Being human, we all make mistakes. In a job search, unfortunately, we will make mistakes. I once mailed a letter to a CFO and had the wrong name in the letter! We all do it at some point. Go ahead and get it out of your system and make the mistakes, then the key is to learn from them.  I only made that mistake once!

You only have to be 10 minutes late for your interview or have bad grammar or spelling errors in your resume to learn you will never do that again. We become quick learners when those mistakes occur. The more common mistakes we all make come when meeting with a recruiter, a phone interview, an in-person interview, follow-up correspondence, a cover letter and much more.

Chances are, and you need to know everyone makes them, it comes down to mistakes we make with personal interaction related to an interview.  Here is the good and bad news at the same time: since every person is different, every interview is different.  The bad news is no 2 people are alike and therefore it is difficult to know exactly what the hiring manager really is looking for in a candidate. The good news is when you don’t receive a call back, you get to have a fresh attempt with someone new.

There is a tendency to believe if we can just get the interview we will land the job. But too often the interview is where most people struggle. Somehow we believe that we can walk in and ace the interview almost automatically. Sure we prepare, but we still believe we can perform extremely well the first time and every time.

Yet, conducting a successful job search uses the same mindset and perspective as when attempting to achieve any new goal. Whether climbing a mountain, learning a new skill or your first attempt at bowling, no one gets it right the first time. I have had my share of mistakes through the job search process. In fact I feel like I have made most all of the ones you can make. There was one company where I had always wanted to work, and on interviewed with them on two separate occasions. Neither time was good. On one occasion the interview with the HR person lasted no more than 15 minutes – I knew something was wrong then!  This particular company had a very unique culture, and on my second attempt the position I was interviewing for was a step up for me.  I ended up being intimidated by both scenarios and hence did not do well.

After the pain of many interviews I learned the value and importance of understanding the mindset of people and human behavior.  This understanding helped me transform my job search although it took some practice.

Don’t get down on yourself because you didn’t get a call back on an interview, especially in hindsight if you can determine what you should have said or what you probably should not have said.  Share your answers with someone and get their reaction. The key is to learn from the process and not be angry or disheartened. Once I truly factored into my interview process that every person is different, I learned the keys to on how to connect with each person, especially the hiring manager.

A job interview – talking with someone, especially in person is just as much of an art as it is a science. Even if done via Skype, there is still a personal connection to be made. Having great answers to 100 questions is important, but unless you understand the “art” of the process, it will be a challenge to personally connect with the hiring manager. One of the keys I learned was that I stopped trying to be someone I wasn’t. Instead, once I understood that there was much value in just being me, I was much more relaxed, confident and able to convey my expertise and skill set in a convincing manner.

While everyone is focused on key words in their resume and profile, keep spending more time focused on the key words you use in your interview and the key words you hear from the hiring manager. Learning how to listen and learning to interpret what you hear, including reading body language as you probably are discovering, are essential to a successful interview.

View each interview as an opportunity to learn and grow and you will land that job offer because you have become a great candidate. When you become poised and confident in the interview gained from your mistakes in previous interviews you will quickly become the perfect fit for the job.

Please share a comment or question. Struggling in your job search? Click here to break through in your job search. www.garyspinell.com/40keys

When unemployed the question we all want answered is “When is it going to end?”

There is no greater experience of uncertainty as when you are unemployed. In contrast, we much rather prefer having certainty and just as important consistency in our life. Yet, when unemployed, we must deal with both uncertainty and definitely a lack of consistency in what each day, each conversation and each interview brings.

People generally don’t handle uncertainty very well because of the inability to plan and to plan our future involves belief in events occurring in a specific timeframe. Having to manage uncertainty is difficult because of not knowing the conclusion and the timing. When unemployed we not only are extremely eager to know when it will end but what the resolution will look like. This uncertainty can be extremely stressful.

When employed we can establish an end date for a project completion and work toward that goal. The key is that when we are employed we are in control of the process and can actually set the end date and how the outcome will look. Unfortunately, when we are unemployed control is elusive. As much as we can do we can’t make anyone hire us, and definitely not in a timeframe that we desire or require.

It is much easier mentally to know on what specific date an event is going to occur. We know when our birthday is, we know when holidays are celebrated, we know when our children will graduate and we know when we will finish a seminar, certification or degree.

Not knowing when something will occur puts an enormous amount of strain on someone not only mentally, but emotionally and physically. How can you plan for the conclusion of an event when you don’t know when, and if it is going to occur?

How does all of this impact us and what can we do about it? This confusion and lack of decisive information profoundly impacts our thinking, beliefs and actions. Just watch how the stock market makes traders crazy every day, and often people lose money, because they make irrational decisions totally created out of the fact they don’t know what is going to happen.

