How to get The Job.

How does a young person get a job these days?  With literally millions of people looking for work, it is obviously not as easy as it might be in times when there is full employment.  That is a given, but what does one do about it?  If it were me, I would first decide which job I wanted and was suited for (see yesterday's post).  After I had completed that essential step, I would outline a campaign to get that job and it would not be limited to filling out a job application and going home to wait for the phone to ring.  I would go through the correct procedures to include completing the job application as carefully as possible and thinking hard about the interview process, if there is one.  What is it that this organization is looking for in an employee and why do I fill that bill of particulars?  I would make sure that the organization learned that I would not be just marking time, but that I intended to make this job the first step in a career.  I would let them see a bit of the passion that I had for the objectives of the organization and let them know that I was doing what I could to prepare myself for a lifetime of endeavor in that particular field.  Above all, I would not play for pity by resting my case on the fact that I needed the work (even if that were to be true).  Remember that very few organizations that are worth anything are actively trying to hire lethargic losers.  Most want to fill their ranks with intelligent, ambitious people who will work hard.

OK, let's get real here.  In today's world it is possible to do all of the above and still not get the job.  There is a lot of competition and even though you might be the best person for the position that you are seeking it might be that the people who are making the hiring decisions will not see your true value to their organization and will reject your application.  If it were me, I would immediately reapply and I would find a way to get face to face with the person or persons that make the hiring decisions.  I would be as polite as possible and absolutely avoid any sign of hostility or desperation.  I would not waste their time.  My objective would be to quickly and succinctly project determination and sincerity.  Think about it.  We all know of examples of people who are eminently qualified for a particular position on paper, but who lack what it takes to be successful.  There are, of course, a lot of things that go into making someone successful, but one of those qualities is usually the ability to persist in the face of adversity. 

Let's assume that there is a time lag involved in this process.  You have developed your campaign, but for one reason or another you can not get the job that you want right away.  What do you do about it?  If it were me, I would not go on any form of welfare.  I would go out and get a different job or jobs to make ends meet until my campaign succeeded and I would make absolutely certain that my target audience knew what I was doing.  If at all possible, I would find work that was related to what I wanted to do in my career, but the essential thing here is to project an attitude of self-reliance to the people who are considering hiring you.  I would also continue my education in the career field of my choice even if it is just reading books out of the library.  Every scrap of relevant information you can accumulate will help in that next interview and working anywhere is more educational than sitting home sucking your thumb and watching television.

If you go this route, I can not guarantee success, but I do guarantee that you will have a better shot at it than if you just roll over and accept the conventional wisdom that 9 per cent joblessness means that you can not have a job.  In fact, if you do that, I can guarantee that you will be a failure.  This world needs creative successful people.  Why not be one?  If you do not believe in yourself, why should anyone else?  Go get the job that you want, help us dig this economy out of the hole that it is in and assist the 9 per cent find work.


PS:  This posting along with yesterday's post are fairly presumptuous.  I understand that I am not all-knowing, but for what it is worth, this heartfelt advice is based on my own experience in life and is meant to be helpful to folks just starting out in this bewildering world.  I remember what it was like a little more than sixty years ago when I left the family cocoon and was initiated into the real world.