10 steps to finding the job of your dreams, right now
Finding suitable work, work that you want to be doing, work that supports your chosen lifestyle, is actually the only path towards sustained success. We live in an increasingly competitive economy. Landing great roles, keeping them, thriving in them, is very difficult. If you don’t enjoy what you do, if you’re not motivated to do what you do for a specific reason, if your role does not fill you up in some capacity, if it does not serve a specific purpose, then you simply cannot put forward the dedication necessary to compete, let alone beat, this high-level of competition all around you - which is absolutely necessary if you desire any type of long-term success.
1. Eliminate your illusions
Working in a job that you dislike, that is no longer serving you, is simply not acceptable. There’s no two ways about it. It is not acceptable. It’s not good enough. You have too much potential as a human being to settle for a role that does not serve your needs. The problem is, over time, your job has become like a drug. You have come to rely upon it. You are paid a monthly salary, and this salary allows you to keep your head above water. You have reached a place within which you fear moving in a different direction because of the fall out that you are convinced would occur. This terrible job is the only thing keeping you afloat. But we urge you, in fact, we warn you - do not be tempted into what seems like an easier road, working a job that does not serve you. Maintaining a role that is not right for you. You can move. You can change. And when you do, you will find a way to juggle everything around you and make it work. It seems impossible right now, but you will find a way. You always have. Whenever you have come up against an obstacle in the past, you have faced it, and overcome it. You survived. You’re still here. And you can do it again. Eliminate the illusion that you need this role to support you.
2. Your only job is to turn crazy
You must make a commitment, right now, that your new job is to find yourself a suitable job. That’s your new job. And it should be your one and only job. It is the most important thing that you can do in your life right now because it is only when you have first corrected your own situation that you can truly be there for others. So, shift your focus away from your every-day responsibilities that are constantly wearing you down, and bring your attention to what matters.
Once you’ve made the commitment, what’s the next step? The next step is to go crazy. Get yourself out into the marketplace, relentlessly, until you find what you are looking for. It’s really that simple. Start contacting decision makers at companies with which you would like to work. Now, there are three main ways that you must begin contacting as many groups as possible within your chosen field, today. Cold calling, door knocking, or in this case, walking into business establishments and asking to speak with a decision maker, and reaching out through social media.
3. Take the job
Don’t get confused here – it’s not about waiting for the perfect role. Yes, you want to go for the perfect role, but you don’t necessarily want to wait for absolute perfection, because no role is perfect. You want to take the role that puts you on the pathway towards your end goal. Take a step in the right direction, rather than continuing down a road that is not right for you. It’s just about taking that next step. Connecting to the role, connecting to the industry, in some way, should be your initial goal. You are in transition. Forget the pay. Forget the title. Make the location work. Your previous situation means nothing. You might be paid less than what you were paid previously. You may hold a lesser title. Who cares? These items obviously weren’t what you wanted previously, which is why you’re looking to leave. It’s not about the money or the title. It’s about the path forward, to your future. As long as you can make it work financially, these are the sacrifices that likely must be made on your way towards a new and better version of yourself.
4. Elevate above it
As you move down this path, you will quickly be bombarded with excuses, and you must address them right away, or they will crush you. What if there are no opportunities? What if no one is hiring? What if there’s someone in front of me with more to offer? What if I don’t yet have the qualifications? What if I don’t yet have the skills? What if – whatever. You need to let go of this negativity once and for all, and that goes for every aspect of your life. You have a choice, right now – you can choose to go down this rabbit hole of reasons, excuses, and limitations, or you can choose the path of energy, openness, and exuberance. The choice is yours, and each choice will yield very different results.
Disregard all negative talk, both internally and externally, and take careful consideration of just what you are exposing yourself to on a daily basis. Your immediate environment impacts your life in countless ways. There are more than 2 and a half million businesses in Australia. If you want a job that is right for you, and if you are dedicated in your pursuit, you will find one. There’s no question about it. However, if you are going to indulge your weaker side, if you are going to listen to your old, conditioned excuses, if you are going to accept the negativity of everyone around you, then you have no chance of finding a suitable role. Zero. Elevate yourself about it.
5. The greatest asset
People do not hire Resume’s, they hire people. Understand that you are selling yourself. You are your greatest asset. And so, you want to present yourself to as many people as possible. You want to present yourself to the most impactful decision maker within every suitable group. You need the decision maker to pay attention to you because the decision maker is going to hire you, and pay you, not your Resume. You want this person to see you for who you are, and the value that you bring to the table. So, expand on your Resume in person. If your Resume states that you worked on a major project in your last role, bring evidence of this work. If you are a web designer or developer, bring something that you can show from a website that you have designed and built. If you are a copywriter, bring examples of copy that you have written. Your Resume is the first stage. It is needed to get your foot in the door. But, once your foot is in the door, you must sell yourself, and you sell yourself most effectively through evidence. Display your achievements, your value, and your greatness in every way that you can. People believe what they see with their eyes, not necessarily what they hear, so back yourself up with hard evidence. What are you going to do for this company? Which problem are you going to solve? Remember – an employer wants to know what’s in it for them. How are you going to help this company?
