Tap into the 40% of jobs that are never advertised
This month we are helping introverts with their job hunting. Please leave a questions about getting interviews or a comment relating to getting interviews. I will be giving away some freebies to some of the people that comment, so it’s worth your while. I will also try and answer your questions.
I reply to most questions personally by email, rather than by responding to comments, so get your questions in.
Thanks
Martin
Hi,
I received a spookily accurate personality profile from you a few weeks ago, and am extremely interested in your personality profile cert.
Julie
Hello Martin,
I really appreciate the effort you are putting in to try and make a difference, believe me it is appreciated. Too many times I have sent off a resume knowing that I was a good fit, and nothing , it has gone into the proverbial black hole which seems to be many recruiters … I once worked for a short period in recruiting, and with this particular company (I know it is not the norm ?) it was all about closing and getting someone in … it didn’t matter one thing if they were a good fit from a skills, knowledge let alone a cultural fit
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Psychometric Report – result… me in a nutshell.
I was recently made redundant and the whole recruitment environment has changed. It has become far less about communication and understanding something about the candidates, it’s now far more detached and prescriptive. It feels as though the recruitment process begins with someone switching on a filter in their candidate database. If you don’t match up to the criteria exactly, you immediately fall at the first fence. I have huge amount of experience and qualities and I’m really keen to learn how to get that across in the best way possible, breaking through the filtering process altogether.
Ultimately, what I would like to get from the workshop is a clear understanding of the job/career that fits my psychometric profile. I truly believe that by pursuing a career that matches my aspirations, my future prospects will be greatly improved and far more rewarding.
Richard, Really appreciate your clarity. You are right about the recruitment process and if you are using the old fashioned ways of CV based recruitment then you’re buggered. There is a better way, a modern way. Your second point about getting a fit for your personality type is what we cover in Step 1 of the course and it’s all about personality. You will be amazed at what it will reveal.
I am in a good job which I do enjoy most of the time but something is gnawing away in me that I need to work for myself. I have no capital and too many ideas with no clear direction, help!
Sam, Help is on the way. I get so many requests about entrepreneurship that I will be releasing something soon. And you know me, there will be stacks of free stuff. I have been an entrepreneur for 15 years so I have a few tricks to share.
I think I’ll know when I land the dream job when I no longer dream about landing it. I think once I find my calling, it’ll be without borders, without stress and certainly feel more fulfilling. I’ve been with the same company for 11 years, serving in several different departments over the years, yet still not feeling satisfied with each role and subsequently moving on to something new. I have 80% of the battle won already – I know what my strengths are and how to focus them on the tasks I like to do…..the other 20% is finding that outlet job where my strengths can be optimized and exercised. I’ll find it – either where I currently work or some place else where they value the talent that can be both serious and funny at the same time…..cause isn’t real work supposed to be fun? It sure is!!!! Thanks Martin!
Absolutely Jay…..Work should be fun…..
It sounds like you have made a lot of progress in your journey. Happy to help with the last 20%.
Why is your success dependent on doing a job you love?
Doing a job you love encourages you to put more effort into ensuring that evrything you do is well above the acceptable level. You are after perfection and to succeed. You have pride in what you do and this and the satisfaction you gain shows through in your general attitude to not only your work but your colleagues and clients
Well said Trevor. Few people experience this though.
I’m not great at knowing want I want. My choices are probably based around what I find interesting and what I think is important in the wider world, or at least one other person.
In choosing my next career, I am looking at a number of things that are really badly wrong with the world and have no idea how to prioritise them or how it would feel to be in any of the levels of employment addressing these issues.
Hardly anyone knows what they want Rosemary. Step 1 of the system will cure that for you and answer the biggest question of all “What the hell should I be doing with my life?”
Great! Just let me know if I get a free place at your workshop.
Dear Martin,
My most burning concern is that whilst society as a whole seems to worship renaissance people, organisations are struggling to create roles where you get to use more than one skill set. In order be challenged and continuously stimulated in a job, I want to use a broad range of skills, e.g. both analytical problem solving, influencing skills and creativity, as well as languages and organisational skills. Although on a CV, this mix of skills might look impressive, the labour market appears to apply Taylorism to knowledge workers. This frustrates me a great deal – there are so many people wasting away due to the fact that they’re only tickling one inch of their talent.
Linda you are absolutely right. This is one of the reasons that CV based recruitment doesn’t work. You need to use modern alternative methods to job hunting. I can help with this and some very cool ideas for you.
That was amazing. My profile was really acurate. Thank you
I am in a job that I love and it pays quite well. I work long hours because I am always trying to please clients. I can never seem to do enough or fast enough and I lie in bed at night worrying about meeting clients deadlines.
Sorry this makes it sound like I am a prostitute but I am actually a lawyer!
This made me laugh out loud. Thanks Maria the Potato.
I am nearly 48 and I am enthusiastic and passionate I am also a hard worker. I am working as a relief Social Care Worker I do care about people but feel I am in a rut and my work isn’t always guaranteed from week to week as a relief worker. I have always been driven but I am feeling a bit demoralised and lack confidence in promoting myself. I have an Honours Degree in Psychology (Nov 2009) but is difficult to get a Psychology Assistant post or similar type role. I also graduated with a post-graduate certificate in Counselling Skills this year but feel I am doing hand-on physical work and would prefer a higher position to use my transferrable skills. Their is no room for progression in my present job and I am aware of my age and current recession and cutbacks. I just want permanent secure work helping others to realise their potential. I dont want to keep going to Uni to get more qualifications and then its a catch 22 where I am over qualified for work . I am also interested in Law and Social Work.