A human trait is that when we are not sure what is going to happen, we start to make assumptions, or come to conclusions on what next steps to take, mental approach to employ, and adjustment in our beliefs and subsequently what is the best course of action.

In addition, we begin making assumptions and conclusions about our own ability. All too often upon not landing the job offer, our self-confidence is eroded. We may begin to doubt our interviewing skills, our networking skills, the layout of our resume and much more. We doubt until we wonder if we will ever land a job again. Consequently, we feel compelled to change wording in our resume, seek out the latest LinkedIn technique, rehearse another 20 interview questions and work continually on our elevator speech. Yet, when flying a plane and encountering turbulence, the airplane pilot does not land the plane and consider changing the tires, changes to the wings, changes to the engines and maybe a different airplane all together. Instead the airplane pilot adjusts to the wind and storms moving around them, yet remaining focused on the final destination.

In a job search we never really have all of the information on the status of our job search. We don’t know who has seen our profile or resume online, who might have forwarded our resume to a friend, or who might have brought up our name in a conversation. Making assumptions on the depth of our ability and impact of our networking connections can only lead us astray.

Remember you have the right skills, the right expertise and experience. Placing additional pressure on you to hurry and land that job creates unneeded stress and causes additional mental confusion. You also may makes decisions on an knee-jerk reaction instead of clear thinking.  If you know what direction you are headed, trust your experience and keep headed in that direction. An airplane pilot doesn’t spend time helping build the airplane – rather he/she trusts in its ability to fly, and fly effectively. Instead the pilot focuses on continuing to head in the intended direction.

Your time will come. Your job offer is coming. Remain diligent and focused on your path. Throughout my web posts and newsletters, you have noticed I focus solely on the impact of human behavior and mindset on your job search results. Our minds can play enormous tricks on us and impact our ability to be effective in the interview and when networking.  What you believe about yourself, your ability, the job search process, the world and people in general attract to you experiences mirroring those beliefs.  These are THE key factors in what you experience in your job search.

The reason I know is that I had to change the way I viewed myself and the job search process before I landed jobs I desired.  Painstakingly I learned these lessons, and do not wish those struggles on you. When I learned these keys, my job search results changed. And I saw this with others who were greatly successful.

The 40 Keys job search program focuses heavily on how to overcome these mental obstacles while providing a unique approach to job search tactics.  Quite often it’s not your resume or profile that creates the roadblocks to achieve the job offer or achieve any goal in life; rather landing the job all comes down to what you believe about yourself, your ability and your talent. If you have any self-doubts this program will transform your thinking to regain your confidence, effectively communicate your expertise and land that next job.

I know you can do it.  Your time is coming. Believe in you.

Have a job search question? Contact me at gary@garyspinell.com

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From the book, It Was YOU, All Along

When working toward any goal or desired outcome, there are countless possibilities of the path we will take to achieve that goal. We discover that the events, people and places we experience along that path are amazing and often surprising.  Why? Because we have a tendency to focus or contemplate on the possibilities, and path, we would like to appear. We visualize how each step of the process will be played out as if directing a movie.

At the same time we often view the world in the here and now. Our reality is based only on what we can feel, see and touch. We view our world in finite, exact terms. For example, many of us would like to win the lottery. Lottery jackpots have escalated in the last several years to over one hundred million dollars. When I was a child I could not “imagine” the significance of one million dollars. I could not understand fully the magnitude of that much money. If the amount was all in one dollar bills, I wondered how high the pile would reach if each dollar was stacked upon the next.

Today, I can conceptualize one million dollars or one million people in my mind, although it is still difficult. If we have difficulty imagining the magnitude of one million, or maybe one hundred million dollars, imagine the reality of one billion dollars or one trillion dollars, or stars in the universe. Some numbers are just too big for us to get our minds around.

The same is true for possibilities, and the experiences and accomplishments that can occur in our life.  If we attempt to focus on how our journey will unfold, we limit the Universal number of possibilities. There are a countless number of possibilities of what doors will open for us, who we will encounter each day and what unique piece of information will be presented to us to help us succeed. The nuance to master is by not forcing a particular path to occur we allow an infinite number of possibilities to unfold, which brings us to our goal much sooner.

In addition, the nuance to master is to not focus on how our journey will unfold, but simply to experience the journey.  Stay in the moment and focus on what work we need to do, and the possibilities to complete our journey will present themselves to us perfectly.

We often block the best options from occurring.  How? Well, our mind has a tendency to ONLY hold on to that which it can rationalize and comprehend. Since it is very difficult to understand and comprehend an infinite number of possibilities, our minds reduce large numbers to amounts to which we can relate to or understand.

 The problem occurs when we believe the amount
that we can relate to is all there is!