6. Recruiters
Recruiters can certainly be helpful, but they should not be relied upon. Nobody will bring as much energy, enthusiasm, and determination to the table as you will. After all, a recruiter works with multiple candidates, and as long as one person gets the role, they get paid, whether or not that person is you. Moving on from this understanding however, when you do speak with recruiters, try to better understand their respective situation. Can you bring them any value here? This is a tough one, but it’s certainly worth the consideration. Maybe they have a role that they have not been able to fill for quite some time? Maybe they’re looking for someone who is willing to relocate? Think creatively here and remember that, first and foremost, we all care about ourselves. So, how can you actually make a recruiter’s life easier in a way that ensures you both get what you want?
7. Manage the person in the middle
Every business has multiple layers. But these layers can hurt you if you don’t know how to handle them. Human resources, the middle manager, the assistant, these are all filters. You need to move past these as quickly as possible, in order to get in front of the decision maker. Now, this is not to say that you treat these people disrespectfully. Of course, they are there for a reason, and you must follow protocol. In many cases, these people can actually have a very large influence on the decision maker. The point here is to know the difference. Your intention must be to get in front of the owner, the executive, the top person, the only person that makes these decisions, as quickly, and as frequently, as possible. Wherever you can, go straight to the top. Bring your presentation to the very top of the company. Find out who this person is and contact them directly. Do whatever it takes. If you want this job, find out when they arrive at the office, what time they leave, and where they go for lunch. Go to the office and ask for them as soon as they arrive. Stay there until they agree to see you. Is this uncomfortable? Of course. But would you remember a person who visited you, unannounced, and stayed there, waiting for you, until you agreed to see them, supported only by their own self-confidence?
8. Using social media
Use social media, but use it differently than the crowd. When you see a company post stating that they are searching for a candidate, don’t waste your time posting a comment, call that company immediately. Get in your car, or on the bus, or on the train, or walk, and go and see them that day. Do you see the difference here? Do you see the level of energy and activity that is needed to achieve your goals? This is why this endeavor must become one of, if not the, most important thing in your life, because this is the level of dedication that is needed. You must shift your thinking. Walk away from the crowd. This is your life we are talking about here. Get in front of that company, or the decision maker within that group, as quickly as possible. Stop being so lazy. You cannot take shortcuts. We are standing in the middle of the most competitive marketplace we have ever seen. These weak, lazy, unmotivated actions will never work. Instead, contact the person who has made the post directly, as soon as possible. Better yet, reach out to decision makers within suitable companies, even if they’re not looking to hire anyone. Become so relentless that they eventually create a new position just for you. Think it's impossible? Think again. We have seen this happen multiple times.
9. The importance of revenue
The most important thing to any business is its revenue. It is the lifeblood of any business. Without it, it cannot survive. If it can be increased, the business will thrive. Therefore, if you can increase a businesses revenue, or if you have an idea or strategy around how a business can increase its revenue, it will likely be quite easy for you to find a suitable role. If you can bring revenue into the discussion, or demonstrate how you will make it easier for a business to increase its revenue, and then clearly connect this rise in revenue to the role that you would like to land, then you will have the role locked in before you even leave the office.
Whenever we see the economy contract, every business owner in Australia is worried about one thing and one thing only – revenue. It’s not their expenses that they are worried about. It’s their revenue. How can they increase their revenue? So, bring this topic into your discussion, into your sales presentation. Whatever the position might be, even if it is not directly linked to sales, think about how your performance can be linked to an increase in revenue, and you will be well on your way towards landing the position in question.
10. Targeting
If you put all of these ideas together – if you make a firm decision that you’re going to land a suitable role, if you move past your uncomfortable emotions, go crazy with activity, and do whatever is required to get in front of a decision maker, if you refuse to rely on anyone or anything but yourself, if you do a sales presentation rather than sit down for a job interview, if you paint an exciting vision of the future that includes both your role and the companies growth and progression, and if you can provide excellent ideas on exactly how you can help increase a company’s revenue – we believe that you are guaranteed to land the role that you desire.
With that strategy ready and waiting, make a list of 3 companies that you would like to work for. Not industries, but specific companies. Target exactly what you want. Target those companies that you would be excited to work for. Then, do a little bit of research and find out exactly who runs these 3 companies, and do whatever is required to get in front of them. Get in front of the decision maker within each company, and follow the framework discussed. Say yes to the best version of yourself. Say yes to your future. And don’t settle for anything less.
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