Morag, Really appreciate you sharing this. You are not alone. You have raised a few points but the one I will touch on is the “re-qualifications” trap. The tertiary education system has us all hoodwinked into thinking that the only way to develop our careers is to develop our careers – it’s a big fat lie.
It’s usually the last thing you need to find a career that is fulfilling. I cover the alternatives in the 3 Step System.
Reaching the big 50 and children are just about to fly the nest. I would like to do something new and interesting.
I am a graduate chemist, keep pace with technology. Complementary Therapies and Chiropody kept the cash flow positive whilst the family grew and I am currently employed part time as a Special needs assistant at the local School and part time as a care assistant at the local eventide home (SQV3 qualified and SSSC registered). Where can I go now? I throw myself into any job I do and get great satisfaction in doing the job well. New challenges needed soon.
Can you help?
“New and Interesting” is the bare minimum as far as I am concerned. Would love to help Catherine. This is a very exciting place to be.
I agree with Gill’s thoughts that after dedicating a lot to my time to a job that I loved, my employer started re-organising, changing contracts and working conditions. That really got me down and so I resigned and don’t regret it! We have to be happy in our work and find something that we enjoy doing. Looking forward to finding that job keeps me motivated.
Nice one Andrew. Thanks.
I feel burnt-out after a job, which I loved and was successful at for several years, gradually changed into something that made me frustrated and very unhappy, due to reorganisations and changes in the values exhibited by the employer. When an opportunity to take redundancy came along, I grabbed it with both hands and have no regrets about having done so. But I am now struggling to motivate myself to jump back into the world of employment. I need to understand what sort of job I will really love, so that I can invest wholeheartedly in finding a role in which I can apply my skills and energy.
Gill, you are doing the right thing and taking time to figure out what you should be doing. You are right to hesitate. I cover this in Step 1 which is called “What the hell should you do with your life?” Answer this and the rest gets real easy.
Life is too short to waste valuable time on things you not comfortable with or totally unhappy about. Search for that passion that you’re born with…that feeling of living your destiny, what brings happiness, satisfaction and peace. May God bless us all. Praise the Lord.
Why is your success dependent on doing a job you love? -Hi, I beliee that you have to be passionate about what you do to be successful. Me and my partner started a cleaning company in London 5 years ago coming from other European countries. We had business background from our other jobs and used all our skills (my design & pr skills and his diy retail knowledge of 8 years as a Sales Diector) and now we run a successful company which offers lifestyle services centred around the property: commercial & residential cleaning, property maintenance, facilities maintenance, handyman, refurbishment, gardening & landscape design, removals, pest control, interior design. security. We work with people whom we like and although there are sometimes hard times we always come out stronger as the love for the jobs unites us and strengthen the company. Our customers over the years have became our friends and my partner is excellent in creating more relaxed atmosphere while I’m in charge of making sure that all our Managers & employees meet their goals and keep our standards of performace. Everything is possible even we have had our daughter last year and we still keep full hands on approach.
Kate, thanks for sharing. It’s great to hear a success story and to know that it can be done.
Life is too short not to understand my purpose
It’s very, very short, Cathy. Let’s make it a good one.
Doing a job that you love means that you can be passionate and that shows through to your colleagues and customers – quite often, that can be contagious!
why?…. because I’m doing it all day is why, so you have to love it or you’ll more than likely start over eating or possibly start looking at sodium levels in your food or dam near anything to take your mind of what you really should be doing. Your j-o-b .
“Doing it all day” – good answer and probably for years. Scary when you think about it.
Strongly believe that doing a job that you love means that you will do that job extremely well because of your emotional connection – and while there is no scientific graph per se to support this, or maybe its just common sense, but people who are happier tend to produce better results, and a lot of this stems back to value based decision making as opposed to belief based decision making, and ultimately if you are working with people who share the same values, then you ultimately end up working with your friends, with values such as trust being not only confined to the work place, but also to your personal life.
Thanks Christopher. Actually there is a lot of research to support what you say. It’s why companies spend a lot of money in this area. If only more of them would read the research.
Most burning concern – am I chasing the right career for me? Currently unemployed, I changed career 3 years ago, now I can’t seem to get back to what I used to do and can’t seem to get to continue something new either – am also scared of downsizing my ambitions (although every time I try am told am overqualified!) – so this leaves me jobless …
The “over qualified” response is a red herring. I cover this in the course. You are right to make sure you are running the right race; climbing the right tree. Most people aren’t. This is where it all starts. And it’s all about personality.
Thanks very much. You wrote who I am, all is really true.
Kind Regards
I see people in the wrong job for them every day. I found your workshop interesting as it looks at finding the right fit for the person and the job – not just a random general identification of interview techniques etc.
I’m all about square pegs in square holes. I’m a little obsessed by the notion that we should all enjoy our work and that’s a personality issue.
My most burning concern? Take your pick from a list of issues that, for one reason or another, I am facing!