Any amounts or possibilities beyond those we can comprehend are eliminated in our minds as unachievable and not part of our realities. Yet, in reality, there are thousands of possibilities.  So let’s focus on the work to complete our goal and let the Universe bring us the perfect possibilities of people, places and events to achieve our goal, and complete our journey.

–   This exerpt from the book It Was YOU, All Along
Available on Amazon at http://amzn.to/XFZqWK

Discover all of the possibilities AND
how to get unstuck to cross the threshold to your dreams.
For a SHORT TIME ONLY – Purchase either
It Was YOU, All Along or
Beyond Intent: Crossing the Threshold to Your Dreams
(in any format) and receive FREE the other book in pdf.
Email me after purchase to receive your free copy.

Have a question? Contact me at gary@garyspinell.com. 
Thank you!        

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How many times have you seen a job description for which you believed your experience and skill set matches exactly and yet never landed an interview? You submitted your resume and networked and yet never heard back, leaving you to ponder what you might have done wrong in the submission process.

You also take that a step further and begin to doubt if your experience is lacking somehow to have failed in at least obtaining a response from the company.  Was it your resume or something on your LinkedIn profile, or did you not submit your resume on the right day at the right time, or should you have called the hiring manager, or maybe your cover letter was lacking?

Most likely it was none of those reasons. A job description can have 20-30 criteria and although you can make the assumption they are listed in order of importance, often they are not. Wouldn’t it be great for job seekers if these criteria were weighted to show you just how important each requirement is to the hiring manager?  Unfortunately, there is another factor: the criteria changes over time- even during the hiring process.

All of this leaves job seekers in a quandary and most certainly a large degree of frustration. I am sure you have been on interviews only to discover even the job title does not match the listed job requirements or the perceived grade level of the job responsibilities.

With this said, the question is really “What can you do about it?” There is something you can do, and at the same time nothing you can do.  Business and people are all different and it is important to understand you will never understand their actions or decisions. At the same time this scenario screams for why it is imperative you have a powerful network. You at least need a chance to get in front of the hiring manager and discuss your experience in detail and ask questions. However, this still may not be enough, but at least you give yourself a chance.

In the end if the hiring manager decides she must have someone with extensive industry experience similar to the company, and yours is modest in that industry, then as hard as you sell yourself, it may all fall on deaf ears. But you need that chance in front of the hiring manager, and if you aren’t granted one, even with great referrals, step back and consider that was not the best fit for you.

Maybe during the entire interview process senior management pushes a project to the front and demands most resources be focused on timely completion of that project. Although you may have been in the running at one point, you may now be moved to the back of the line because someone else has more experience solely in that project completion. Networking at least gives you a chance that you might be heard.

The other challenge is that the hiring manager may not be exactly sure of what he really wants. Sure, we know every job descriptions asks for every conceivable job expertise, but which ones are really the key drivers for the hiring manager? The hiring manager often is not exactly sure what the best combination of skills and talents is for the job – almost as if he will know it when he sees it. Unfortunately, for you the job seeker, that puts you in a major dilemma – how can you possibly answer questions not really knowing what the hiring manager wants if the hiring manager is not exactly sure? This is another reason why asking questions in an interview is more important than having cute answers.

Consider the job search process from the hiring manager perspective. If you have ever been in this position, you first look around for someone internally to fill the position or ask around if anyone knows anyone.  Eventually HR and even Legal push you to write a job description and in haste you put down everything you can think of to require of a candidate. Yet if the hiring manager was going to talk first to a referral of an internal candidate for example, the hiring manager would not have this extensive list of requirements in mind, rather more focused on if the person was a good fit in a key areas.  See how crazy this is? Bottom line, you can’t really be sure if your experience and expertise is what the hiring manager really wants.

But what if you never receive an opportunity to interview and your experience aligns perfectly with the job requirements? Sure, as we know there are hundreds of other candidates with similar great experience and something in their background caught the hiring manager’s eye.  However, remember that a job search comes down to fit, and that fit has to be there from both sides. I have discovered that when I was turned down or never provided an opportunity to interview at a company that eventually not only a job offer came from another company, but the opportunity proved to be better than I had planned for.

This is not just wishful thinking. Looking back I can see that my skills and expertise would not have been fully utilized at some companies, or the company ended up years later struggling financially, or merged with another company changing their culture. At the same time the company where I landed was always the right company for me to learn, grow and excel as long as I remained focused on what I truly was looking for and desired in my next position. Most important each company set me up to take on the challenges and responsibilities of my new position.

About 10 years ago there was a company at which I interviewed and wanted to work, believing the position looked like a great fit. There was another company at which I interviewed, and yet of which I knew little about them.  As it turns out the first company got buried in the economic collapse of 2008 (they were a home builder!). I did not get the job at the first company and instead I landed at the second company and eventually was given more responsibility than anticipated and it turned out to be a perfect growth and learning opportunity.

