5 steps to getting the job you want

Not all of us are cut out to be an entrepreneur. Many people find a good job to be quite rewarding and feel happy about it. In the end, happiness is all that matters and if you can land a good job, you would be a fool to pass it by, especially if you have no income. Of course, that assumes that you are not a lazy idiot and you do want to work. One thing is certain though: you won’t get rich being lazy. And if you are fortunate enough to have been born in a rich family, by being lazy you won’t stay rich for long. There is one thing I came to realize over the years: God does not approve laziness. So get up and do something. Build a business or get a job! But not just any job, get the job you desire!

Step 1. Finding the job

First thing’s first – you need to decide exactly what kind of job you want. You need to know what you want. Think about work you are good at or have experience with. If you have an University degree, it might be a good idea to try and find something in that particular field, if that is what you really want to do.

There are a few good options that you can look into, once you’ve decided what you want:

1. The Internet – many companies post their jobs online these days. There is a good chance that you will find good opportunities.
2. Personal acquaintances –if you know someone who can refer you for a position in the company they work with, it is a golden opportunity. When hiring, I have found that the best candidates for a position come from referrals
3. Recruiting agencies – there is good value in being referred to a company by a recruiting agency. In fact, many major companies have contracts with such agencies.

It’s generally not a good idea to apply in person, unless you are able to make an outstanding impression.

Choose the company or individual you want to work for, before applying. You need to do some preparation work if you want to get the job you desire.

Step 2. Preparation work

Do your homework! To get the job you desire, you  have to study the perspective employer as to policies, personnel, chances for advancement. Find out as much information about what they do, their business and the positions they have available.

By analysis of yourself, your talents, your capabilities, figure out what you can offer. Plan specific means, services or ideas that you believe you can successfully deliver.

Forget about getting the job or not. Focus on what you can offer. If you can get that message through to the employer, you are perceived as being in the top 1% of candidates. There are so few people that do this that it is impossible not to stand out if you do it.

Make sure you write down your plan on how you can render the best possible service to your employer. This will be your guideline after you get hired.

Do this preparation work for every company you are interested in.

Step 3. Resume

Your resume must be crafted specifically for the job you desire and should contain several key points:

1. Education and qualifications – Be honest and never exaggerate. If you get put to the test and found out to be a liar, your chances to get the position are zero.
2. Experience – try to describe accurately what positions you held at other employers and your responsibilities in those positions
3. Professional looking photo
4. References –  try to get references from former employers – they make a good impression for your new employer and convey you as a trustworthy candidate
   

Personalize your resume for the specific position you are after. Make sure you state the qualifications you have that are specific for the respective position.

You should prepare personalized resumes for every company you are interested in.

Step 4. The interview

This is the time to put that preparation work to the test. To get the job you desire, you need to deliver the message across about what you intend to offer in terms of value for your employer.

Here are a few things you should pay attention to:

1. Your appearance (what they see)
   
2. Your body language (nonverbal communication)
   
3. The tone of your voice (what you say and how you say it)
   

Remember that all employers are looking for people who are committed to deliver value. Play this card to your advantage. If you can demonstrate that you can offer greater value than other candidates, you have no competition. And considering the vast majority of candidates do not focus on the value they can provide, you have pole position already.

One thing you could do, in order to present yourself confident in your ability to deliver, is to offer to work on probation for a certain time (3-6 months).

Step 5. Delivery of value

Now that you did receive the confidence from your employer, it’s time to deliver. There are 3 major objectives you need to focus on. These will determine the rate of success you will achieve at your work:

1.  Quality – the performance of every detail in connection to your position and the service you are rendering, with greater efficiency in mind
2. Quantity – the habit to render all the service of which you are capable at all times, with the purpose of increasing the amount as you develop greater skill through practice and experience
3. Cooperation – the habit of agreeable harmonious conduct which will induce a helping contribution from customers and fellow employees