1. I’m 58. Governments everywhere face a pensions crisis and need to raise the retirement age, whilst company HR departments, and the recruitment agents they use, are continually lowering the threshold age above which they won’t even bother to read the rest of your CV. Even if you do all you can to tailor your CV to disguise your age, legitimately or otherwise. I know, I’ve tried.
2. Apart from some small pieces of work that I’ve done under the auspices of my own UK consultancy company (now closed down), I’ve not had any significant work for the past ten years. Much of this was due to taking several years out to care for my now late wife and, since she died in 2007, I’ve been moving around the continent trying to find work in several different countries without any better success than I was having in the UK.
3. I’m now in a more stable situation, in a good permanent relationship, and living in Amsterdam. This place is full of ex-pats, as well as organisations whose official working language is English. Yet the recruitment agents still insist that its VERY difficult to place anyone whose Dutch isn’t ‘fluent’. My partner is Dutch and I can already, after a year here, speak Dutch well enough to ‘get by’ in most situations, but I know how far I am from fluency and that I’ll most likely never get there.
4. I have a good MBA (in Strategy and Innovation) plus over 30 years experience in IT, in senior consultancy roles, and my experience includes just about every discipline within IT. Ordinarily, my psychometric profile suggests that I should, by now, be in some senior management role, but lack of experience at that level means I have no chance of ever finding that. At the same time, because that’s where I should be, I get told that ‘lesser’ roles are ones for which I’m ‘over-qualified’. Another Catch-22.
There is more. But I’m sure you get the point! So, in light of all that, I’ve decided that what I really should be do is *create* my own job (and maybe a few more!) by starting up my own new business. Trouble is, as you can imagine, I have no capital and, perhaps even more difficult, I have no clear idea of WHAT business I should start!
I’m privileged and fortunate to be well-qualified and educated, with a wealth of experience and (so I’ve been told) a well-above average intelligence with exceptional analytical and management skills. I’d just damn-well like to find a way to make good use of it all! And, perhaps, make a bit of money in the process. So, if you think your course, or anything else, can help me cut this Gordian knot, do let me know!
Nigel, this is the longest comment in history so I am going to reply to it on email as you have raised some big issues here.
What a shame: I would I have liked to have seen the response. So many issues that Nigel raises are around for me too! Age, Pension, over qualified, Public Sector cuts, however, in work (for now) but not going anywhere. I would have liked to have seen the resonse.
For me, performing the job you love brings you a lot of positive feedbacks that are reflected in the end product of your endeavours and result in a high degree of personal and professional satisfaction – with the incentive to continue to make it happen again and again.
Why is your success dependent on doing a job you love?
I have to be very honest here and say that I have a very low boredom threshold. Loving my job doesn’t depend on what that specific job is or what it involves, rather the outcome of my actions is what I need to see, the success I suppose. I measure that success with the time I have available to me to do what I want, when I want, with my family, friends, or on my own. Yes I’d like to be a Billionaire but a million or five will help. If I get excited by the rewards or outcomes of my actions then I’ll work all the hours god sends. Why? Because when I love the results a job gives me, I just want more of it.
“Why is your success dependent on doing a job you love?”
If you love the job then you are motivated. If you’re motivated, then nothing is too much trouble and this comes across to colleagues and customers alike, confidence breeds confidence, breeds success.
“What’s your most burning concern about career development?”
I am currently working in a very specialised area and am pretty much at the top of my game – however I do not have the level of authority and control I crave due to my excessive number of line managers! I have studied and gained a good law qualification but if i jump ship now and start at the bottom of the law pile I will loose about £15K/yr – as a single mum a pay cut is not feasible just now. However me being miserable at work is not good for my children either!
Michelle, being miserable at work is not sustainable. Maybe there is a third way. I don’t like the idea of a pay drop. Sometimes it’s the right thing to do but it’s not black and white. I think you have a bigger issue and a bigger decision to make first.
Hi Martin,
My burning concern is around leadership/management in an organisation. The buzz word these days are career development, growth and training, yet, once you have completed all the relevant courses that would assist you in moving to the next level, goal pasts are moved. Its interesting for me that organisations are always “restructuring at the bottom of the food chain” yet, they do not look at the management/leadership that are in place.
Hi Pamela, That’s very true of most companies. Finding the right culture for your personality is important. It doesn’t sound like you have yet.
hi, I seem to be gaining knowledge about so many diverse things. Its too many variety of things that I want to pursue…so I cant start with any one..
Constant inspiration and rewards are my true desires for a satisfying job.
This needn’t be a bad thing. You just need an employer that appreciates it.
“Why is your success dependent on doing a job you love?”
My success is when i get job satisfaction and customer appreciation for the product purchased. The happier I am doing something I enjoy, the more motivated I’ll be to make the job even better. And if I make my job better, then I become more successful. On top of which, if I enjoy my job and am a happier person for it, then my colleagues /customers/bosses benefit too.
Everyone benefits Jairaj.
If I like the job I will do it in a better way. I will enjoy by doing my job that result in more out come.
Why is your success dependent on doing a job you love….
Life is too short and I don’t do what I love. It just takes some work to find the right job; maybe a lot of work – I think that it is worth the extra effort to discover what I am supposed to do with my life and find a job that I can be successful and happy in.
Sally, here’s the crazy thing, it takes less work to find a job you love, something you were born to do, than it does to find a job you don’t like. …….IF you know how.