So remain vigilant and know there is a place where you belong and where you will excel. Instead of lamenting a lost opportunity, or negative thinking on how the company made wrong decision in not hiring you, realize instead the right decision was made in not hiring you – because you belong somewhere else to achieve goals and add skills and make a difference.

Now break through in your job search by obtaining unique and powerful job keys focused on your specific job search challenges. Categories such as interviewing, working with recruiters and networking, common job search mistakes, and the power of a success mindset. http://www.garyspinell.com/40keysebooks/

FREE Job KEYS when you sign up for the FREE job search newsletter!  Questions? Contact me at gary@garyspinell.com.

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Most likely you recall the movie “The Wizard of Oz” where Dorothy, after being transported via a tornado to another world says to her dog “We’re not in Kansas anymore.” Dorothy quickly learns that the rules and what was normal that she learned growing up in Kansas no longer applied in this new land.

When unemployed it is very easy to feel the same. Being unemployed is like no other situation you will experience.  When employed, you made decisions on projects, the timing of when those projects would be completed, when to hold meetings, when to make a recommendation to your boss or peers, and much more.  You were in control.

Now when unemployed you can’t make anyone hire you. There is so much less control, and most of the time you will feel as you don’t have any control over the process. You find people do not return a call or email quickly as they did when you were employed. People give more vague responses compared to when you were employed. It is quite easy to feel as if you are not in Kansas anymore.

The communication process is so much different when you are unemployed. You are now on the outside looking in and it is often so difficult to get anyone’s attention. And once you do, you can be sure they are thinking of 5 other things during your conversation or reading your email.

At the same time, much of your success does depend not only on your actions, but what you believe about the world, the job search process and your own abilities. Take pride in your accomplishments and go confidently through the process with your extensive experience and expertise.

In the movie, Dorothy meets up with 3 other characters all looking for something to fulfill their dream and even their self-esteem.  They did learn much along the way, and at the same time their experiences and challenges brought the best out of them!

In the end they learned as Dorothy did, that she could return home at any time – she had the power within. The key is to see the power and ability, learn and discover how to access this power and ability, and finally how to use it to its maximum effectiveness.

In a job search as with Dorothy, we are so close to the challenge that we don’t see how to overcome the challenge, and in our case, land that job offer. The key to landing that job offer you so greatly desire does not come from the latest LinkedIn technique; rather, being aware of your human behavior and perception of your situation and those around you. Your mindset of how you approach your job search, for example, which career path to choose, what you focus your time on each day, and how well you interact and communicate with others at all times, are critical factors in your job search success.

We often can’t see some of the barriers we are creating which is why in a job search it is extremely valuable to seek out someone who can provide independent perspective giving you honest feedback and clarity.  Frequently much of our stress and indecision on what steps to take next in our search comes from our own fear of rejection, lack of self-esteem and fear of the unknown.

As we know, the biggest and greatest fear of being unemployed is not knowing when it is going to end.  Yet, you can overcome these fears and barriers and be just like Dorothy, discovering she had the power within to land that next job – which is how we feel when we have returned home.  Struggling in a specific part of your job search? Check out the 4 NEW sections of the Unique Keys program broken into the area you want to address: Interviewing, Recruiters & Networking, Commons job search mistakes, and Mental keys of success!  Click here to learn more http://garyspinell.com/40keysebooks/

Register today for the free job search newsletter.

Struggling in your job search? Check out the “40 Unique and Powerful Keys” – click on the 40 keys tab.

Have a question? Contact me at gary@garyspinell.com. 
Thank you!        

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1. Focusing on how difficult the job search process is.  There is no doubt that the job search process today is a major challenge, to say the least. There are millions of people chasing a fewer number of openings. And yes, submitting resumes online, especially spending considerable time completing applications can be mind-numbing. Then when you add in not hearing back from recruiters and companies, being concerned if there is age bias, challenges with being overqualified, or you just plain aren’t the right fit can, all of this can drive any job seeker in to major frustration. However, if you  are too focused on how the process is difficult and believing recruiters and companies are at fault, then that is what you will continue to find.

You only have a limited amount of time and mental energy every day to focus on your job search. If you spend 2, 3 or 4 hours a day locked in how difficult the job search process is then you waste precious time and mental energy. Consider the process is difficult for everyone, so instead of venting to others, focus how best to excel in this competitive environment. Spend your time where you receive the greatest return on your effort and keep focused on your goal.

