The Only Constant in This World is Change

In 1964 US Economists noted that manufacturing within the United States was beginning to move overseas.  Further, they predicted that eventually the US economy would be service driven with little manufacturing remaining within our borders.  Well, it appears that we have arrived at “eventually.”

NAFTA, CAFTA, US Trade Agreements across the board all show the results of US Consumer Buying Habits.  The majority of US Consumers prefer imported products to those manufactured within the United States.  Consequently, US manufacturing is diminishing and is moving with the marketplace.

"In times of change the learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists."- Erik Hoffer. 

Change is the only constant in life and each person’s life is either successful or not based upon that individual’s ability to adapt to change.  This fact, which effects nature, man, economics, science, is called “evolution.”  The work environment has been and is rapidly changing and evolving.  Opportunities are changing and evolving.  Business is changing and evolving.  However, a vast number of employers seem embedded in the past and unwilling to adapt to an evolving world.

am a career coach and work with people across the USA who are in various phases of career distress, change or unemployment.  Generally without exception, each individual I meet has the same preconceived notion that, “there is a specific way to wage a career search and only this one way is valid and professional.”  Only after we discuss change management, as it relates to employment, do some individuals begin to accept new ideas as valid and valuable to their success.  Those who accept the changes and the evolving paradigm in business and employment quickly find new careers.  Unfortunately, they are the minority. 

The hardest part of accepting change is that you have to look within yourself and evaluate who you are, or who you’ve become.  Not only must you accept new means and methods as valid but you must also use and implement them as well.  Dress for success is not something others should do, dress for success means you go out and buy “two” new interview suits, with accessories.

There is this person, we will call him Fred, who worked for a school system for 20 years.  Each year Fred received a cost of living raise and a merit raise until he finally rose to the very top of the department’s pay scale.  He and his wife bought new “stuff” with his raises but never once did Fred purchase a class or seminar to improve his skills.  He was replaced on his 20th year with someone who had up to date skills, at one third his salary and half his age.  The world evolved and Fred did not.  Today his 20 year old skills are useless and Fred works at whatever he can to pay the bills. 

If you sound like Fred I strongly recommend you immediately take courses to modernize your skill sets “before” you begin a job search.  If you are unemployed and can’t afford courses, borrow the money or get a part time job/s to pay for continued education.  There is absolutely nothing more critical in the labor market today than skill sets.  If your education is ancient history, you are simply not going to find what you are looking for in employment.  And don’t expect employers to teach you what you should already know.  There are plenty of people out there ready and willing to take your place in line.

The hard cold facts of live cannot be ignored.  Today there is little if any employee loyalty or employer loyalty in the world of business.  The average employee tenure is 30 months.  Start one job today, prepare for the next job coming around the corner.  “Be Prepared.”  If you do not have a current resume in your brief case, ready to immediately give out to a new contact that might possibly be able to offer you a good career opportunity, you will later have regrets.

Let’s look at your resume and examine its value.  First of all, your resume represents who you are and not just where you’ve been, right?  It’s your very best piece of work, your very best marketing tool, your very best example of the value you offer the world, right? Unless you are an expert writer, you MUST have a resume “done” by an experienced professional resume writer.  You won’t even get in the door unless your resume is “solid” and presents you as someone of substance and unique quality.  I cannot even begin to tell you how many resumes go into the “circular file,” that’s a shredder, simply because they look awful and are boring. 

Your communications techniques are equally important to you and must be professional, modern, consistent and continuous.  Please pre-write what you are going to say.  Don’t wing-it.  Saying, “Hi, um, I’m ah looking for the um manager of the department.  Ah, who’s that?”  Proper planning beats damage control.  Write it out.  “Hello,  my name is X, could I have Mr./Ms. X’s email address to send a letter of introduction? “ Short and to the point.  Only give information if asked.  If no email address is given, send your letter and resume via snail mail.  But make certain you have the right spelling of the name and the proper address. 

Follow-up, follow-up, follow-up!  You are in marketing now.  You are presenting yourself to the world.  Communications is the key to success.  In the career search game, mass mailings are the Holy Grail for success.  Prepare a list of everyone in town and send, send, send.  There are companies that send as many as 15,000 resumes per individual and guarantee jobs.  They charge $25,000 but they are successful.  You can always say no to an offer but you never have enough information to make an intelligent decision until you have an offer in hand.

Your email subject line should say, RESUME.  All blanks are trashed.  If they don’t know you, your name won’t work as an attention getter either.  The body of the email should begin with the person’s name.  Hello Ms. Smith.  The body of the email should be 1. perfect, 2. Direct and to the point.  “I am writing this letter of introduction,” (add two or three short paragraphs.)  Close with, “I look forward to talking with you and discussing future opportunities.” Or something else positive and non intrusive.  Don’t ask them to call you or request an appointment.  Tell them you will contact them in a few days, thus not adding to their existing workload with another task. 

Your follow up should be brief and personal, also pre-written.  “Hello, Ms. X, I sent my resume to you Monday and I was hoping you might have read it?  Do you think you might have a need for my talents?”  If yes, cool.  If no, “do you know anyone who might?”  Move on but call her back next month to see if anything changed.  Remember, a no simply means, not at this time and hardly ever means never. 

Always be nice, cheerful and pleasant.  Never burn bridges, which is one of the worst things you can ever do.  You never know who knows who and what someone is likely to say about your actions.  Always be short and to the point and never ever boast about how you saved the day or talk negatively about anyone or anything.  It reflects poorly upon your personality and makes people wonder why you’re such a hostile individual, whom they won’t want to hire and work with.  Remember, employers are not only trying to figure out who can do the job but also who they and everyone else might want to work with.  Play Nice! 

Next month we’ll talk about interviewing skills.  But in the mean time, send out as many resumes as you can and follow up daily on each an every one of them.  Make your career search a full time job which you work at 8-10 hours a day and you’ll be surprised at how easy finding a new career will become in today’s market. 

If you need help, give me a call 615-377-0117. 

Happy Hunting 

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