You have to do different things, you have to spend your time differently but it actually takes less time.
HI Martin; your approach and accuracy I find very stimulating!
Regarding why my success is dependant on me doing a job I love, I have learnt alot in the last few years about this very aspect of my working life; maturity has forced it! I now know that unless I am comfortable in my area of endeavour my mind wanders off asking all sorts of questions (including ‘why am I here’, ‘this is uncomfortable, so where else should I be’, etc), and I am not able to see my best creativity or even effectivenes. When I’m in an area I enjoy, the opposite is true and I flourish happily. It’s really palpable!
Paul, really appreciate you sharing this. Asking questions like “why am i here?” is very important.
Why is your success dependent on doing a job you love?
If I love my job, that’s half the battle won. The happier I am doing something I enjoy, the more motivated I’ll be to make the job even better. And if I make my job better, then I become more successful. On top of which, if I enjoy my job and am a happier person for it, then my colleagues /customers/bosses benefit too.
Happiness is important. Essential even. Let’s find happy work.
When I do a job that I love it brings the passion in me and the commitment to succeed without waiting for anybody’s commendation
I came to conclusion that career goals don’t stop when you’ve landed a job in your dream career. So in order to keep your career goals on track, you’ll probably find that you need to keep setting new career goals. For example, if the next step in your career is a supervisory or managerial position, you’ll need to set goals to reach that level. You would have to understand how your new career goals fit in with your present job, so setting both short term and long term career goals is always a challenge and a constant concern for me.
Thanks Ben, Goal setting is really important. And it is something you have to constantly revise. It’s a journey not a destination. There is also a skill to it.
My most thought about concern is how I can be a motivated inclusive employee when I’m at a stage in my life when I want as much autonomy and freedom as possible. Ideally I think I would like to be my own boss but I don’t want to take the risk of starting up my own business and take risks to security and finance at the age i am now (55).Do I just grin and bear it until retirement?
Nicki, It sounds like you know what you need to do. All you need to find a way of getting there that is relatively risk free. It’s OK to want autonomy; it’s a personality thing.
all through our working careers we accumulate knowledge, experience & skills; it would be nice to use as much of this as possible as we move on, as opposed to being pigeon-holed & only using a fraction of what we have learnt & our capabilities.
If all your are using is CV based recruitment then you will always be pigeon holed and will miss out on opportunities. There is an alternative to sending CVs to strangers.
“Why is your success dependent on doing a job you love?”
My success is dependent on doing a job I love; because when one loves what one is doing; results are effortlessly; productivity increases and tasks are accomplised in less time; therefore it is no longer a job; but a reason for enjoyment. Success will come on it’s own as a result of happiness, enjoyment and fullfillment.
Thank you,
Griselda
Nicely put Griselda. THis is why Step 1 of the 3 Step System is “Discover what the hell you should be doing with your life”.
Unless I am doing a job I love then my concentration is manufactured to meet my job description so I can collect my wage. If I am doing a job I love the wage is secondary. I can give my full attention, feed ideas into how the service can be enhanced and sleep well at night.
Very true Liz. Very true.
Hi,
The true is that the circumstances doesn’t matter. Only our state of being is matter. This raises the question: “What kind of state we choose?”
The whole goal is achieved when the soul and the brain are satisfied.
Then it is not necessary to push ourself for the good mood, then everything flows naturally, and a great power of the universe supports us.
I have another 20 years (hopefully) to work and I want to spend my time doing something I love. I like to work and would be so hapy doing something that was more like a hobby than a job. I would then do it all the time, be fullfilled by it and feel succesful. I’m quite sure I have not been doing things that I love which is why I never stay doing them for long. I have a feeling I’m trying to fulfil someone elses desires and not my own.
20 years is a long time Naomi, so it is essential that we enjoy what we do. It’s not a “nice to have”, it’s essential.
The main issue that concerns me, especially now that we are in such a critical economic status, is finding not only a decent job to pay the bills we ALL must pay, but also finding any employers who actually VALUE their employees, and who have enough integrity and willingness to invest some time and energy in ASSISTING new employees with training and developing new skills, making that “position” within their company worthy of filling. I have spent the last 3 years losing lame jobs due to irrational and discriminatory reasons and breaking my back seeking employment, while my skills are dwindling and becoming obsolete, with no money to remedy the situation. With the competition as high as it is to “sell yourself” to that prospective employer, it seems nearly impossible to get your foot in the door, let alone have your resume even noticed at all, in spite of all the professional tweaking. The very thought of FINALLY “getting hired” again .. only to end up being “let go” after 90 days due to just plain ole blatant personality clashes and POOR management, is just about more than I can allow myself to imagine anymore. But I remain hopeful that my break will come ..
Janice, Thanks for sharing this. I am sure you are not alone in your sentiments or experience.
My main driver for wanting to do something I love is to get my MOJO back and be able to give, give, give and make a difference. I’m currently in a job merely for the money, I won’t lie – the money is great, but I feel I’ve made a pact with the devil for that pay-check. I feel I have lost my soul, my being, who I am and I have reached the point of no return. I’m ready to unleash my talents to the world and to release my fears and insecurities about job security and focus all my energy on my true passions where I can be able to add immense value to others and align with my true purpose.