2. Wasting time listening to everyone’s advice online looking for a magical tactic. The basics of a job search really have not changed: you need a resume, a profile and you need to network. Ask people who were unemployed and then landed a job and get their advice – they will all pretty much tell you the same thing about landing a job. When I was unemployed I talked to a multitude of people who landed a new job. I learned from them what worked and in the end most of them said the same things. People who have been unemployed and then landed a job can help you because they will understand what it is like waiting on the phone to ring, or dealing with the frustration of the interview process, and just mentally staying upbeat every day. These people who landed won’t be telling you about magical tactics they used; rather they will explain how building relationships both before and during the interview by understanding human behavior is vital.

3. Not focusing on the key aspects causing the blockage in your job search. If you are having a problem landing an interview, take another look and see if your resume and profile are really telling the best story about your expertise and skills. Be sure both of these tools clearly reveal your desired career path. Then, move away from the computer and meet people. If you aren’t building a network that can ultimately refer you to a hiring manager, you hurt your chances significantly of ever getting in the door.

If your problem is not getting a call back after a first interview, then consider your approach in the interview is not working. Review your answers and questions with a friend to get their input and perspective. You may be spending too much time providing answers instead of asking key questions to learn more. If you are lacking self confidence, it will easily get communicated in an interview via what you say and your body language. You will find that giving long winded answer hoping that something you say will eventually be important to the hiring manger is a recipe for disaster. If you get to later rounds of interviewing, your technical skills are even less important and understanding of human behavior and human nature is vital. If you can’t connect with the interviewer then you are missing out.

4. Believing it is unfair someone else landed the job because they knew the hiring manager.  If you knew the hiring manager and he/she called you about a job opening you would consider that great networking and pretty smart. Yet, many people complain that when someone else lands that job via knowing the hiring manager they believe the other person had some unfair advantage.  And actually, they did have an advantage, just as you would have had if you knew the hiring manager or was referred to via a good friend or business acquaintance. With thousands of job seekers submitting resumes, networking is a vital and necessary tool.  Connecting with people, which allow you to share information and insight builds a relationship. Eventually you will be referred to more connections who can help guide you. As your connections get to know you they become valuable allies in your search very willing to introduce you to hiring managers.

5. Not understanding what interviews are really about.  Interviews have all to do with human interaction and understanding human behavior and little on technical skills. You may not get the call back for all sorts of reasons, and at the same time never be able to learn afterwards what the deciding factor was. But if you frequently are interviewing but not getting a call back it is because you weren’t connecting with the hiring manager (and maybe their boss) on a personal basis.  It is difficult to build relationships by having rehearsed the answers to 100 interview questions. You can only build relationships by asking questions and listening, intently. If they don’t give you sufficient information, ask a follow up question. But listen and listen carefully. One of the most common known questions to ask in an interview is “Why is this position open?” Listen to the answer. The hiring manager may give one of 10 answers why the position is open. Knowing why the position is open is essential to provide effective information and answers.

We can submit resumes online or via mobile app and any other automated process, but at the end of the day you will interview and ultimately be working with the hiring manager in person. Your key is to understand human behavior to connect with people. This is the vital piece to landing that next job.

Struggling in a specific part of your job search? Check out the 4 NEW sections of the Unique Keys program broken into the area you want to address: Interviewing, Recruiters & Networking, Commons job search mistakes, and Mental keys of success!  Click here to learn more http://garyspinell.com/40keysebooks/

Get your FREE 1/2 job search consultation and obtain insight into how to break through your job search challenges.

Email me and ask me about your biggest job search challenge. I will help you, because I know the frustration of being there, as well as the exhilaration of hearing from a company offering a great opportunity. 

Have a question? Contact me at gary@garyspinell.com. 
Thank you!        

From the book, Beyond Intent: Crossing the Threshold to Your Dreams

In the last newsletter we addressed that there are 10 essential components involved in having a positive attitude and 2 of them were discussed in detail. In this newsletter we address components 3 and 4.

3.  Possessing the will and courage to address our fears.

Facing our fears is often our greatest challenge.  By creating negative images and scary scenarios, our minds keep us focused on fear and what we can’t achieve.  In doing so, our minds create mountains that we believe are impossible to climb.  Yet when we actually turn and face our fear, we discover that the challenge was much less than we anticipated.  Those overwhelming mind-created images of how difficult and emotionally challenging the task would be melt away to nothing once we move through our fear.

We have all faced our fears at some point in our life. It may have been the first day at a new school, that key interview that landed our first job, taking a chance on saying hello that started a wonderful relationship, trying our hand at a hobby, or simply daring to try something new no matter how small it may have seemed at the time.  All of these steps took courage.

Facing our fears is the most difficult of all the challenges we face.  And straight up, it takes guts to face our fears. I left the corporate world behind to pursue a career in speaking and people development.  Although I have a significant amount of experience in those areas, establishing and maintaining a business is a major challenge.

In addition, the easy thing to do would have been to land another position similar to the one I left.  Being employed in a similar position was the safe thing, and in many ways the more practical thing to do.  But my desire and passion could be satisfied only by doing what I believed I had been trained to do over a lifetime.

