactive and continuing to work while looking for more "permanent" work. Plus it helps pay the bills while you are in transition.

4. Self Educate. Read books, lots of them. I love anything on entrepreneurship, marketing, and networking. Whatever your interests are of the field you are trying to get into, learn more about it. Read trade magazines and journals about that industry so you are up to date with trends and news.

5. Don't participate in the negativity or the recession. Just because the news and everyone around you says the economy sucks and the world is coming to an end doesn't mean it's true. Always have a positive attitude and be proactive and you'll rise to the top.

Are You Part of the 20% or 80%?

If you know me, you know I love reading business related books. I try to read about 30 minutes every night before I go to bed. This is the time that I "unwind" and reflect on the day that was and the day to come tomorrow. I am currently reading "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. So far this is a terrific book and I would highly recommend it to anyone in marketing or if you have an entrepreneurial mind. One key idea that jumped out at me last night was this:

**20% of people do 80% of the work

-This can be related to your business, your social circle, or anything else. This is very similar to the 80/20 rule of business. (20% of your clients/customers create 80% of your revenue stream).

-The example in the book is about word-of-mouth referrals for a restaurant. A daughter takes her dad to one of her favorite restaurants. The dad loves it so much he comes home and sends out a mass fax to all of his close friends telling them about the restaurant and that they need to go eat there. The dad would be the 20%. The other people would be the ones that casually mention the restaurant name to a friend or possibly pick up the phone and call a few friends. The dad is the one that took word-of-mouth referrals to the next level. He went above and beyond the norm because he really liked the restaurant and wanted to let everyone in his contact sphere know about it.

**So my question is, are you part of the 20% doing the work and really spreading word-of-mouth or are you part of the 80% casually passing information along to a few people?

What Is Your Passion?

This past weekend I was able to attend a men's retreat that our church put on. The speaker for the weekend was Tom Davis (@cthomasdavis & http://www.cthomasdavis.com). Tom is the President of Children's HopeChest and has done some amazing things around the world. You can check out his website above to learn in more detail about Tom and what his passion is and what Children's HopeChest does.

I have always had a passion for 2 things. One is helping out with younger kids. Whether this is helping out at church with the youth through camps and volunteer work, or working with vacation bible schools to teach kids new games and just spend quality time with them. My other passion is business. I have recently become very passionate about helping others, especially young entrepreneurs. I absolutely love working with young guys like myself that have a passion for business but are just looking for a little advice, or a little boost of encouragement.

Whatever your passion is, do it, and do it 110%! I would encourage you to post comments below about what you are passionate about a link to your blog or your website.