Loved this comment Shereen – Brilliant – Would love to see you and many others get their “mojo” back and cancel their contract with the devil.
For years I have been working as an ESL teacher with less and less satisfaction. I find that I invest so much time and energy that I often have little left for myself or other pursuits. In addition, the salary is very low and barely allows me to finish the month. I would like to know how to 1) increase the joy and satisfaction in my work and 2) increase my earnings so that I need not worry about financial security.
Shosha, I loved that you could be so specific with your two points. It’s a good start and these are worthy ambitions.
Martin,
thanks for the previous set of tools which sharpened up my ideas about what I REALLY wanted, these were scarily accurate for someone who had never met me.
Rightly: Why is my success dependent on doing a job I love. In short recruiters are really poor on identfying transferrable skills, so I need a leg up to get around these guys and get to interview. I have a load of skills that are unused, and perhaps you may be able to kick up an area I haven’t been looking in. I have been in the job market for a long time now and would benefit from a new start in a careert that ticks all my boxes, instead of being hugely flexible to the needs of others.
Thanks Steve, that’s very kind of you. As far as recruiters are concerned they do not believe in transferable skills. Traditional job search will simply not let anyone change jobs. They only let you change companies. Unless you want to do the same job in a different company, traditional job search is not going to work. But worry not, I do deal with this. There is a way around it.
“What’s your most burning concern about career development?”
After 20years with one company I was made redundant, so I took a break. Now I am trying to return to the job market which has been a big concern, but what is concerning me more is the thought of having to do it for another 20 years but I am struggling to identify what an alternative career would make me happy.
Sacha, It sounds like you have been given an opportunity to discover what you really should be doing. It doesn’t sound like going back into the same line of work is what you want. I would suggest you invest some time thinking about your ideal job and not settle for less just yet.
Hi Martin
I have belated listened and watch your videos and find what you said to be accurate. I am working in a job that could be so much better but feel totally invisible because I feel it is an enviroment that is best for those whose face fit with management. I need to make a change but am lost as to where to go as i am scared of jumping out of the frying pan into the fire with the job and ecomonic climate as it is.
Lorine, thanks for sharing this as you are not alone. I understand your trepidation but it sounds like a change is required. You just need to plan it carefully and reduce the risk.
What’s your most burning concern about career development?
I’m concerned about being able to secure a good job, considering I’m a fresher and most job advertisements require people with work experience. I worry about how my first interview would be and whether I’d be able to get a quality job, in a reputed firm.
Everyone bombs in interviews. I cover this in a lot of detail in Step 3 of the course. Everyone needs to improve their interview techniques.
“Why is your success dependent on doing a job you love?”
Doing a job that I love helps me to be focused and driven. My personal wellbeing is maintained at the optimum level, I feel energised and inspired to live life to its fullest. And good fortune seems to come easily, where as, if I’m doing a job that I hate, the opposite occurs.
You would think more employers would understand this Cathy. I’ll keep working on them.
Hi Martin
I believe that doing a job you love affects your personal develiopment as well as your happiness. If you are doing something you love, you will look forward to getting up each day to go to work. I am still unsure what it is I should be doing.
Rob
Rob, most people don’t know what they should be when they grow up. Step 1 of the system will help you with that.
Martin, I am 53 this year with a wealth of experience in sales in various industries and more recently in the beauty industry and find myself redundant. How can I persuade prospective employers that I am not “past my best” when applying for a job and get to the interview stage? Regards Julie
It’s all about creating perceived value. There is a skill to this and I have never seen a candidate manage it effectively yet. I cover it in Step 2 of the course.
“What’s your most burning concern about career development?”
I’ve been working in marketing for over 20 years and am finding the fast pace of change in technology and the internet is having an increasing impact on my field year after year – how can we keep up with the changes? Is this trend set to continue?
It’s not only going to continue, it’s going to accelerate. Marketing more than most fields.
I find that over the years sacrificing huge chunks of oneself in pursuit of doing a good job and creating high standards counts for nothing. Now huge personal cost leaves me unsure of which transferable skills I actually have to offer prospective employers.
It sounds like you have been let down by your employer. We often give our all and rarely get a thanks. We need to figure this out and come up with a plan. I don’t think you can ignore this.
The most difficult situation is how to translate the subjects learnt in school into ideas that can be applied to make one productive in his or her job.
Wow! The test was an eye opener. It helped me to be more confident in whatever direction I want to go. Thank you very much.
“What’s your most burning concern about career development?”
I like to be organized and think I would like to ultimately run my own business but I think I need more management experience before I make the change. Do I? or should I just go for it? That is my burning issue.
Amanda, the answer to your question depends upon your personality type. More management experience is rarely the single factor that determines entrepreneurial success. Many more of us are going to become entrepreneurs over the next few years as the economy changes. Keep watching this space as I will be helping people make the transition.
I was very impressed at how much information this short report had got right considering the questions asked and I’m amazed to see what people can read about my personality from the choices I made.
I would like a job I that I can enjoy doing, that gives a reasonable level of job satisfaction. For many years I was self employed and having enjoyed the freedom to choose the jobs I did and where I worked it can sometimes be difficult to work in regular employment.
It’s true john, that once you have a taste of it, returning to employment is difficult unless you get the right company and role.
i think the Q are spacific dhows your personalty
Why is your success dependent on doing a job you LOVE?