Of course at times I questioned my sanity, as I allowed myself to feel my human emotions of fear.  But for me not to speak and teach was like asking a fish not to swim.  That is how I felt. Recognizing my fear, I daily set it aside, and moved with enjoyment and passion for my work, on a journey for which I had prepared for a long time.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. ~ Neale Donald Walsch

When we face our fear we are pushing past what we believe we know and are moving into the unknown, out of our comfort zone.  The nuance again is that in facing our fear, we are signaling to the Universe that we are leaving our comfort zone behind and pushing through, to experience something new and wonderful.

Responding to our action of pushing past fear, the Universe assists us by delivering a door for us to open.  On the other side of that door lies the path of a new journey for us to explore.  The act of facing our fear demonstrates a positive attitude; we show that we believe that additional abundance awaits us on the other side of the door.

4.  Believing God wants you to have abundance.

At times we are led to believe that wealth is only for a chosen few.  Yes, the wealthy will tell you their formula for success, implying it required effort and patience and perseverance.  But most wealthy people believe everyone can have wealth.

Having a positive attitude includes believing wealth and abundance are within our reach.  And by the way, abundance includes more than money. Abundance includes knowledge, the quality of relationships, health, and a feeling of inner peace.

Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.  ~ William James

To achieve our goals implies that we believe God wants us to succeed and obtain abundance.  God desires that we are able to experience the joy that is acquired by having abundance.  At times we will incur setbacks on our path to obtaining our desires.  We must not perceive these setbacks as God attempting to prevent us from happiness. Rather, by embracing these challenges, we increase our knowledge and ability to ultimately reach our goals and realize abundance.

Many people believe that God has decided that only a relatively small percentage of people will achieve abundance and wealth.  Further, these people also believe God has predetermined which select few people will achieve this wealth.  It is imperative that we change this belief.  God wants everyone to receive and enjoy as much abundance as possible.  We are at our best when we can experience and create the total richness of life in every way.

We impact our world and the now 7 billion people living on it by sharing what we have to give.  The greater abundance in all areas provides us with a variety of options to positively impact the lives of those around the world.  Expect to obtain abundance. Expect that abundance in all forms is our birthright here on Earth.

Abundance of knowledge, wealth, and love are all to be shared.  The beauty is that we share this great abundance in our own unique method.  You may want to share your knowledge of construction or gardening or music.  Michelle and I donate to animal shelters.  In addition, we provide our business knowledge to a non-profit organization helping women overcome substance abuse.  The fun of having abundance is the ability to share it in your own style.  The key to having a positive attitude is in believing that we all can obtain abundance, and enjoying the process.

–   This exerpt from the book Beyond Intent: Crossing the Threshold to Your Dreams
Available on Amazon at http://tinyurl.com/7m88zym

Have a question? Contact me at gary@garyspinell.com. 
Thank you!        

]]> http://garyspinell.com/part-2-what-is-really-involved-in-having-a-positive-attitude/feed/ 0 http://garyspinell.com/dont-go-it-alone-in-your-job-search/ http://garyspinell.com/dont-go-it-alone-in-your-job-search/#comments Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:35:34 +0000 Gary Spinell http://garyspinell.com/?p=764

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When conducting a job search a very human perspective is to feel alone during your search. Although there are millions of other people that are unemployed it is easy to feel as if we struggle and manage through the process on our own.  We can believe and feel that although we have being unemployed in common with millions of other people, our specific circumstances and situation are unique just to us.

Although there are millions of people unemployed, and even attending a job search networking meeting with up to 100 other people, we can still feel alone in the audience. We can feel detached and not connected to others in attendance.  These feelings are common especially since at the end of the day we go back to our home and our computer, by ourselves.

Not helping in this process is the ability to interact with anyone in the world via technology has made us become connected more remotely.  There is less opportunity for direct face-to-face interaction.

Add to all of this the proliferation of job search information on the internet and anyone can see how easy it is to believe and feel they can climb this mountain by themselves. Many people would rather go it alone than have to reveal their personal struggles to others, sometimes complete strangers. And although you may attend networking meetings and hear from others how to land that next job, at times it all feels like those approaches are great for others, but just not right for you.

When conducting a job search, the same with any new venture, seek out someone who can guide and mentor you through the process. Seek out someone who truly understands the challenges job seekers face. Find someone who understands what it is like to wait for the phone to ring, to never hear back after submitting a resume, to feel anxious and yet extremely excited while waiting nervously for the start of your interview, and dealing not just with the self-doubt but the mental, physical and emotional highs and lows that every job seeker experiences every minute, day, week and month during their job search. I know, I have been there, several times.

