| Apart from all the marketing strategies that need to be | | | | Organisation and Planning - Good marketers are well |
| understood and applied when job hunting, I always | | | | organised and leave nothing to chance. A solid well |
| ensure job seekers who attend my course understand | | | | thought out plan will ensure; your contact list is |
| 5 Key Attributes they need to possess in order to deal | | | | developed, your main message is put together, your |
| with what will be served up as they go down the job | | | | resume is ready and can be suitably amended at a |
| hunting path. | | | | moment's notice for any job. You will have a folder |
| Mental Discipline - I remember many years ago my | | | | which keeps a track of all contacts you have made, |
| father, who had boxed in the forces early in his career, | | | | what stage you are at and when you will be making |
| told me that real toughness was not about being a | | | | your next contact. Being well planned and organised |
| good fighter, but more about being mentally tough. I did | | | | means you will remain in control and always prepared |
| find this out the hard way, when, after being a junior | | | | for an interview. |
| soccer superstar, failed at the top flight in senior level, | | | | Ability To Learn - No job seeker comes into the job |
| in the main because I did not have or was not willing to | | | | hunting process knowing everything there is to know |
| develop the necessary mental toughness required to | | | | about job hunting. You are undertaking a learning |
| make it in the big league. | | | | process, especially if you are a recent school leaver, |
| As you enter the job hunting process mental discipline | | | | and you must submit yourself to the acquisition of the |
| is extremely important. Finding and ascertaining the | | | | knowledge required to be an effective marketer. This |
| right job requires hard work. There are lots of contacts | | | | will mean learning more about; yourself, the job market |
| you must generate, follow up calls, meetings, research | | | | and how to readily engage with employers. Embrace |
| and there will be the knock backs, at times to jobs that | | | | this learning process is exciting, especially when it is |
| you thought might have been in the bag. | | | | going to put you ahead of the pack and get you that |
| You have to stay focussed on the prize. One bad day | | | | job you want. |
| in job hunting isn't about feeling sorry for yourself and | | | | Perseverance - This word is my favourite word in life |
| taking the following day or two off to get better. You | | | | after love, peace and yes, and is the first and last |
| have to bounce back the next day and every day | | | | word in job hunting. |
| afterwards - up early and keep at it. It is about having | | | | The best way I can ever explain it is to quote the |
| a regime and sticking to it until you get the job you are | | | | story of a disabled job seeker who was a client for |
| after. | | | | the first employment service I worked for. John was a |
| Self Believe - Strong self belief is fully believing that | | | | young man with a mild intellectual disability, use of only |
| what you have to offer the world is both unique and | | | | one arm and to make it even harder, had only arrived |
| very special. Without strong self belief, like discipline, | | | | from China a couple of years beforehand with limited |
| you will not get too far down the job hunting path. | | | | English. |
| Imagine going into an interview not thinking you are the | | | | This never stopped John as he came into our office |
| best. You are just wasting your time and that of the | | | | every day for over a year with his newspaper |
| employer. If you do have any doubts you only have to | | | | advertisements and his resume. Away he would go, |
| ask yourself this question - do I really want another | | | | on the telephone, the computer and the photocopier. |
| applicant to get the job? Not likely is my guess. | | | | John never asked for any assistance, just kept quietly |
| Think of Nelson Mandela and what he had to go | | | | plugging away, always with a smile on his face and |
| through. Without such a strong sense of self belief he | | | | never a negative word about his knockbacks or |
| would never have made it in prison, never mind | | | | predicament - he just persevered. Finally, one day John |
| become President of South Africa when others have | | | | got an interview with a power company as a clerk in |
| already retired. How about Ray Kroch, founder of | | | | the mail area. He got the job and within a few years |
| McDonalds, who, at the age of 57, when others are | | | | had won more employee of the month awards than |
| starting to look forward to retirement, mortgaged his | | | | any other employee. Last I heard he was still working |
| house and bought the McDonald brothers business in | | | | there. |
| Miami. This is self belief. | | | | |