This kind of Job is likely to give you great earnings especially if youre doing business since all the products produced are done with Love and excellence. You dont just produce to earn money but to make use of the God given talents which gives the producer a good sense of PURPOSE.
A sense of purpose, is a fundamental need in humans, Seraphine. THanks for sharing.
SPOT ON!
Having been out of work for sometime, I am finding that doing my best, using the skills I have acquired over the years, are being degraded by one or two co-workers. They seem to take great delight in pointing out to everyone else in the office my ‘mistakes’ at a time when my confidence is fairly low. I am trying to be positive and know my skills may be a little rusty, some of the people I work with understand and support me, fortunately. I do love my work, and have to prove myself within the six month probation I was taken on. But sometimes I do have doubts that I am in the perfect job for me.
Rosemary, it sounds like they feel threatened by you. It’s pretty mean all the same. No harm in looking around.
Why is your success dependent on doing a job you love?”
I am working in the farmacutical industry and do have ethical concerns for what in general the business does to the humanity. However i do like my job and i can see my inner energy progected in to it. Others can see it too i believe and find it easy to work with me. If i love my job there would be no limits for me to achieve satisfaction of living and harmony within my mind, i also would be very hard to battle because i would be passionate in all my actions and you do know the difference.
We could all do with more passion Petya. Let’s keep looking.
Attaining skills and experience in one sector that is recognised or appreciated in anothe.
“Why is your success dependent on doing a job you love?” If you are happy in your position and look forward to your accomplishments everyday you are more apt to be energized and creative. It also majorly affects your attitude and personality as you definitely feel like you are valuable, are making a positive contribution and have opportunity for growth and advancement. When you are not satisfied or happy it is very difficult to demonstrate the “good” employee required in some many workplaces today. It appears to be not what you know any longer but how you “get along” with everyone.
Good points Paula. You are right that “how you get along” with people is a crucial part in all our working lives.
My most burning issue regarding career development is how to eliminate the tension between living to work and working to live? More often than not I feel I live to work. Has anyone ever closed that gap and how have they gone about doing it?
This is a very common feeling that most people have Al. We all need to find the work life balance but the key to this is to have work feel less like work.
I am in my mid forties – half way through my working life – trying to change direction. I don’t want to do the same sort of work that I did in my 20s and 30s, so finding how I can use my skills and talent in an area that interests me for the next twenty years is the burning issue for me.
Jane this is the most exciting area and the most difficult. Many people get to our age and realise that a significant career change is what’s wanted. The problem is that traditional job search (CV based job search) does not work if you are trying to make a career change. This is something I will talk about a lot in the workshop and elsewhere. I do have an alternative.
Looking forward to hearing about the alternative … will look out for your workshop.
I quit radio engineering some years ago after finding that all the jobs/contracts on offer were well outisde my area or comfortable daily travelling range. By “confortable” I mean having a bit more than one hour’s time for leisure per evening. Contractors, I found, are expected to work all the hours short of going without sleep. I am now self-employed and finding the new challenge to be marketing – getting orders. It’s like a new job interview for every contract. That’s my story – is it relevant to your book?
Robert, thanks for sharing. We are all self employed. What you have described as marketing is still a work environment challenge. However I cover this more accurately with my Entrepreneur side of things. For me there is a fine line between job and self employed. Look out for lots more coming soon to help entrepreneurs like yourself. After all, it’s all about people.
Since being made redundant 6 years ago, I’ve gone from one boring job to another. I want a job whereby I look forward to going to work every day and I get paid to do something I really enjoy.
And you shouldn’t settle for anything less Sue. There are too many people suffering boring jobs. It doesn’t have to be this way. It’s my mission in life to help people change that and find something they actually enjoy.
I am looking forward to take much more responsibility and to be involved in more important projects by being able of taking decisions. On my current position is too much administration and things are getting boring.
One of my strongest characteristics is very good interpersonal communication and I enjoy of having job which includes working with people on scientific level.
It is time for me to move on in my personal career.
Katja, it’s good that you have recognised this about yourself. Being able to identify some things you like and dislike is very important to career development. I will be able to help you with this in a lot more detail because it is the starting point, the foundation if you like, to a long successful career.
Hi Martin,
The burning issue that I’m facing in my career development is how to re-ignite my career & return to doing something I really love. For the past 5 years I feel my career has stagnated & although I made a move to services marketing with my current organisation to broaden my experience I now want to return to my real passion which is product management.
Only with passion can we truly be successful. Hope to get you there a bit quicker Chris. Thanks for sharing.
“What’s your most burning concern about career development?”
“What concerns me most is how without my own transport I can find a permanent, well paid job position in my area. I live in a small new town in the Northwest of England and lack of my own transport restricts me to area in the town served by public transport (not everywhere in Warrington is!) or city centres in neighbouring town and cities. I have had several jobs over the last 4 years in my area but all were temporary, low pay, dead end (little chance of promotion if any) and all came to an abrupt end, the alst one indirectly due to the recent economic crisis.
Simon, this is trickier than you would think. There is more to talk about here than having a car. How do you feel about working from home?
I need a job that inspires rather than bores and fits around my family commitments.
I get to have lunch every day with my wife and it is the most precious thing in the world. Too many people have to put their work before their family and I don’t like it. We need to change this. Thanks for raising this Sandy.