In addition, there are many so called “job search experts” out there.  There is good advice and some not so good information to be heard and read. Many experts haven’t had to look for a job in over 20 years and may not fully understand what it is like on this side of the table.

Yet, find someone who can help guide you – provide information and answer your questions and appreciate your frustration. I have been there, I know what it is like believing you are the best candidate for the job, hands down, and yet never hear back. At the same time I discovered what the real keys are to landing a job. Sure have a great resume and LinkedIn profile, but breaking through not just to get noticed, but truly remembered, long after the interview takes special insight, the insight I learned as I spend over 25 years examining human behavior.

So, find someone who can help guide you – provide information and answer your questions and appreciate your frustration. The key is to have someone there in your corner – whoever that is. Find someone who can be honest and provide concise and important feedback to you.  Having someone to bounce ideas off of is very valuable. And sometimes just to have someone to vent your frustration, but who will also be there to lift your spirits to remind you that this time in a job search is only temporary. It is not
permanent.

Every successful person has sought out help to achieve their success. They didn’t go it alone. Don’t do it yourself without someone there to guide you.

Need some help from someone who was the worst job seeker and then discovered how anyone can land that next job?  Email me and ask me your biggest job search challenge. I will help you, because I know the frustration of being there, as well as the exhilaration of hearing from a company offering a great opportunity.

What are your current job search challenges?

Please share with other job seekers on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you!

 (Remember to sign up for your free job search newsletter and unique and powerful 40 Keys job search program)

The networking turtle still wins the job search race,
even with the rabbit’s faster technology

We live in a world of instant access, instant information, and instant response. We have microwaves, instant coffee, high speed internet, instant drive-thru restaurants, and instant awareness of news from around the world.

We don’t need to bother with taking the time to call someone, or worse, compose and wait for our email to arrive and be read and then wait on a return response. Now we can text someone, anyone, around the world. In some cases we can communicate our message to thousands, if not millions of people, in fewer than 140 characters. We are programmed for instant transmission and expect instant responses and results.

In the world of a job search, one can easily get consumed in this atmosphere of instant communication. Due to advancements in technology, most job seekers would agree that the job search process is now quicker, easier and more effective. Well, technology has made submitting resumes much easier and connecting with people quicker. But technology has not made the job search process more effective.

After all, isn’t one of the biggest complaints about submitting resumes online is that they appear to go into a black hole? And yet, job seekers constantly are refining their resume, creating more and more versions of their resume, and always tweaking their LinkedIn profile believing these efforts will generate an interview.

But no matter how much they do, this will not work much at all. Why?  Because technology is a tool, not an entire job search process. Although technology may have made the job search process more efficient, but not faster.

The problem is that job seekers can get caught up in the hype that technology and speed equates to landing the interview and offer much faster. Plus, in getting caught up in this hype, networking can easily be overlooked as an effective tool. Why? Because although people understand the value of networking, it has one inherent “perceived” weakness: it takes too long. And with our instant world, anything beyond instant gratification can appear too not work and definitely take too long to achieve desired results.

Most of you know the power of networking, yet there is a subtle and powerful reason why it works so well (which I will describe later). Building relationships does not occur overnight. Building effective relationships and networking connections can take weeks as you and your connection get to know each other.

It is understandable at times to feel the urgency to shortcut this process; however, taking the time to get to know someone is important. I, too, have tried to shortcut this process and realized quickly how it sends the wrong message. It was embarrassing and I knew I had to step back and take the appropriate time for my new contact to get to know the real me, and vice versa.

As each of you provides assistance in any of a number of ways to each other, your bond grows. Most importantly your trust in each other grows. Once that trust and respect is apparent you then have a powerful ally to get you in the door, speed past the HR function at times and land directly in front of the hiring manager. Nothing is better to help sell someone than a great referral from a third party.

So what is the subtle yet powerful essence of networking? Have you ever purchased anything at all on the internet, especially places such as Amazon? Most likely you have. What really tipped the scales when you made the purchases? You read the reviews of the products.

The fascinating aspect in considering these reviews is that you have never met any of these people and yet they influenced your decision. Imagine the influence on you and your decisions if the review came from someone you knew and trusted?

There continues to be a high percentage of people who shy away from networking because of its perceived lengthy gestation time. Many job seekers also perceive networking as difficult or challenging because they wonder how to introduce themselves and what to say. Yet, as many have learned, once you realize when networking correctly, the process is as simple as a referral. Meeting new people and learning who and what they know is the most enjoyable part of a job search.

Therefore, although technology gives the appearance of making the job search process quick and easy, networking speeds quickly ahead by the end of the journey. After submitting resumes online the process grinds to a crawl as you wait days, weeks and months for a reply from a recruiter or a company. In contrast, networking starts out slow, but gains in momentum until that key referral lands you the interview and makes a positive impression on the hiring manager. Just like that review on Amazon.

