This post was written because 4 weeks ago a very good friend called to tell me that he had lost his job – I gave him this advice and today he called to say I picked him up and he went out the very next day, did what I suggested and he now has a new job starting next week (in the financial services sector).
When I was younger a lot younger, in fact I was at university, the British Conservative MP Norman Tebbitt told the country to stop moaning and ‘get on your bikes and find a job’. That was great advice and it is as relevant today as it was then (I think early 80’s).
I know that I will get a bit of flack for this post, but look at it as an inspiration please, a motivation if you will to get up and get right back into the thick of things if you suffer from loss of employment.
Unfortunately too often people ‘expect’ to be taken care of, to be provided for – well guess what we are responsible for ourselves – we have to take action for ourselves, so when the axe falls we have to be prepared and willing to get up and get on our bikes and go and seek a new start.
Today the younger generation, in particular, have got great tools for marketing themselves, networking on line, twittering and an abundance of other means – did you know 36% of jobs in Europe go to people, not through external adverts, but via word of mouth, connections to friends and acquaintances. So keep those relations and network like mad.
If you are unemployed – get out of the house every day arrange to meet with someone that can possibly help you – don’t present anything but a positive attitude. Negativity is not something that will attract you to would be employers, so dig deep and be resilient. I know its hard but its essential.
Another key bit of advice to everyone, not just job seekers, is to constantly invest in themselves – invest in training – knowledge is something that shows employers you are serious. Get those external qualifications in Marketing (CIM), auditing (CIA), Accounting (CAA) and HR (CIPD), these qualifications show you are serious about your career.
Keep fit, get outside cycle, run, walk or whatever – but exercise. I don’t care if its minus 27 degrees c. exercise it keeps your mind and body strong and helps you avoid slipping into mild depression.
DO NOT WATCH TV – according to a lady from Manpower speaking at Davos yesterday there are 4 million unfilled vacancies across Europe – get online, be disciplined, only look for jobs, allocate a set number of hours to do this EVERY DAY and send your resume, market yourself, be proactive but do not be a couch potato.
So what is the title about – 3 bikes, 3 flat tires. Every day I cycle about 40 kilometres to clients offices and back, just before Christmas one of my bikes got a flat tire, I went off to Opole so did not have time to take it to the repair shop (I prefer to replace inner tubes than fix them). After Christmas another one of my bikes got a flat tire, it was dark and I didn’t see the glass, duh!! and this morning I went to take out my third bike, which is really an off road trekking bike, but hey make do with what you have right? And guess what it too has a flat tire – I think we must have a mouse having a great time letting the air out of my tires – but I can tell you one thing, flat tire or no flat tire I still get out and do what I have to do – I have to because, even though I have a wonderful supportive family, I know that I am ultimately responsible for me and that’s exactly how I like it.
It’s not what we can do in life that makes a difference. It’s what we will do.
Getting the job via connections isn’t it nepotism?
In Poland ther’s also other problem, they look to your CV and put you in some drawer, they very rarely/seldom give you a chance to prove that your education or papers you have as an effect of that education can be 1 thing and your character and abilities can predispose you also to other work you have no papers to.