Dear Martin,
Unfortunately, my most burning issue, as regards career development or job hunting, is my own country; I live in Greece and the whole working mentality, regislation and labor framework are just unbearable and suffocative for freelance professionals, scientists, artists and other creative intellectual parts of society..
I spent the summer in Spain, which is also going through its problems. You may have to find your clients outside of Greece for a while. I will be dealing with these kind of issues in my Entrepreneur programme. I think you will find it useful.
To find a job that inspires, challenges and rewards highly NOW with the freedom to put the hours i when I want to. Not much to ask eh!
Ann, It’s exactly what you should ask for. Insist upon it. It’s amazing what our subconscious will do when we ask it. If we as it to find a boring job to pay the bills, then that’s what it gets to work on. If we ask it to find an exciting job that pays great money, it can’t help itself but to start to riddle that out too. And it will get on with it while we get on with the more practical things. All you need to do is feed it a little every day. If you can keep a house plant then you can get your subconscious do some great work for you.
What is your most burning concern regarding career development?
Matching what I enjoy and am good at with the jobs that are available or the services that are required. I seem to spend too much time trying to make my knowledge/skills/experience fit someone else’s brief without really knowing if they fit mine at all. (Which means I try to present as what I think they want, rather than as what I am.)
Hilary, you have hit on something here that most people overlook. Matching is critical. But it is easier to change the environment than the person.
My biggest career development concern is trying to find a career that makes the most of my abilities, aptitudes and personality rather than doing a job I fell into 20 years ago that only ever uses a fraction of what I’m capable of, and is not really suited to my personality.
Barrie, pretty much everyone of us fell into our jobs. It’s not your fault. This is a result of little or no good career advice. Let’s face it the biggest decisions you made in life were made when you were young and daft. Me too. But now we can do something about it. “Suck it and see” is not a good approach to career development. I have a better way.
I keep being screened out for roles I would be happy to do as being overqualified/seen as a threat to my would be boss rather than an asset. An age thing?
John, I am really pleased you raised this. I have written a paper on the overqualified issue and ageism is coming up a lot. I’m pretty sure I can overcome it. It is possible.
My burning career issue is tied up with wanting to go demine landmines for Halo for 6 months, but being 53 with a husband and young child, realistically, I need to find a job which will get my husband out of his employment handcuffs to give him a bit more time with our son.
You have raised a couple of big issues here Katherine. “employment handcuffs” is very common and very real. I deal with this more in my Entrepreneur programme as for more and more people the solution is self employment. Done properly it brings a lot of freedom and self determination. I get to spend three months of the summer in Europe as a result, spending less than most people spend on a family holiday. It’s about freedom, not money.
Hi Martin
The most concern problem is improve my English language knowledge. Be more confidence.
Thanks
I have been working on my French for ten years or more. It takes time. However you would be amazed at how far you can get with what you have. Don’t let it limit your thinking.
Working a job you love is intrinsic to your sense of self and is profitable for the company, too: anything else is deleterious and damaging to both parties.
Hi Martin
Thank you for your concern and help.
My burning concern is stop being overwork and not satisfiet with money I earn.
I know that my success in job is dependent of what I do and gratification.
If I love what I do I like to go to my work I feel good conductor of my own orchestra. I can use my talent, possibility, skill, whole myself to be successful and satisfiet. I feel more healthy and happy. This is my life fulfilment. If not that is the opposite situation or simply only job for money for life. What is very pity.
I’d like to reserve a place in your workshop
I will email you about the details next week.
My concern is getting all the skills, expertise, knoweldge and conceptual capabilities to excel and achieve the strategic objectives of my campany in my field of Occupational Safety, Health & Environment.
Fentsi, this is a good approach but remember Interviews are all about personality. Do not think that skills alone will see you in your ideal job. You need to develop your “career skills” too.
To find a suitable job NOW!!! I have sent so many resumes but with no results and only few interviews with the big companies
Hi Martin,
Thanks for unit 3, I enjoyed watching it. You asked, “What’s your most burning concern about career development?” Well my concern is getting the training that I need in order to progress.
Best wishes,
Andrew
Andrew, glad you enjoyed the videos. I will keep the content coming and I’m sure it will get better and better.
Q: “What’s your most burning concern about career development?”
A: Which direction career development should be.
Very astute Gill. Most people are doing the old Monty Python routine – “Running the 100 metre dash in no particular direction” Statistically it has a 1 in 360 chance of working.
I took a big wage dip in order to take an opportunity to work for one of my ‘heroes’ – I rightly thought the opportunity to learn and grow would be enormous. However, although I’m now ready to move on again, I’m stuck at a lower level than I want.
Yes, it’s critical to have a job you love (I love my job), but if it doesn’t pay enough to live you’re in trouble!
Thanks for sharing Deborah. I admire what you have done. I’m pretty sure we can find a way of turning it to your advantage and get you a pay hike.
“Why is your success dependent on doing a job you love?”
I do strongly believe that success depends on doing a job you actually love, cause you would put in more then you normally do.
However, I also believe rather then running after success let success run after you, and that would only come through knowledge. No matter where you work like it don’t like it try and gain as much as knowledge as you can cause you never know what life has in store for you.
Learn and implement is the key to success!!!!!