Still struggling with your job search? Frustrated with trying the latest tactics that don’t work? Consider that the real key to an effective job search is understanding human behavior. Get the program more people are turning to because of its unique and powerful approach like none other.  AND RECEIVE FREE with your purchase a 15 minute audio giving you ”The 5 steps you can take today to propel you to success!”  www.garyspinell.com/40keys  Discover the program from someone who has studied human behavior for over 25 years and applied that knowledge to land great jobs.  You can too.

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(Remember to sign up for your free job search newsletter and unique and powerful 40 Keys job search program)

Follow your Passion in a job search but be sure Planning,

Purpose, Patience and Perseverance come along with it.

There is extensive discussion these days about the pros and cons of following your passion in life. For job seekers looking at all options before deciding on a specific direction, many people consider starting their own business or branching out into a different field.  Many people have heard the words of Steve Jobs state how life is too short to be doing a job you don’t like.  Hence, there now appears to be some debate over whether following your heart’s desire, really what you have passion for, is good advice when in the midst of a job search.

I happen to believe following your passion is the right approach, but with some clarification. Or maybe a better way to say it is with a caveat.

Following your passion is not just about something you desire of grand design like saving the whales. Rather following your passion is about matching up your unique skills, talents, experience and expertise with your heart’s desire. There are many changes and improvements I would like to see occur in our world, but I do not have the talent or expertise to make those happen.

There are other changes and improvements I can make happen because of my skills and expertise. And it is no surprise that I have great passion to change and help the world in a way that uses my skills and expertise. Part of the reason I obtained these skills and expertise is that I had a natural feel for them. I went into Finance and Analysis initially in my career because I enjoyed the intellectual challenge of digging deep into numbers of a business.

In addition, I have an intellectual curiosity to understand how and why certain actions created certain results in business.  I also had a great fascination with understanding how what we think and believe impacts our results and success in life. Therefore, being in Finance was a natural fit for me. I actually was eager to learn more, and I was able to quickly improve my knowledge and skill set in these areas.

At the same time I have a knack for communication, but initially it was only for speaking. Now, my knack was not that I liked to talk for hours, rather that I always felt very comfortable speaking in front of a group, whereas most people are petrified of just the thought of speaking.  At the same time, I discovered that to be totally effective in the world of communication my writing skills had to be just as strong as my speaking ability. Yet I was the finance guy who could add and subtract, not write English essays.

The strange part was that I had a huge passion for speaking and communicating unique perspective and insight. I realized I needed to improve my writing skill, because I wanted to write a book which was a better way to extensively converse on one topic. The more I thought about writing a book, the more excited I became, because I realized it simply was me speaking just in another format.

I also needed to plan out how to gain additional experience in writing and the business of speaking. I landed a job where in addition to my Finance role I was heading Investor Relations and soon afterwards also heading Public Relations. Both functions required extremely proficient writing skills. The result was, with no surprise, that my writing skills quickly grew from my time heading these functions. This didn’t happen overnight.  Improving my writing took several years, and continues today.  I spent a year editing my first book and it was extremely painful but an amazing learning process.

Now I enjoy writing and find it a perfect complement to my speaking career. Although I had passion for communication, and even for writing, to improve it required my patience, sense of purpose and perseverance.

There was a reason I wanted to learn to write better and that was because of my passion to become a full time speaker and author. I wanted to share what I believe is my unique perspective to others to help them achieve their goals both personally and professionally. However, I could only achieve moving from a corporate career and following my heart and passion if I had a plan. I have followed my plan, with some adjustments, for 5 years and my business is still young but growing. I spent considerable time learning the keys to social media and building an author/speaking/consultation business. Essentially, I was working my plan.

What I can say absolutely is that I love what I do. I love and have great passion for communication of my ideas, insight, perspective and knowledge to help companies and individuals reach their full potential. Nothing is more gratifying than to receive an email from someone I do not know who either heard me speak or read my books and tell me how much of an impact it had on them and helped them achieve their goals.

When recently unemployed, it is natural to consider different options to land a job, including going in to business for yourself.  Determine where your skills, talents and expertise can best be used and pursue that path with full passion, and be aware of the challenges to achieve that goal.

So follow your passion. Just be sure that patience, perseverance, purpose and planning come along with it.
Frustrated in your job search? I understand as I was there 3 times in my career. But then I learned what really lands the interview and offer. Now get 50 Unique and Powerful Keys to land your next job now. Click on the 40 Keys tab above (40 Original and 10 Additional Keys!) AND RECEIVE FREE with your purchase a 15 minute audio giving you “The 5 steps you can take today to propel you to success!”The most unique job search program you will find anywhere. Read the reviews.

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Gary