IActually i want to do such job in wich my mind plus my intrests are
involves…………I thing in this way i cna becom e more successful personality of this world……….
Obviously，I`m pay much more attention on my career development, besides, I`m wanna to be a boss in my favourable career.
I hate the felling of living in the Cao camp but with my heart in the Han camp.
Do something you love and you will never work a day in your life.
“What’s your most burning concern about career development?”
After working in finance for over 35 years and making many “career moves,” I am now concerned with finding a career opportunity that will allow me to use all that I have learned about business and people to make a difference and finally save up enough to retire comfortably. This is looking less and less likely as the unemployment numbers increase and salaries decline with an overabundance of very skilled people who are willing to work for less.
I really want to be successful and happy in what I do. To develop my career, I really need to be outperform and be an outstanding player in my job. I want to make that possible.
What is your most burning concern regarding career development.
That I have been pigeon holed into administration, because I am good at it and its what I did to get through college. I have worked in different roles that were either to high risk or dull as diswater. Is it to much to want a career that is people orientated and not one where I am in front of a computer all day. I thrive with people and career has come to a full stop as I don’t know what to do next
I would like to reserve a place on your workshop please
“What’s your most burning concern about career development?”
Being able to utilize my transferrable skills and experience as well as my natural talents to carve out a role that I love, that is renumerated appropriatley for me to be able to love it more!
HI,
My biggest concern is that my working career is going to pass me by and my true vocation will never be discovered, let alone developed!!
My burning question is – in the current economy, with the chances of a double dip recession, should you stay in a full-time job/career that you dislike, because at the moment jobs are so scarce?
Hi Martin,
Thanks very much for part two and please reserve me a place for part 3. My most burning issue is knowing what job I should be applying for.
Best wishes,
Andrew
Hi Martin,
Thanks very much for part two of your excellent workshop, please reserve me a place for part three on Friday 10th. September. My most burning issue is knowing what job I should be applying for.
Best wishes,
Andrew
First of all, I would like a free place on the workshop, please.
Secondly in answer to your question: “What is your most burning concern regarding career development?” – I think that nowadays there is no such thing as a career anymore. The marketplace changes so fast due to technological innovations and the interconnection of the world markets that one needs to be constantly updating their skills in order to be perceived as an attractive candidate by employers. How does one keep up with the changes?
Zuzana
Hi,
Reserve a place for me on Friday.
Thanks.
Life is too short to be struggling 9 to 5 AND being expected to do overtime! Doing something you re good at and suits you will make the work day fly by, and if your natural talents are bing used success is guranteed ! Loving what you do is a natural motivator – you get in the flow and obstacles are ovecome, the clock is never being watched and you get more energy back then the amout of energy you give out. My goal is to find out what this is!
A person’s success is dependant on the job he/she wants because if you love the job, you do it with passion. It is not imposed on you, it comes from within you to do it, you are committed to it, it gives you pleasure and you derive satisfaction from doing the job. Achieving results drive/motivate you to put more effort and aim higher, leading to one’s success in that particular job.
It’s not as simple as getting a job you love, you have to get on with the internal politics of the organisation and the managersyou have. With good ones you can fly; in the wrong type of organisation or team or management structure you can be really miserable.
How can you identify an ideal working environment and team for you at interview stage?
Well, Simply to be able to keep going in the job, you must love it.
Alot of your life is spent at work, to be working at something you love, would not seem like work, I would be happier and feel healthier to do something that feels right, something that inspires and excites me.
Can I transfer from the NGO to the commercial sector without having to settle for the same salary level?
Doing a job you love means better results for both you and those you are working for. More job satisfaction for the one doing the job and a better service or product for those requesting the goods and/or services.
I was once told I could expect to have a profession but not a career…what happens when every time your job changes and you change with it you end up in a different profession? Keeping a base of professionally relevant qualifications is difficult – only academic qualifications do not have an ‘end date’.
On the issue of professional development :
The roles that I am involved with and am likely to remain involved with require that I move organisations regularly to seek progression.
Connectivity with appropriate organisations that may have such openings is then the greatest barrier to gaining progression.
My most burning concern about career development is the common perception amongst employers that their workers are of little worth and easily disposed of.
Most jobs are temp, short term, part time, minimum wage, pieces of s***. And that’s when you manage to hit that magic combination of the ‘right’ & ‘relevant’ skills, experience and qualifications that precicely matches the rigid job & person specifications that are advertised today. Otherwise, the world of work is effectively a closed shop for most people, like it is for me.
Increasingly too, any job that does get good is usually quickly outsourced to a cheaper country where you can pay someone doing a highly skilled job a very low salary.
So basically, career development is dead.
If you’re lucky enough to get a job in the first place, forget about keeping it long enough to have a career to develop.
“What’s your most burning concern about career development?”
How to make three part time jobs I love moneywise being more than one full time job.
The whole is more than the sum of its parts.
Aristotle
Martin – you would be a miracle worker to do something with me!
Doing what you love , is like doing for yourself before doing for others, that’s why work is done with best quality , less time , …
having a job you dont love -is like being with a partner you dont love! Only love will give you that dedication, motivation, and commitment to succeed.
If I am doing something I love, I feel happier, healthier, more confident & fulfilled – that benefits me, my friends & family & of course, the business!
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